OK, Let's Try This: Performance Parts That DO Work
 

OK, I will start this off with the obvious.

Performance chips.

From reading the other thread it sounds like most people are happy with the chip set up from FR Wilk.

OK, cool!

Assuming that I put it in correctly and don't send it to ESD Heaven during the installation process, the car will have a different feel. Great!

Does this actually change the amount of horsepower that the engine outputs or does it just change the power/RPM curve? If it does increase horse power, by how much does it increase?

Specifically I looking for information and other peoples experience on a 1988 924-S.

Also, will I have to have the chip reprogrammed if I change exhaust systems, buy a header or have the head polished if I ever have to remove it for any reason?

You see, I have this motor scooter I also want to rice out... ;)

Waxing your car is an upgrade.
So is losing 30 or so pounds, if you need to, that'll make your car faster.
Not installing a power prom 3 backwards, is a good way to avoid breaking your car.
New tires.
New clutch
New Trans with more interesting gearing.
A Chevy 350 ( what I wanna do)
Header (one of em)
Port and polish the head.. (well good to do, but not a gimme on this car)
Engine overhaul
Synthetic oil ( if you don't use it already)
Brembo pads ( good for stopping)
Removing the cat ( where applicable.. er, legal)
Turbo exhaust for an N/A good back pressure but breathes better.
Maybe K/n filter, but I'm not into snake oil kind of stuff

Frank B

Losing 30 lbs? FAT CHANCE! :)

What do you know about the port and polish trick on this car?
I figured that if the head ever came off, I would just go ahead and do that anyways.

944 Turbo exhaust. Is that a bolt-on or is it more complicated?

I see problems down the road with the K/N Filter. I think I will skip that one.

You could buy "944freak's" supercharger kit, he selling it at a great price.

Sorry if I messed up your name 944.

an aftermarket header is good for 1HP!

"944 Turbo exhaust. Is that a bolt-on or is it more complicated?" Frank may be talking about the turbo catback which is all that you can use but even at that it's not a bolt on mod since the turbo has a 4 bolt flange vs. the n/a's 3; not to mention that the pipe will have to "step up" somehow to the 2.5" diameter.

Ooh, I realize that you have an '88, nice car. It already has the higher compression pistons(flat tops). You could raise the compression even more by shaving the head down, but you'll need to bump up the octane. A 3 or more angle valve job will free up the flow.

Thats why I was thinking the SC kit, the 88 would be an awesom platform for that!

In all honesty, I don't own one yet, but when the right one comes along, I will soon.

I want it to look like the '79 that I used to have.

Guards Red, Black Interior, 5-Speed is what I am holding out for.

I just have not settled on what I want the wheels to look like.

http://www.wheels-and-rims.com/images/ALY67179U.jpg

OR

http://www.wheels-and-rims.com/images/ALY67202U.jpg

I know the odds of these wheels ever being on the car I buy are about zip, If I have to add them I will. I am leaning toward the 7 spoke design. I only wish they came with black center and spokes and a polished outer ring.

Does anyone know if the MAF from Huntley Racing or the one from 9x auto work well? I was thinking about buying one but I want one that's simple and affective.

Black 1988 944 N/A

WURTH makes an excellent satin or gloss black wheel paint. depending on your skills you can DIY or pay to have it done.

AFJuvat

Huntley has a good rep, cannot speak for 9xauto.

AFJuvat

I don't want the whole wheel black, and besides all of my DIY jobs look like crap. :)
I would have to send them to a wheel re-finisher anyways, especially if I wanted the outside ring polished or chrome.

But having them side by side like that just made up my mind for me.
http://www.wheels-and-rims.com/images/ALY67179U.jpg
This is what I'm going to go with!
They are from a 1990 PORSCHE 944
16" x 9"

They are nice wheels - what year is your car? If you have an early car, you will have to get the fender lip rolled to for the 9 inch tires. (well, you don't HAVE to, but you will some rubbing otherwise)

AFJuvat

Stupid question (might have been answered already) but can you powder coat your rims?

Thanks for catching that!!!!!

1988 924-S

I guess these are officially called:
Porsche Factory 16" 'Design 90' Cast Alloy Wheel

I was thinking 16 X 9s in the back
and
16 X 7s in the front.

Also, does anybody know about these people for wheel finishing?
http://www.wheelenhancement.com

My no-so-typical opinions:
Regarding upgrades: the best upgrade to do is the driver. Seriously: LEARN to drive better, and your car will perform better. Autocross and DE teaches you a great deal. Before going down the slippery slope of upgrades to the car, upgrade the driver!

That said, I believe upgrading the suspension will give you the best bang for the buck regarding performance. Don't believe me? Here's a short story: I was at Summit Point a couple of weeks ago, and I went for a ride in an instructor's car. We were about even with a stock 993: driver's were of the same ability. The car I was in was a 944S with a stock engine, but a re-worked suspension. (Coil-overs, Koni adjustables...the works!) Suspension makes a HUGE difference.

Tires: my car came stock with 205-55/16 front and 225-50/16 rear. I have upgraded my street tires to 225-50/16 front and 245-45/16 rear, and for track, I run with 245-45/16's all around. Bigger tire equals better grip, and better cornering. While may like to upgrade to 17, 18, and even 19 inch wheels, I am not a big fan of that: bigger wheels are usually heavier (unsprung weight), and doing so may add uneeded stress on the aluminum A-arms (if you have a later model year car).

