Performance curiosities

daveimme · daveimme's Garage

I know so much has been talked about, but I'm wondering if getting a K&N cone filter (or whatever brand, for that matter) will make a difference in a n/a 944, with all else being completely stock?

For one, I think they look cool, and being re-usable (cleaned and oiled) sounds much more efficient.

And another thing....what option can one do JUST to improve torque? I love torque and drove my buddy's 96 GTI VR6 and man, the torque in that car feels great.....

No big bucks expenditures...but curious what can be done...

afx · 12-30-2002, 01:06 PM

I could not really see why getting a K&N would be bad for your car, unless you drive throught a lot of dirt. From what I have hear, they flow more air, but also let more dirt in. I would also probably change the sound of your car. I took the air box cover off on mine and there was a noticable change in the exhause sound.

One thing that you could try to get some more torque is to get a new cam, that would probably give you a little bit. I dont think there is all that much to do on a NA to get much torgue short of gettting a supercharger

AFJuvat · 12-30-2002, 06:24 PM

K&N will give you a little oomph for not a lot of cash. System works best with a free flow exhaust as well (more air in = more air out, kind of a feng-shui thing) The fact that you never have to replace it is a bonus.

Camshaft couldn't hurt, though it is a bit pricy. Though not really a true "torque increase" but will give your car a bit of a kick in the ass is a lightweight flywheel - A lighter alloy or billet aluminium. Again - a little on the pricy side.

AFJuvat

gearhead290 · 12-30-2002, 07:36 PM

Gut the catalytic converter

Just know that you will be doing a naught naughty thing, so basically DON'T GET CAUGHT!

Dougster · 12-31-2002, 10:37 AM

The K&N can help your car get more air in...Some say it takes in more warm or hot air while setting or in slow traffic, but once you take off it starts to work better. I don't have a cat and I think it hurts low RPM torque, while making up for it on the higher RPM's as well. Good luck!

daveimme · daveimme's Garage

Hmmm, if I get the cone filter and ditch the cat, I should have an added grin on my face, right?

Now, to gut the cat...How is this done? DO I need to get a pipe of correct diameter to replace the cat's displacement on my under belly? I can imagine it'll save a little weight, too, eh?

Mark_944S2 · 12-31-2002, 01:06 PM

One of the things the cat does is make the air breathable for our kids.

Still if you think it's more important to get a couple of extra hp.....

Mark

gearhead290 · 12-31-2002, 01:13 PM

I've heard of a lot of people cutting the cat. out, and welding a pipe in its place (of the same diameter of coarse). But this is a very expensive fine if you get caught (chances are you won't), but just to be safe I would reccommend cutting your old cat. in half and welding it around the test pipe, this will allow you to pass a visual inspection, but it still won't pass anything other then a visual. If you live in Cali or a place that is very strict on emissions I would not reccomend this!

Roadman_944 · 01-01-2003, 12:29 PM

Daveimme,
I went to Zachary exaughst on Rangeline rd. Randy can help. HE...HE...HE. He did mine and did a wonderfull job. I am not sure of the emission test procedures here but from what he told me I would have no problems.
When I first moved here I hit some trash in the road on the way to work. I went to see him and he fixed me up for FREE. Can you beleive that? When it came time for an exaughst upgrade guess where I went. He installed a custom muffler and removed some other parts. I now have a straight through exaughst. I thought it was a little to loud so he put it back on the hoist and intalled a small resignator for the cost of the part. The performance increase was very noticable. But not neck breaking.
I just bought a K&N filter set up and plan to install in a day or so. I will let you know how it goes.
While I have your attention, Is there any place around hrer that a guy can rent garage space? I live in an apartment complex and they frown on auto repair in the lot. I have a lot of work to do. Thanks.

highboost951 · 01-01-2003, 12:36 PM

Don't mean to be an ass but the guy did a BIG(not so legal)favor for you, I don't think you did so by posting it on a public forum, that needs to be talked about privately.

Roadman_944 · 01-01-2003, 01:38 PM

I think I should clear a few things up here.
When I brought the car in for repairs the muffler had been broken off. He welded it back on for free. When I wanted to upgrade after talking to him as to what he could do he installed a performance muffler and at my request set me up with a pipe that could be bolted in where the converter would be. The same as a straight pipe that can be removed for racing. The resignator was installed in this pipe. (The car never left his shop with out the converter). The converter was set up to be bolted in as a stock set up. He informed me it was illegal to use the straight pipe on the street and that he would not do it if the car left without the converter. THE CAR LEFT HIS SHOP WITH THE CONVERTER IN PLACE. I installed the straight pipe later to check the performance increase. As it was not major and the car was still to loud for me the converter was reinstalled. and is currently in the car. I lived in Wisconsin where they have strict emission standards and knew I would need a converter if I moved back.

What I meant by the comment that I should have no problems with emissions here is that I had asked him what the emission tests cinsisted of here he explained that it was a visual inspection at a independant garage. When the straight pipe with the resignator is in the car it looks very similar to a converter. We were laughing about it not debating if I could get away with it.

The car is lagal and I feel it would even pass Califiornia standards.

fty · 01-01-2003, 01:48 PM

People in LA have better things to do than report emission standarss they only do that in NY and Cal.....Get a cat from the junkyard gut it and replace it when you need to pass emissions with the old one....
-chris

highboost951 · 01-01-2003, 03:07 PM

Didn't mean to be a jerk just didn't want the guy to get in any kind of trouble, glad that was cleared up. He's right about passing emissions. If anything it may not pass visual, but I've seen well modified 951's w/o cats pass the sniff test w/ flying colors.

daveimme · daveimme's Garage

Thanks Roadman.....I may check it out. I, myself, have no storage area to work on my car (not that I'm qualified, either), but more so, I wish I had space to work on our dirtbikes (6 of 'em), since I converted my carport into a couple of rooms and made a new driveway with yet a cover. Sorry.

I might check it out with this place in Zachary. Yeah, do let me know what results you get with the K&N filter.

Louisiana is real backwards when it comes to emission testing.....I'll say THAT much....