1988 911 Upgrades: Lights, Exhaust, Short Shifter, Tie Rods?

[Tidal Fish]

Hi Gang,

I did a search on the board, but did not find exact answers to my specific year car, so I am posting and asking for the groups help.

I am looking to finally do some upgrades on my 1988 911. I would like to do the following:

1) Headlamp upgrade. Question, what are my options here? Is a xenon option kit? Or might the way to go is to some sort of upgrade from what I have now, the orginal, and then add some good driving lights in place of my fog lights?

2) I would like to get a few more hourses out of the engine. I am thinking the way to go is to do an exhaust upgrade. I looked up the stainless system on PP, looks like $1,500K+ for something like this. Do I really need this option or can I buy a "really good" system for less and then get them coated or not and still get good performance and a few more horses?

3) Short Shifter: I would like to add this to the car. Is there a kit made for 1988's that I can do myself? I did not see that option here on PP parts.

4) I would also like to upgrade my suspension a bit to give me some better handeling, are the turbo tie rods the way to go? Is there another recommended mod that would help as well?

Thanks for the help, now that I have some cash saved up I am ready to do some mods

[89911]

Originally posted by Tidal Fish
Hi Gang,

I did a search on the board, but did not find exact answers to my specific year car, so I am posting and asking for the groups help.

I am looking to finally do some upgrades on my 1988 911. I would like to do the following:

1) Headlamp upgrade. Question, what are my options here? Is a xenon option kit? Or might the way to go is to some sort of upgrade from what I have now, the orginal, and then add some good driving lights in place of my fog lights?

The only "upgrade" I've seen is to go with the H4's. Since you already have the H1's, I don't think its much of a change. You can use a PIAA bulb that throws our more light for better night driving. They make a bulb for the foglights also.

2) I would like to get a few more hourses out of the engine. I am thinking the way to go is to do an exhaust upgrade. I looked up the stainless system on PP, looks like $1,500K+ for something like this. Do I really need this option or can I buy a "really good" system for less and then get them coated or not and still get good performance and a few more horses?

The best bang for the buck is a bypass or premuffler and a sport exhaust. I have SSI's and they are a little more gain for much more cash.

3) Short Shifter: I would like to add this to the car. Is there a kit made for 1988's that I can do myself? I did not see that option here on PP parts.

I don't think they make a short shift kit for the G50. At least not
yet.

4) I would also like to upgrade my suspension a bit to give me some better handeling, are the turbo tie rods the way to go? Is there another recommended mod that would help as well?

The tie rods will change the road feel and steering precision, not much to do with the handling. Your biggest impact would be larger torsion bars and stiffer shocks by a wide marging. A stock 88 is sprung way too soft. Next is the adjustable sway bars. Bunch of little things can come next.

Thanks for the help, now that I have some cash saved up I am ready to do some mods

[Emission]

H4 headlights with 100W bulbs (and relays).

Attend a track event and talk to the guys there about suspension. The investment (track time) will also make you faster!

[masraum]

1) Headlamp upgrade. Question, what are my options here? Is a xenon option kit? Or might the way to go is to some sort of upgrade from what I have now, the orginal, and then add some good driving lights in place of my fog lights?

I'd say you have a couple of options here. Regardless of what you do you need to add a relay to the headlights, otherwise eventually you'll end up having to replace the highbeam switch, besides usually adding the relay make a least some difference in the light quality. Also with a long Q-tip and some alcohol clean the inside of the lense, you can see a difference afterwards. Then
1 You can go to higher wattage bulbs (only if you've done the relay) Some people have had problems with parts melting with this option.

2 Hella 450 Driving lights should fit in the stock location

3 Everyone swears by the Euro H4 ('88 have H5's) as being far superior in the light pattern and quality, but they will retain the look of the stock lights.

2) I would like to get a few more hourses out of the engine. I am thinking the way to go is to do an exhaust upgrade. I looked up the stainless system on PP, looks like $1,500K+ for something like this. Do I really need this option or can I buy a "really good" system for less and then get them coated or not and still get good performance and a few more horses?

Your best option if you can avoid emissions is SSI's and a sport muffler, otherwise there is not much that you can do. You can get the setup used usually for about a grand, I think, otherwise, yes, this is just going to be darn expensive, and I think the consensus is 10-20hp, which is only 5-10%, noticeable, but not leaps and bounds. One question which may seem silly, but I have to ask, are you redlining the engine?? Several people on this board or the Rennlist board have stated that they never go over 4000 or maybe a tad higher. The power in your 3.2 really kicks in at around 4-4500, so to feel it you need to rev it all the way.
If you do the exhaust then you may want a new chip, but without making some change to the engine the chip is pretty much a waste of money.

3) Short Shifter: I would like to add this to the car. Is there a kit made for 1988's that I can do myself? I did not see that option here on PP parts.

I looked when I first got my '88 and never found a short shift kit. It's my understanding that the factory shortened the throw when they went to the G50, so maybe that's why nothing is available (as far as I know).

