beating a dead horse!

[rinverso]

this 911 forum is amazing. i am a newbie here. just bought my dream car. 1986 white 911 targa 3.2. i'm looking for some inexpensive performance upgrades. an oxymoron i guess. but in perticular a performance chip. i see the steve wong is recommended, but i hate to drop $375 on a small chip. i installed a chip from ebay in my bmw m3 1990, and it improved my gas mileage 1.5 mpg and noticed a nice boost in hp. also got rid of the top end and rpm governors.
would love your opinion.
please be kind to the newbie.

[Chuck.H]

It is a small chip (27c64 from memory) so on a per-bit basis it does seem like a lot of money.

If you get a chip off Ebay it's most likely a clone of somebody's chip, with probably no tech-support and more importantly no credit where it's due. For me, I always choose the path that let's me sleep well -- you can cheat and lie and steal and get away with things quite easily in life, but you cannot 'buy' good sleep, and I value that above most material things.

My suggestion: SSI headers + M&K exhaust + chip = a very fun car to drive. Thiis is what I have, along with a MAF intake to replace the Bosch barn door sensor.

Chuck.H
'89 TurboLookTarga, 341k miles

[aualexa2]

I haven't done it, but if I was going to, I'd stick with Steve Wong. He's gotten so many positive reviews that I would feel very comfortable with his chip.

[rinverso]

Originally Posted by Chuck.H

It is a small chip (27c64 from memory) so on a per-bit basis it does seem like a lot of money.

If you get a chip off Ebay it's most likely a clone of somebody's chip, with probably no tech-support and more importantly no credit where it's due. For me, I always choose the path that let's me sleep well -- you can cheat and lie and steal and get away with things quite easily in life, but you cannot 'buy' good sleep, and I value that above most material things.

My suggestion: SSI headers + M&K exhaust + chip = a very fun car to drive. Thiis is what I have, along with a MAF intake to replace the Bosch barn door sensor.

Chuck.H
'89 TurboLookTarga, 341k miles

thanks chuck, thats along the lines of upgrades on the beemer i performed. rome wasn't built in a day i guess.

[911s55]

Congrats on your purchase and welcome to the community and good on ya for posting a pic of your car in your first post. Before you move too close to the slippery slope of upgrades and modifications what is the history of your car, mileage, service and repair? How fresh is your suspension, shocks struts bushings and your brakes? To me handling and stopping within the capabilties of a good performing stock drivetrain is of more value than added HP. My driving skills aren't up to the performance potential of my refreshed '71 but it's fun getting there. BTW posting your location in your signature can be helpful.

David

[HawgRyder]

You now own the finest car in the world...and you are not going to spend a paltry sum on upkeep?
That's like trying to run a foot race without purchasing shoes!
Shame on you.
Bob

[tirwin]

First, welcome! Always great to see another person living the dream.

Please don't take this as some holier-than-thou political soapbox commentary. I have an SC so I'm in no position to comment on which chip. BUT, I will say that I've bought a lot of stuff for my car and a lot of it has been giving business to one-man operations or small businesses. For example, you can buy shift coupler bushings from our host. I bought mine from Ed (Pelican handle: ivangene) because he's a great guy trying to fulfill a need for this great car community of ours. Same goes for Steve Wong. And the guys at Elephant Racing and Rebel Racing. And Etarga's. And Daniel Stern. And... you get the picture.

We need guys like that to succeed or we all lose in the end.

Again, sorry if I sounded preachy. I think you will find that the support you get after the sale is well worth the price of admission.

[ivangene]

well I was going to post this earlier ---- speaking of dead horse:

you bought a great car.....and before ya going "making it better" ya might try learing to drive it the way it is - if you cant get much out of it, try getting some instruction from your local track rats, join a DE and get some skills - you might find that "performance" in the form a better driver is pretty rewarding....

now for the chip - if you save some $ on a cheap chip, put that in the bank and save up for a very expenssive rebuild - and by very expensive i mean the entire cost of the car just for a motor - but hey, a penny saved

I dont mean to discourage and you are smart for asking..... dont change things - there is no cheap power "laying around"

you could spend some money (because I get the whole, I have a new car and want to do something) on fixing things that 26+ years of wear have taken its toll on. there are plenty - I cant tell in the pic but if there is a tail and NO front chin, I would start there.

lots of good help here....welcome, great "un-color"


oh and I am not trying to souond condesending or holy'r than though either...just typing a quick note while on the GO - i cut out all the nicities

[tirwin]

Originally Posted by tirwin

First, welcome! Always great to see another person living the dream.

Please don't take this as some holier-than-thou political soapbox commentary. I have an SC so I'm in no position to comment on which chip. BUT, I will say that I've bought a lot of stuff for my car and a lot of it has been giving business to one-man operations or small businesses. For example, you can buy shift coupler bushings from our host. I bought mine from Ed (Pelican handle: ivangene) because he's a great guy trying to fulfill a need for this great car community of ours. Same goes for Steve Wong. And the guys at Elephant Racing and Rebel Racing. And Etarga's. And Daniel Stern. And... you get the picture.

We need guys like that to succeed or we all lose in the end.

Again, sorry if I sounded preachy. I think you will find that the support you get after the sale is well worth the price of admission.

Hmmm... after I wrote that I thought what I said sounded a little disrespectful to our host, Wayne. That was not my intent. Wayne has gotten his fair share from me too and he is certainly one of the GOOD GUYS!

