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914World.com _ 914World Garage _ Chalon Kit or GT kit Which one ? Feedback
Posted by: Beakster Mar 12 2016, 11:53 AM
Wanting members feedback on helping me make a decision on which kit to go with. I have a new doner car to put a kit on.. But I can decide what kit to put on it either a chalon or GT kit .. I already have the chalon kit from another car so it would be just the time and labor of installing it.. Where as for the GT kit I would have to buy the extra parts of fender flares , bumpers , etc which will cost me more $$$ and etra time and labor too.. Which whey would you go and why?? Thanks Guys 
Posted by: SirAndy Mar 12 2016, 12:08 PM
My personal opinion on the Shalom kit: 
I'd go with the GT flares ...
Posted by: ConeDodger Mar 12 2016, 12:09 PM
There's a GT kit?
All that time I wasted gathering parts and I could have bought a kit? 
Posted by: ConeDodger Mar 12 2016, 12:11 PM
Seriously, GT. People who own Chalon converts only pretend THEY like them...
Posted by: KELTY360 Mar 12 2016, 12:16 PM
If you're curious about how people feel about the Chalon kit just advertise it in the classifieds and watch the response. 
Posted by: Mark Henry Mar 12 2016, 12:26 PM
Wanting members feedback on helping me make a decision on which kit to go with. I have a new doner car to put a kit on.. But I can decide what kit to put on it either a chalon or GT kit .. I already have the chalon kit from another car so it would be just the time and labor of installing it.. Where as for the GT kit I would have to buy the extra parts of fender flares , bumpers , etc which will cost me more $$$ and etra time and labor too.. Which whey would you go and why?? Thanks Guys
The crowd here hates both, they just hate a chalon more.
If the body has issues the GT will fix go for it.
There's a guy selling a kit for cheap on kijiji Ontario. It's off right now, but it seems to pop up every couple of months.
I also sold a kit to member ajracer he may still have it (toronto) and I believe hes getting out of the hobby.
Sorry I'm thinking the Chalon GT kit, If it's 914 GT fenders then go for it.
Posted by: RabbitStew914 Mar 12 2016, 12:30 PM
![popcorn[1].gif](style_emoticons/default/popcorn[1].gif)
Posted by: Mueller Mar 12 2016, 12:36 PM
I have a hard time grasping someone wanting to purposely install a Chalon kit on a 914 these days.
I understand the 911-wanna-be kit 30 years ago, but these days nobody should be thinking about it.
Posted by: 396 Mar 12 2016, 12:42 PM
Posted by: Bruce Hinds Mar 12 2016, 01:14 PM
It's about what YOU like.
As a custom there are some of the pieces of the Chalon that are not too bad such as the wheel openings, but most feel that the rest of it makes it a poor 911/924 look a like.
The car will always be worth more with GT parts though and it would break many hearts to here you cut a good donor to install a Chalon kit.
Posted by: Mike Bellis Mar 12 2016, 01:57 PM
If your car is worth $10k today without a chalon kit...
It will be worth $5k tomorrow with one...
Probably the worst investment you could ever make on a 914.
Posted by: JOEPROPER Mar 12 2016, 02:13 PM
If your car is worth $10k today without a chalon kit...
It will be worth $5k tomorrow with one...
Probably the worst investment you could ever make on a 914.
If you NEED to do something ... Do the GT kit.
Posted by: ConeDodger Mar 12 2016, 02:24 PM
Wanting members feedback on helping me make a decision on which kit to go with. I have a new doner car to put a kit on.. But I can decide what kit to put on it either a chalon or GT kit .. I already have the chalon kit from another car so it would be just the time and labor of installing it.. Where as for the GT kit I would have to buy the extra parts of fender flares , bumpers , etc which will cost me more $$$ and etra time and labor too.. Which whey would you go and why?? Thanks Guys
The crowd here hates both, they just hate a chalon more.
Seriously?
Besides Mark, who here hates the GT?
Posted by: Mark Henry Mar 12 2016, 02:29 PM
Wanting members feedback on helping me make a decision on which kit to go with. I have a new doner car to put a kit on.. But I can decide what kit to put on it either a chalon or GT kit .. I already have the chalon kit from another car so it would be just the time and labor of installing it.. Where as for the GT kit I would have to buy the extra parts of fender flares , bumpers , etc which will cost me more $$$ and etra time and labor too.. Which whey would you go and why?? Thanks Guys
The crowd here hates both, they just hate a chalon more.
Seriously?
Besides Mark, who here hates the GT?
Easy Francis....try reading the rest of the post
Posted by: Elliot Cannon Mar 12 2016, 02:40 PM
Here are some pics. I think most don't like the Chalon kit because it modifies the car a bit too much and looks kind of umm "tacky". At least that what I think. The GT flares are a mod. that was actually done at the factory for the car that was raced. Here is a comparison. Not the best pics but the green car with GT flares is gorgeous.
