im trying to get a front stance that I am happy with after changing to 911 steel wheels. I have seen a number of original 356 Cs with wider front stance and even some like mine. Anyway. Some same avoid wheel spacers and go with a wider front beam. So my first thing is do I even have a narrowed puma beam. It measures aproxomately 31.5 inches from post to post. Does that sound narrowed?
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Here are some original Cs with a similiar front stance. But they have the 4.5 inches wheels versus my 5.5.
I'm having a hard time figuring out the look you want. The real Porsche pictures seem a larger wheel opening gap than yours (wheels set back further). Modern cars seem to go for the wheel well being full of black rubber tire. I'll get out later and measure my stock beam. Nothing wrong with mild 1/4, 3/8, 1/2" spacers as long as you use long lug bolts/studs. Yes, spacers and larger wheels/tires do put added stress on the wheel bearings so that too has to be periodically check (light alloys reduce stress and unsprung weight).
These original cars seem to fill the wheel well up more.
My stock beam is 31.5" weld to weld (measured at bottom - the piece where shock mount at top) so suspect your beam is std width.
I seriously doubt you have a narrowed beam...and from the looks of it you don't.
Oops, just read Greg's reply, there you go. Standard width
If you want a wider stance, get a set of wheel spacers.
I'm running a set of aluminum alloy (6061) wheel spacer/adapters that I bought from Pelican Parts. They are all 1-1/8" thick and IIRC they cost about $125 each. They are beautifully made, look like jewelry when new and are RUGGED. I think the closest thing to them that Pelican now sells come from Elephant Racing. Mine convert from a 4X130mm VW bolt pattern to a 5X130mm Porsche bolt pattern. They offer a whole bunch of others for whatever you're trying to do.
I've had them on the car for at least ten years, now, and have hammered the crap out of them on at least five different road race courses up and down the East Coast. They have never shown any signs of stress and are totally crack free after all that time. I wouldn't be afraid to run spacers if you want a wider front stance - a LOT of real Porsche drivers with 924/944/911 cars have run spacers for years without any trouble.
Be very careful in measuring how much you can push your wheels out before they rub on the body. If you have a swing-arm rear suspension, remember that as the car unweights (the body moves upward) the top sidewall edge of the tire may move outward, so take that into consideration. On the front, allow enough space for up and down movement, as well as the turning radius of the tire lip.
Good luck!
Thanks guys. I am going to recheck the wheel offset on these 911 steel wheels versus the old 4 lug mangels. I thought when I first checked they were the same. Just seems like I have a lot of space there.
Do you have disc or drums with the 5-130?
Disc up front and drums out back