[ivangene]

I hate it when i think after I write -

[tirwin]

Originally Posted by ivangene

I hate it when i think after I write -

Fingers are sometimes faster than the brain. That's why we need track time!

[will hung]

Welcome, and I'll echo what everybody else has said. Don't worry about trying to get more power out of the car. These cars are very efficient at applying their power, this is why they were always so successful racing much more powerful cars. Save your money and put it toward general maintenance. You'll be shocked at how much you'll have to do after you get started.

Love the unique color combo. White 911's are to die for and the burgundy interior is very classy.

[DRACO A5OG]

Welcome Brother Targa,

With this wonderful community, we will save you money on all the other DIYer stuff so spend on the important things like the 911chips.

Enjoy your baby :-D

[rinverso]

Originally Posted by 911s55

Congrats on your purchase and welcome to the community and good on ya for posting a pic of your car in your first post. Before you move too close to the slippery slope of upgrades and modifications what is the history of your car, mileage, service and repair? How fresh is your suspension, shocks struts bushings and your brakes? To me handling and stopping within the capabilties of a good performing stock drivetrain is of more value than added HP. My driving skills aren't up to the performance potential of my refreshed '71 but it's fun getting there. BTW posting your location in your signature can be helpful.

David

thanks david for the welcome. i live in palm beach fl. i took it to a porsche specialty shop and they said after inspection, that all is in order. they installed two sensors due to rough idle. the engine was replaced with a low mileage 3.2 equivilant last year. blistine shocks, turbo tie rods, strut stab bar. thats all the mods i know. the mileage is 122,000. runs strong. can't wait to get home and cruise. compression is holding 175psi all cylinders. thanks for your input, look forward to a long relationship with my new baby.

[rinverso]

Originally Posted by tirwin

First, welcome! Always great to see another person living the dream.

Please don't take this as some holier-than-thou political soapbox commentary. I have an SC so I'm in no position to comment on which chip. BUT, I will say that I've bought a lot of stuff for my car and a lot of it has been giving business to one-man operations or small businesses. For example, you can buy shift coupler bushings from our host. I bought mine from Ed (Pelican handle: ivangene) because he's a great guy trying to fulfill a need for this great car community of ours. Same goes for Steve Wong. And the guys at Elephant Racing and Rebel Racing. And Etarga's. And Daniel Stern. And... you get the picture.

We need guys like that to succeed or we all lose in the end.

Again, sorry if I sounded preachy. I think you will find that the support you get after the sale is well worth the price of admission.

thats good stuff, i'll take that in consideration. especially since i'm a small business owner myself. thanks for the input

[rinverso]

Originally Posted by ivangene

well I was going to post this earlier ---- speaking of dead horse:

you bought a great car.....and before ya going "making it better" ya might try learing to drive it the way it is - if you cant get much out of it, try getting some instruction from your local track rats, join a DE and get some skills - you might find that "performance" in the form a better driver is pretty rewarding....

now for the chip - if you save some $ on a cheap chip, put that in the bank and save up for a very expenssive rebuild - and by very expensive i mean the entire cost of the car just for a motor - but hey, a penny saved

I dont mean to discourage and you are smart for asking..... dont change things - there is no cheap power "laying around"

you could spend some money (because I get the whole, I have a new car and want to do something) on fixing things that 26+ years of wear have taken its toll on. there are plenty - I cant tell in the pic but if there is a tail and NO front chin, I would start there.

lots of good help here....welcome, great "un-color"


oh and I am not trying to souond condesending or holy'r than though either...just typing a quick note while on the GO - i cut out all the nicities

this is all great stuff, and what i was looking for. i did btw join the local PCA club here in south florida and look forward to gaining a learning curve on this marvelous auto, and taking a driving course. thanks a bunch. look forward to continued info.

[rinverso]

Originally Posted by will hung

Welcome, and I'll echo what everybody else has said. Don't worry about trying to get more power out of the car. These cars are very efficient at applying their power, this is why they were always so successful racing much more powerful cars. Save your money and put it toward general maintenance. You'll be shocked at how much you'll have to do after you get started.

Love the unique color combo. White 911's are to die for and the burgundy interior is very classy.

since i don't know the complete service records on my baby, i'll take your advice and have the shop go over completely, including valve adjustment, tuneup and oil and gas filters etc. just for peace of mind.
thanks for the color complement, it is my second favorite combo. next to the guards red with camel interior.

[rinverso]

Originally Posted by DRACO A5OG

Welcome Brother Targa,

With this wonderful community, we will save you money on all the other DIYer stuff so spend on the important things like the 911chips.

Enjoy your baby :-D

thanks for the welcome. i intend to be here often.

[porsche0nut]

First off, congratulations on the worlds finest and most intoxicating car!

Secondly, if you ever decide you don't want the rear spoiler, PM me and I'll take it off your hands

Finally, I won't both repeating what others have said, but from my research the Steve Wong chip is one of the most cost-effective modifications you can do when it comes to hp increase - I think $375 is an extremely reasonable price. Daunting perhaps because all you get (physically) is a chip that doesn't take very long to install - but perhaps the cliche "good things come in small packages" can apply here!

Happy driving, she's a beauty!

[OttoB]

I'm in Palm Beach - who did you take it to? There's a local PCA concours in Miami at the 5 star Mandarin Hotel that's big on the agenda this Sunday, actually... Nice looking car and congrats!