Attached image(s)
Posted by: ConeDodger Mar 12 2016, 05:51 PM
Wanting members feedback on helping me make a decision on which kit to go with. I have a new doner car to put a kit on.. But I can decide what kit to put on it either a chalon or GT kit .. I already have the chalon kit from another car so it would be just the time and labor of installing it.. Where as for the GT kit I would have to buy the extra parts of fender flares , bumpers , etc which will cost me more $$$ and etra time and labor too.. Which whey would you go and why?? Thanks Guys
The crowd here hates both, they just hate a chalon more.
Seriously?
Besides Mark, who here hates the GT?
Easy Francis....try reading the rest of the post
Whoops. In bold it looked like your signature line.
Posted by: Mark Henry Mar 12 2016, 05:57 PM
Wanting members feedback on helping me make a decision on which kit to go with. I have a new doner car to put a kit on.. But I can decide what kit to put on it either a chalon or GT kit .. I already have the chalon kit from another car so it would be just the time and labor of installing it.. Where as for the GT kit I would have to buy the extra parts of fender flares , bumpers , etc which will cost me more $$$ and etra time and labor too.. Which whey would you go and why?? Thanks Guys
The crowd here hates both, they just hate a chalon more.
Seriously?
Besides Mark, who here hates the GT?
Easy Francis....try reading the rest of the post
Whoops. In bold it looked like your signature line.
That's OK, at least you didn't degrade into a "don't call me Francis!" rant ....it's my middle name.
Posted by: bretth Mar 12 2016, 06:02 PM
The GT is a mod with a real world purpose. The Chalon changes what was a 914 into something that looks different but doesn't add any driving enhancement.
Brett
Posted by: boxsterfan Mar 12 2016, 06:07 PM
If I ever win the lottery, I'm going to convert every 1.7L car I find into a 3.2L six cyllinder with a chalon kit.
Posted by: mepstein Mar 12 2016, 06:10 PM
The GT is a mod with a real world purpose. The Chalon changes what was a 914 into something that looks different but doesn't add any driving enhancement.
Brett
You trash the car to install the chalon kit.
Posted by: Larmo63 Mar 12 2016, 06:20 PM
"Shalom"
LOLOLOL.
Posted by: Mark Henry Mar 12 2016, 06:25 PM
If I ever win the lottery, I'm going to convert every 1.7L car I find into a 3.2L six cyllinder with a chalon kit.
There's a 2.7 rayco around here that was for sale for $10K not long ago.
Posted by: ConeDodger Mar 12 2016, 06:51 PM
The GT is a mod with a real world purpose. The Chalon changes what was a 914 into something that looks different but doesn't add any driving enhancement.
Brett
I owned an '84 RX-7 GSL-SE and whenever I see a Chalon, I know what inspired them to design the Mazda... Not a bad looking Mazda. Terrible thing to do to a 914...
Attached image(s)
Posted by: Rand Mar 12 2016, 06:54 PM
Shall 
The shalooof... ShaLame....shall was always questionable, and when it was the least-questionable, was some time ago.
The GT style has always been awesome and will remain timeless.
Posted by: Steve Mar 13 2016, 12:19 AM
Shall
The shalooof... ShaLame....shall was always questionable, and when it was the least-questionable, was some time ago.The GT style has always been awesome and will remain timeless.
I liked the shalom and rayco conversions back in the 80's, but I always liked the GT style better. I just hated fiberglass fenders and couldn't afford the steel GT flairs. Thanks to everyone's best friend at AA, we now have lower cost steel replica GT fenders. Say what you want about George, but I'm happy he made the GT steel flairs happen. People say they will never sell there car, but crap happens. A rayco or shalom, will be a lot harder to sell versus a GT clone.
Posted by: boxsterfan Mar 13 2016, 01:12 PM
If I ever win the lottery, I'm going to convert every 1.7L car I find into a 3.2L six cyllinder with a chalon kit.
There's a 2.7 rayco around here that was for sale for $10K not long ago.
I'm still waiting on my winning lottery tickets.
Posted by: AZBanks Apr 25 2017, 12:56 AM
Resurrecting an old thread.
I realize I am in the minority here but I like the Chalon kit. The problem is that almost none of them are done right.
The wheel openings are bigger than the factory 914 openings but people typically use the same size wheels and tires as they would on a normal 914 and it makes the whole car look like a clown car.
Here are a couple Chalon kits. One that looks like a clown car and one that does not.