4) I would also like to upgrade my suspension a bit to give me some better handeling, are the turbo tie rods the way to go? Is there another recommended mod that would help as well?

Unless you know when the shocks/struts you have were put on that may be your first best bet. I just recently went from the stock 140K mile gas charged Boge to new Bilstein Sports all around and it made a huge difference. What tires are on your car, and to what specs is it aligned? Tires can be one of the best upgrades to any car, and the stock alignment settings aren't geared towards spirited driving, so you may want to have that checked. Also getting your car lowered if it is not already make a pretty big difference. From there you can go to bigger torsion bars or heavier sway bars. (if you go with heavier sway bars or really even if you don't you need to get the rear swaybar mounts on the body reinforced if it hasn't already been done. They are a weak point and tear free of the body. Porsche has an upgraded mount for this problem and almost everyone has had to have one welded at one point.

Those are visually one of my favorite non stock wheels on a 911 like ours, but they will make your car accelerate more slowly. Another guy on this board just changed over and said he could feel the difference. Going to either the stock Fuchs or some other lightweight forged aftermarket wheel will help some in acceleration.

[Tidal Fish]

Emmision, thanks for the tip on the lights. Sounds like that is the way togo following up with Steve as well.

Steve,

Thanks for the time it took for the long answer, I allrecaite the feedback!

I think I will go with the H4's as you and Emisson suggest, hopefully that option is availiable on PP. I will also add the driving lights in place of my stock fog lamps. I live out in the country and I really need more light, the stocks lights are terrible. I was reading of some driving lights that are an upgrade that they "say" shine a mile and fit in the stock fitting...I will give it a try.
I guess there is not a xenon light option for the '88?


Do you or anyone thing that simply replacing the muffler will make a different in performance or do I really need to replace the whole system? I do push my car beyond 4000rpm and know there is really where the power is in this car, but I did upgrade to the MMC2 rims from the orginal Fuchs and noticed a real difference in my take off speed. You can just feel the differnce in weight of the two, but I like the look of the new rims better. (pic of car below)

Concerning the chip, how much is an upgrade like this and how much more HPs does it really give you?

What about changing the air filter system as well, is there a recommended upgrade for that?

On the suspension, thanks, I guess I will have to hit the track and talk to some people about what they have done. The car does handle well now, but I would like to make it a better.

Thanks for all the help!

[masraum]

Brandon, The only HID light system that I know of that would come close to fitting in our cars is the generic single round setup that looks more like the stock pre-87 sealed beams. I prefer the lense style of the H1, H4, H5 to the old sealed beams.

Replacing the muffler on our cars may add a couple of hp, but I think it's mostly noise. To really see benefits you probably need to do the whole system.

It seems to be consensus that a chip by itself on an '88 won't do anything for you unless it is in conjunction with other mods, exhause, cams, etc... The factory designed to pretty tight tolerances on these things, and since our cars don't have knock sensors you don't want to get too close to the limit.

An air filter will give you more intake noise, but probably no more power.

Depending upon your budget, the best way to see an improvement in a 3.2 short of turbo or supercharging or replacing it with a 3.6 would probably be to go to SSI's with a sport muffler, change the "Barn door" MAF to a "Hot Wire" MAF, and maybe cams, then have the chip reprogrammed to compensate for all of this.

According to Steve Weiner of Rennsport Systems in Portland (I'm pretty sure) the intakes on a 3.2 have a large variation in the flow of each runner, and I have heard him talk about doing something to them to match the volume, which would probably be a good idea with the rest of the mods as well as upgrading the rod bolts and the valve train which is pretty likely to float at rpm's above the factory redline.

Looking at the pic it looks like just like my car you might have room to lower your car some.

Mine is black, except for the weight issue I would love to put those wheels on my car in gloss black. The natural silver finish looks great on your car since it's silver (probably my favorite 911 color).

[Tidal Fish]

Steve,

Thanks for the feedback. Sounds like the exhaust system is the way to go on our cars.

On the lights I am going to go with the H4 with the 100watt bulb and add the driving light which should do the trick.

Thanks!

Brandon

[Bill Verburg]

On a 3.2 w/ stock cams/intake SSI's will provide marginal bang for the buck. If you upgrade the intake side w/ at a minimum 964 or 20/21 cams then by all means get the SSI's otherwise a euro-premuff or good imitation of one like Fabiani's will be a lot more cost & performance effective. The fact that it looks like a cat to the state inspectors is an added benefit.

[alf]

Brandon
Do a search on cat bypass or Euro Pre Muff. You could get about 8 HP for putting in a Euro Pre Muffler and another 4 with a free flow muffler mated to the pre muffler (a pelicanhead actually dynoed this setup). I believe the concensus is that SSIs are not the best bang for the buck for 88s.

You might also want to consider getting a Weltmeister, Autothority, Europroduct or the more aggresive OEM chip.

But as someone already mentioned, the best upgrade is the driver.



alf