New and basic questions

Hi, my name is Brandon, I've been reading this site off and on since at least December of 1999. I've been a huge fan of the 550 Sypder since I can remember. When I was about 10, I think I saw what was purported to be the wrecked car from James Dean at a classic car show in Cobo Hall Detroit during the late 70's. I believe now it was a recreation of the wreck

Brandon;
I too am considering a 550 kit purchase and post here a little. Some of the questions I have had are about registration and insurance. If you buy a completed car from one of the vendors, I presume that it will come with a title and a VIN number so you can get it registered in your home state. With a kit that you build, can there be problems with registration, and does it vary from state to state? I have read here that importing a kit to Canada is very hard. I live in Texas and am not sure how the regs are here.

If you don't mind fixing other people's messes, there was a 550 with a 911 6 that was a partially completed kit for sale on ebay. It did not meet the reserve and may be relisted. There was a post by Ed Black over on SpyderClub with a link.

Brandon,

Ordering a kit is easy you just call and talk to them - as for lead times, have you asked TR?

I haven't seen a hardtop - I know they are availble for the 356 crowd, but I have yet toe see one for the spyder.

Before you go with a 6, drive one with a large 4 and think about it - this is my opinion. I personally think there is a limit to what is prudent in terms of HP for these cars.

George, having registered mine in California, I can tell you that it is not a big deal - just the normal hassles with DMV on a process that isn't used much. I think every state (and probably every DMV offie in each state) will approach it differently. It was a hassle but well worth it.

I think a smart way to go (unless you are totally into building one your self) is to buy used and then give it your custom touch.

Good Luck,
Mike

George,
We now live in Texas; San Antonio to be precise. Part of the deal I got for moving here was we'll get a three car garage to build the 550. Regarding licensing, title, and insurance; not sure about Texas yet I haven't even been here long enough to re-tag the cars we have. But back in high school I filed for a couple of "constructor's titles" in Michigan. I think the Detroit area had some long standing allotments for start-up automobile manufactures? We bought a few VW Rabbits from the Chrysler proving grounds. By the time we had gotten them, the titles and VIN's had been classified as "scrap". They were using them to design the Omni and other K cars

Brandon,

at the SpyderClub is a gent that is buying the first turnkey 550A6 comin out of TR. You might contact him. He posted about a visit he made there within the last two weeks and posted some photos.

this link should take you there.

www.spyderclub.com/phpbb2/viewtopic.php?t=5182

Mike

Brandon;
I am SW of Houston and I have a step mother that lives in Cibolo (North of San Antonio). The State of Texas has a web site with all their title forms on it. I have a friend that was looking into a lost title for a 64 Vette. The flat 6 also interests me but the cost of the engine and transaxle looks to be quite high.

You can check with CBM and see if they can get the top for you. Only a few were made, but the molds are still around.
CEH

BTW sorry about the double post, must have gotten too quick on the mouse button.

Brandon,

I spent a lot of time eavesdropping here and over at the club and put down my deposit at TR a little over a month ago. My suggestion is to look at old posts and call each manufacture that you are considering and ask as many questions as you can think of. It took me six months of planning before I knew what to expect and I'm sure that there will still be some surprises. That is part of the fun. One of the most important things that I did learn is that if you have enough time and money any one of the manufactures can build a one of a kind automobile that is sure to put a smile on your face.

As for your questions

1. In my opinion TR has a superior product (that

Brandon,

my suggestion is to try one with a large T1 or T4 in it - preferably both. When I dreamed of spyder ownership 15 years ago, I thought the same about having the most hp per pound I could find. I have a 911 and a spyder and in my opinion, the spyder is a nice fit for a large four cylinder. it has nothing to do with age. The design is what it is, and if the massive horsepower is going to get you into trouble or is tough to manage, then you won't be driving the car much or enjoying it's limits maybe.

drive before you try - that will really let you know what suites you best. contrary to the statement above, it is not too hard to put hp into this car, it just takes money.

Whe I got my spyder many years ago, Chuck Beck took me for a test drive in one with a large T1 in it (about 150hp). we accelerated faster than I ever had and it was a blast - it fit the car right. I put in a 2165 or thereabouts and it is plenty scary fast to get me into trouble. The sensation is awesome.

I admit I would like to try a large raby t4 too, but I am motivated to add a killer V8 to my garage.

So, how old are you keith? and what have you been driving lately?

Regards,
mike

George,

According to the Texas DOT, Texas has a process for registering both an Assembled Vehicle Using a Manufactured Prefabricated Body and a Replica. Forms that might be needed for registration and titling of either vehicle include:

- 130-U (Application for Texas Certificate of Title)
- VTR-61 (Rebuilt Affidavit)
- VTR-68-N (Notice of Assigned Number or Installation of Reassigned VIN)
- VTR-68-A (Application for Assigned or Reassigned Number)
- VTR-470 (Standard of Safety Statement)

Some of these forms may be available online at www.dot.tx.us.

For further info, you can contact one of the Texas Vehicle Titles and Registration Regional Offices.

You can find the closest VTR Regional Office at:
www.dot.state.tx.us/vtr/regoffices/regoffices.htm

Hi Terry, that's great info for me too! Thanks!

Mike

Brandon;
From what I have read here, the transaxle from a 911 is a IRS type while all the current USA manufacturers of 550 kits use the 4 speed swing axle from a VW which may not be suitable to handle the torque of your flat 6. There has been mention of converting the irs porsche trans to swing axle to fit the chassis but it is my opinion that you would be going in the wrong direction by harnessing up a modern OHC engine to a 50 year old suspension design.

I believe that TR uses a DeDion rear suspension for their Porsche 6 application and it is a pseudo IRS. There is a big tube that goes between the 2 rear wheel carriers so they are not totally independent.

locost7.info/files/suspension/MK+DeDion.jpg

The problem I see with so much power is that the car will become unstable before you run out of power. The shape of the 550 will tend to lift the front end unless you stop the air from getting under the car by using a front spoiler, which is objectionable to most purists. If you limit your top speed to about 100mph you can get by with the stock bodywork from what I have read here and at SpyderClub. Above 100 you may take the risk of not being able to turn the front tires because they are so light. I had a friend with a Kawasaki Mach 1 that would lift the front tire off the ground above 125mph.

After driving a 550 with an i8, I can tell you that you're going to have a blast--literally.

At one point in the ride, we drove past the hobble telescope, and at another point, we actually went into another dimension--well, actually it was a world line--and blew past Dean.

Boy, it was fun.

By the way, if you

Although it was touched upon, it wasn't really mentioned.

Using a 6 cyl. Porsche engine, probably with some sort of TR modified Porsche trans will work, but,,, the power to weight ratio and the balance of the car will be severly altered.

The car already suffers from rearward biased weight, by adding a much dimensionally larger and heavier engine will compound the already inherent oversteer problems. This will surely limit the car to straight line acceleration with little or no cornering power.

The back half of our cars carries the bulk of the weight and you'd be adding to that existing problem.

Like others, I'd suggest a good 4 cylinder engine and improved suspension.

ps. don't forget about Subaru engines. I have a turbocharged fuel injected 2.5 in my sandrail, it developes 345 HP & 292 pound feet of torque at 6,200 RPM's. This rivals many Porsche 6 cylinder engines and it's configuration is only slightly larger than a type 1 VW engine. And finally, modern Subaru engines were designed by Porsche engineers