The project I am building with my son will have a Chalon kit on it. All four corners need serious body work and it will be cheaper and easier to remove the trouble spots and install the kit than it will be to fix all the issues the car has now. I've included a picture of how it looked when I bought it so you can see that "diminishing the value" is pretty close to impossible with this car. 
The plans I have for it will be unlike any Chalon conversion done in the past. I know I am not going to change most peoples opinion but I guarantee it will be different than any Chalon you have seen before.
Posted by: motorvated Apr 25 2017, 06:37 AM
Resurrecting an old thread.
I realize I am in the minority here but I like the Chalon kit. The problem is that almost none of them are done right.
The wheel openings are bigger than the factory 914 openings but people typically use the same size wheels and tires as they would on a normal 914 and it makes the whole car look like a clown car.
Here are a couple Chalon kits. One that looks like a clown car and one that does not.
The project I am building with my son will have a Chalon kit on it. All four corners need serious body work and it will be cheaper and easier to remove the trouble spots and install the kit than it will be to fix all the issues the car has now. I've included a picture of how it looked when I bought it so you can see that "diminishing the value" is pretty close to impossible with this car.
The plans I have for it will be unlike any Chalon conversion done in the past. I know I am not going to change most peoples opinion but I guarantee it will be different than any Chalon you have seen before.
Does anyone know how large and wide a wheel a 5-lug 911 converted Chalon bodied car can accept? To eliminate that Clown Car look.
Posted by: barefoot Apr 25 2017, 06:43 AM
Resurrecting an old thread.
I realize I am in the minority here but I like the Chalon kit. The problem is that almost none of them are done right.
The wheel openings are bigger than the factory 914 openings but people typically use the same size wheels and tires as they would on a normal 914 and it makes the whole car look like a clown car.
Here are a couple Chalon kits. One that looks like a clown car and one that does not.
The project I am building with my son will have a Chalon kit on it. All four corners need serious body work and it will be cheaper and easier to remove the trouble spots and install the kit than it will be to fix all the issues the car has now. I've included a picture of how it looked when I bought it so you can see that "diminishing the value" is pretty close to impossible with this car.
The plans I have for it will be unlike any Chalon conversion done in the past. I know I am not going to change most peoples opinion but I guarantee it will be different than any Chalon you have seen before.
I know it's blasphemy to like Chalon kits, but I'm with you here.
Here's mine which has been modified somewhat by deleting the accordion bumper extensions and adding air scoops in front of rear wheel wells (like this when i got it)
I've put the external oil cooler behind the passenger side air intake. Made the plumbing very easy. Now with 17" wheels:
Posted by: Steve Apr 25 2017, 07:39 AM
I don't dislike the shalom, but I like the GT look better. Plus the GT is steel versus fiber glass and it's factory designed / race inspired.
Posted by: cali914 Apr 25 2017, 08:19 AM
GT for me Chalon kit looks like an old RX7. It's all about how you feel. It's all about the mind though if you feel like your the man in the Chalon kit then go for it. Do what you like.
Posted by: AZBanks Apr 25 2017, 10:35 AM
Does anyone know how large and wide a wheel a 5-lug 911 converted Chalon bodied car can accept? To eliminate that Clown Car look.
I don't have that information now but I will be doing a lot of testing once I have the kit installed and a 5 lug conversion completed. I've seen pictures of a Chalon with 18" wheels from a 996.
I don't dislike the shalom, but I like the GT look better. Plus the GT is steel versus fiber glass and it's factory designed / race inspired.
I like the GT look as well.
Posted by: AZBanks Apr 25 2017, 10:47 AM
I owned an '84 RX-7 GSL-SE and whenever I see a Chalon, I know what inspired them to design the Mazda... Not a bad looking Mazda. Terrible thing to do to a 914...
That would make the design progression look like this:
930 Slant Nose -> 914 Chalon -> RX-7
It's an interesting theory but I disagree. The rx-7 was a copy of the 924 and the second gen rx-7 was an almost line for line copy of the 944 Turbo.
Posted by: boxsterfan Apr 25 2017, 04:14 PM
I owned an '84 RX-7 GSL-SE and whenever I see a Chalon, I know what inspired them to design the Mazda... Not a bad looking Mazda. Terrible thing to do to a 914...
That would make the design progression look like this:
930 Slant Nose -> 914 Chalon -> RX-7
It's an interesting theory but I disagree. The rx-7 was a copy of the 924 and the second gen rx-7 was an almost line for line copy of the 944 Turbo.
I'd take that 914 Chalon any day of the week....except I would lose the paint stripes. That particular car shows that if done right and the right attention to detail, that the Chalon kit can look quite well.
Who's car is that by the way? And is it for sale? ;-)
Posted by: AZBanks Apr 30 2017, 12:16 AM
I owned an '84 RX-7 GSL-SE and whenever I see a Chalon, I know what inspired them to design the Mazda... Not a bad looking Mazda. Terrible thing to do to a 914...