The throttle cam for the 944n/a, while doesn't give you any extra hp, is one of the best performance upgrades for the car: the throttle is more postivie and offers better response.

Intake/exhaust are usually worth 5-10hp: don't expect the mad hp gains the aftermarket promises! (Even on turbos, this is true)

A thicker rear sway bar helps dial out some of the inherent understeer our cars exhibit. I have the 968 M030 19mm 3-way bar on my car, but I've kept my front sway stock. It does help the car handle more neutral.

There's not much you can do with a 944n/a, 944S, and 944S2 in terms of engine upgrades besides a chip. Chipping a car typically moves the rev-limiter and remaps the fuel/air mixture at various RPM's: it's not really rocket science. Remeber: in this universe, all actions have an equal and opposite reaction. The same is true with chipping your car: you may get better high end performance, but your low end or mid-range may suffer. (I'm not a huge fan in chips, BTW)

A short-shift kit is a nice upgrade. I've got one sitting at home waiting to be installed.

Just my $0.42,
-Z-man.

WWW.Pro-flow.com
 

Try WWW.Pro-flow.com, same unit 1/2 the price.

If you have a 924S, then the 16x9 stock Porsche wheels won't fit.
Due to the limited wheel arch clearance it's difficult to get wide wheels on and not rub. Also, a 9" is overtiring the car, wider rears tend to reduce the oversteer, 924S/944 models already understeer so you would be making the problem worse unless you also replace the sway bar/springs/alignment set up

Heh. I put yours in backwards about 5,000 miles ago :)
Still works!

True, but I think you can fit 16x8's at all four corners, which is what I did. (The max tire on a 8 inch wide rim is 245.)

-Z.

Does anyone know if 16 x 8 phonedials will fit on a 1988 944 with enough room for 245/45s?

Put the chip in backward and get 5 speeds in reverse?

Sorry z-man I think 8's and 9's are a bit too wide for the 924S, they don't have any fender flares like the 944. Yes tnt, 8's will fit all the way around, but that's way too much tire upfront on your car, at most use a 225.

205 front and 225 rear is a good mix, more doesn't necessarily mean better.

I believe a friend of mine is running with 8's all around in his 924S. But his car has been modified (suspension), and he may have needed to roll the inner fender. I'll find out.

TNT: 16x8 phonedials will fit an 88 n/a. You can use the 16x8J's with the 52.3mm offset (stock rear wheels on 951's & 944S2's, and possibly the 928's) 245-45/16 tires will not rub up front.

highboost: why do you think 245's are too much tire for a 944 n/a? Granted, I have more power in my S2, but I think an n/a can more than handle the bigger rubber up front. It really changes the handling dynamics of the car to a better attitude, IMHO.

Again, just my $0.42,
-Zoltan.

they get around just fine w/ 225's all the way around. the thing is only a 924S(I'm building a '87/'88 pca/scca car, so I'm not insulting it), doesn't weigh nearly as much as an S2 or a reg. 944. Plus 245's won't fit on the front of a 924S. You have 220HP, he has 160Hp, that's way too much rotational mass for a small car w/o HP or torque. I'm just talking about a track/autocross angle, not street though. I know more rubber looks better, I do agree. On an S2 or turbo, 245's all the way around is very balanced for track use, but on a narrow, light, low hp and tq car you'll be scrubbing off way too much speed.

OK, Let's see if I have this right.

Fronts Wheels: 16X7
Rear Wheels: 16X8

What about tire size or brand? Any suggestions?

Leave the front sway bar alone and get a thicker rear anti-sway bar. OK, I think I got that.

One question: How much thicker?

I guess that as this age (1988) a new set of Konis or Bilsteins all the way around would probably be in order as well (assuming that the PO has not already done that)?

What about front springs and the rear torsion bars?

I am running Koni adjustable strust with 220lb springs in the front of my 944 n/a and I just don't want it to understeer. I am going to purchase rear konis very soon and I think a rear sway bar. I was curious to see if the 245/45 all around would help so I don't understeer so much.

1988 944 n/a
1976 Chevy Vega station wagon with flames (sold)

Do the Koni's, its the best upgrade I ever did to my 951. It is an instant tremendous upgrade in handeling. I can out corner most all of the other autocrossers in my class, and when conditions change so can the suspension, few twists of the adjuster. A little lower with the spanner wrench and your set.

The answer is: YES!

This year, I've done three DE-track events so far: the first two were with 225/50-16 front, 245/45-16 rear. Still had some plowing/understeer.

For the third event, I had 245/45-16's all around. The difference was very noticable. (I also did upgrade to R-compounds at the same time!) Turn in was more crisp, and I no longer plow through the slower corners of a track! The car rotates very well through the turns.

For the 924S, I suppose 245's may be too much tire, but I'm not buying it! If so, then 225-50's all around is a good alternative.

Another benefit of having the same tire/wheel combo at all 4 corners is the ability to rotate the wheels back and forth, side to side.

-Z-man.

PS: Cool thread, BTW! :cool: