performance upgrades

[mike944]

I have an '84 944, NA, 8V, almost competely stock. With winter approaching fast in the northeast, it's almost time to put it away. Over the winter, i plan to do timing belts, valve seals, and new shaft seals. Since i'll have some time to burn, i was considering removing the head, and smoothing, and polishing the intake and exhaust ports. this is a very traditional hot rod trick, but i have never heard of anyone doing it on a 944.

has anyone out there done this? is it worth the time/hassle/risk? or is the improvement too insignifigant to bother with? I also plan on polishing the intake mainfold too. (i have a spare) and adding a bursch exhuast.


The other question is about suspension bushings. I was going to install urethane bushings, but a friend of mine (with a different car) says they're really noisy. This is primairaly a street driven car, and i could put up with a little noise, but not too much. Are the 944 urethane bushings noisy? does anyone make a factory style rubber bushing made with a harder durometer rubber? any reccomendations?

Mike

[Weldin]

Ive never heard of busnings being "noisy"....Doesnt make too much sense to me...

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[mike944]

I know they squeek, i've heard that from quite a few people. But i don't know how bad it really is. They squeek by the same principle that a door hinge squeeks. it's a fairly complicated explanation, centered around part (bushing) stiffness, and static and dynamic coefficients of friction. I'm not sure i even understand it, but i know the principles that cause it. The squeeking seems to be a problem only with the urethane bushings though.

I'm trying to get a consensus on how bad it really is.

Mike

[1.2gees]

I've done both, and I'd recommend against doing either!!!

It's definately not worth the $$$ you're willing to spend...

Instead of the port/polish, get a high flow cat, and a cat-back exaust... This SHOULD still be MUCH cheaper than the head work, and if you feel like spending more, get a Multipe Spark Discharge ignition unit, my favorites are the Jacobs electronics ones...

Instead of bushings, get a good alignment, the factory bushings are quite nice actually... Mine never made any noise, sway bar bushings tend to make more noise than the primery suspension bushings...

Good luck, and keep us updated.
Ahmet

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It's all the driver...

[RealRideRacing]

Mike,
REgarding performance modifications on the na944, we've done just that on our race car. You can get more info on it at our website: www.RealRide.com/racing (click on Classifieds)
OR at: http://members.aol.com/wwwrealride/private/944.html

There's a lot of tricks involved in modifying the head of the 944 and many of them can indeed improve power. However, unlike the old Hotrod tricks, these mods do cost a lot more money. Generally speaking $1,500 can buy you about 35hp and that's if you do the R&R yourself.

David www.RealRide.com/racing
(Visit our Message Board for Racing Enthusiasts)

[Hopedale944]

Mike,

Where in the northeast are you? I'm in Hopedale, MA. I am also thinking of doing some suspension and exhaust work this winter along with various cosmetic jobs. Maybe we could exchange some info such as parts sources etc.

First I have to get through my emissions failure problems.

Tim

[hoff944]

The cat removal (if its legal in your area!)or a high flow cat really does make a difference on the mid and upper end of the power band. You'll definitely notice on the interstate if you have results like mine. A shop close to me in TN charges $225 for porting and polishing job on a 944. I have no idea about the performance gains on it. Thats about the cost of a decent exhaust.

[mike944]

Thanks for the input, i'll have to get a price on a high flow cat. (it's not legal to remove it in my area) any suggestions on a particular one? would a header help much? i don't see very many of those for sale. or is the factory one really that good?

As far as the bushings, i have to replace at least the passenger side ones because they are completely oil soaked from 16 years of oil leaking on them from that REALLY stupid oil filter housing design that makes a big mess anytime you change the filter.

so as long as i have to change them, i was just wondering if i should buy factory bushings or something else. I just read about poly-graphite ones today, anyone have experience with those?

Mike

p.s. Tim - I live just outside of hartford Ct if you want to talk, e-mail me off of the BBS
firnhaber@juno.com

[andrew4266]

I used to drive an 87 mr2 and i removed the cat. it resulted in highmid to high rpm hp gains but the lower end was weaker from the lack of back pressure. would this be the same on a 944?

[lm6y]

Performance products carries the bushings, they are called Weltmeister bushings. I've had them on mine for about a year, and they seemed to make the handling a little more responsive. Mine have never squeaked, but I put a lot of Moly based grease on them when I put them in. Be sure to clean the ends of the A arm where the bushings go on. The bushing insides work as a bearing so the need to be CLEAN and lubricated.
Don't know where to get a high flow cat. If you find a place that won't rape you let me know.

[944Driver]

I have a high flow cat and muffler (both by Dynomax) in my 83 944. High rpm response is markedly improved. Unfortunately for me, I only take it on the highway a few times a year, so I don't notice an improvement around town. I paid about $600 for my cat/muffler.

[drew1]

As for bushings, Weltmeister seem tight. I put them on the front of a 914 and was hearing popping instead of squeaking. The force of the torsion bars was going againsat the elasticity of the bushings, as in rubber, instead of holding the tires down. I think plastic bushings are good. About 25 years ago I put them in the rear control arms of a big block Chevelle to stop wheel hop. They worked. I reccommend what is called a running fit on the ID instesd of the press fit on Weltmeisters. I recommend a self lube low moisture absorbing plastic. On installing it won't hurt to put a little vaseline for break in. You didn't mention the top strut rubber. With bottom A-frame 'more rigid than rubber' bushings the handling may be worse as the rubber on top gives more, allowing the wheels to tilt. You might want to use a uniball type bearing on top. The disadvantage is aside from feeeling every loose peice of gravel is that the leverage of the spindle of Porsche struts transmit every bit of wheel unbalance with ridig bushings.

As far as porting and polishing the heads, I,ve been thinking about it on a NA 944. there is a lot of material that can be taken out by the intake gaskets. If I do I'll try the port where it goes into the vale area first. Some heads seem to have the valve seats giving a small lip. Getting rid of this may help a lot.

drew1

[porscheboi928s/c944t/n]

NITROUS!!!!