That would make the design progression look like this:
930 Slant Nose -> 914 Chalon -> RX-7
It's an interesting theory but I disagree. The rx-7 was a copy of the 924 and the second gen rx-7 was an almost line for line copy of the 944 Turbo.
I'd take that 914 Chalon any day of the week....except I would lose the paint stripes. That particular car shows that if done right and the right attention to detail, that the Chalon kit can look quite well.
Who's car is that by the way? And is it for sale? ;-)
I/we will not be doing stripes. I am thinking about smoothing/removing the three vertical/curved lines from the sail panel area.
I don't know who owns the one it the picture. I found the image doing a google search for "914 Chalon". There are several pictures of it floating around and I think some of them come from a "for sale" post somewhere but I have no idea how old the post is. Sorry I can't be more help.
Posted by: porschetub Apr 30 2017, 01:50 AM
If you have a good running junk car with issues in all four corners ,go for it...really dated conversion now.
Really if you look @ it for too long,not everyones taste.
Posted by: canaus Mar 18 2021, 10:33 PM
Resurrecting an old thread. Is anyone out there?
Looking at purchasing a 914 with a Chalon kit. The car is in good shape but I would have trouble sleeping at night with its Chalon looks.
Yes find another car is an option, but not many around and this one is in good shape.
What needs to be done to return the car to body lines or maybe there is a halfway compromise. Leave the Chalon fenders and replace the front & rear bumpers. The scalloped sail would need to go.
Has anyone done anything like this? Just trying to get an idea of the extent of work.
Posted by: Rand Mar 18 2021, 11:09 PM
Many have tried to undo the shame of the chalame. It's not the best starting place.
Since you are in a place where it's hard to find a good car.... I see your dilemma. A good chalon could have good bones. Either way, it's a lot of work. Are you up for it? It will be a huge amount of metal fab and body work. What's your background on such?
Posted by: canaus Mar 18 2021, 11:18 PM
Many have tried to undo the shame of the chalame. It's not the best starting place.
Since you are in a place where it's hard to find a good car.... I see your dilemma. A good chalon could have good bones. Either way, it's a lot of work. Are you up for it?
Not knowing how the Chalon body bits were installed and trying to figure out how to remove them.
Fenders - are the Chalon fender glassed onto the original metal fenders and sheet metal cut out?
Bumpers - front and rear should be easy to remove as I would think they are bolted on. But there looks like a valence, between the pop up head lights
And under bumper cowling
And returns on the ends of the bumper, where the rubber accordion is.
The Chalon sail looks like it would require cutting out
Yup, bit of work.
Can anyone shed anymore light on the matter?
Posted by: jcd914 Mar 18 2021, 11:21 PM
If it were a good rust free chassis, then putting stock fenders or quarter panels could be cheaper than fixing a rusty chassis.
Rust free doesn't really exist and a chalon is not a likely place to find it.
Buy the best condition 914 you can find/afford and enjoy it.
Jim
Posted by: Rand Mar 19 2021, 12:52 AM
If it were a good rust free chassis, then putting stock fenders or quarter panels could be cheaper than fixing a rusty chassis.
Rust free doesn't really exist and a chalon is not a likely place to find it.
Buy the best condition 914 you can find/afford and enjoy it.
Jim
Yes to that.
But please be aware of what it takes. I find that most of us old hard asses are used to fabricating and getting shit done. Are you?
Posted by: canaus Mar 19 2021, 03:33 AM
If it were a good rust free chassis, then putting stock fenders or quarter panels could be cheaper than fixing a rusty chassis.
Rust free doesn't really exist and a chalon is not a likely place to find it.
Buy the best condition 914 you can find/afford and enjoy it.
Jim
Yes to that.
But please be aware of what it takes. I find that most of us old hard asses are used to fabricating and getting shit done. Are you?
How hard can it be?
Posted by: CptTripps Mar 19 2021, 10:38 AM
Or, you could go for this look. Advertised locally on FB as "One of a kind"...for $8,000. :puke:
Attached image(s)
Posted by: mepstein Mar 19 2021, 10:47 AM
Or, you could go for this look. Advertised locally on FB as "One of a kind"...for $8,000. :puke:
The platypus edition.
Posted by: Rand Mar 19 2021, 10:49 AM
Or, you could go for this look. Advertised locally on FB as "One of a kind"...for $8,000. :puke:
thumb down
There's enough garbage here, please don't infuse
Posted by: Rand Mar 19 2021, 10:51 AM
How hard can it be?
Don't troll
It's monumental. Or if you haven't been around here long enough, you know the word: scari
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