1986 944 Turbo performance enhancement

[Gary944T]

A few months ago I read somewhere you can do a 5 minute change to boost performance and reduce turbo lag. Can't find it now. I believe it had something to do with the wastegate and was referred to as a "restriction". Anyone know?

[Gary944T]

Also I just read that the cars 0 to 60 mph is 5.7 seconds. So I downloaded a stopwatch app and tried it. Best I could do is 8.3 shifting to 2nd gear at 6000. First gear turbo lag is horrible maybe I should shift sooner? Of course it is difficult to time the reach for the phone at the right time. Maybe there is a voice activated stopwatch.

[grendiers]

Probably a Lindsey Boost Enhancer. Attaches to the passenger side charge tube.

[Gary944T]

Thanks, I'll order it

[AaronM]

Originally Posted by Gary944T

Also I just read that the cars 0 to 60 mph is 5.7 seconds. So I downloaded a stopwatch app and tried it. Best I could do is 8.3 shifting to 2nd gear at 6000. First gear turbo lag is horrible maybe I should shift sooner? Of course it is difficult to time the reach for the phone at the right time. Maybe there is a voice activated stopwatch.

The best 0-60 times for the turbo cars were reached by slipping the clutch to keep the engine above ~3,500 RPM and avoid dropping out of boost. It's very, very hard on the clutch and really these are not cars to use if you want to do fast 0-60 runs on a frequent basis.

[dme]

These cars are not dragsters. It's a good way to break your CV axle(s).

[Gary944T]

Originally Posted by dme

These cars are not dragsters. It's a good way to break your CV axle(s).

That's an interesting comment. If I wanted to get beat off the line by every Tom, Dick, and Harry then I would have done tourist delivery in 1986 of a Volkswagen beetle to save a few bucks. Instead, I opted for the fastest production car in the world at the time.

[dme]

They are fast (were fast for the time) and off of a rolling start, on the twisties, going down the highway, or just feeling the turbo kick in, they deliver. That is why I've had three of them. Unfortunately, the boards are full of broken axle stories.

[azbanks]

There are ways to reinforce the transmission mounting and that will go a long way toward keeping your axles safe.
It is rare to break an axle. It is much more common to break a CV cage.
If you limit the twist of the trans, you limit the range of motion for the cv and reduce the risk of breakages.

[Fastcarjoe]

Originally Posted by Gary944T

A few months ago I read somewhere you can do a 5 minute change to boost performance and reduce turbo lag. Can't find it now. I believe it had something to do with the wastegate and was referred to as a "restriction". Anyone know?

I just did the Lindsey Racing “boost enhancer,” 2 of their wastegate shims, a 3BAR fuel pressure regulator, Vitnesse Racing DME chip, and colder spark plugs. What a tremendous difference! I had all of that done prior to yesterday minus the boost enhancer and yes, you could feel a little difference, but after I installed it yesterday, that was the real game changer. My gauge pegs 2 BAR of boost (1 BAR absolute) and it comes on earlier and much harder. Be sure to use a mighty vac hand pump to pressurize the boost enhancer and set it to start opening at 10psi.

Kind Regards,
Joe

[Pote9983u]

Hey, I know exactly the kind of mod you’re talking about! It sounds like you might be referring to a quick wastegate actuator adjustment or a restrictor pill tweak, often used to dial in boost response. On some turbo cars, like my old WRX, you can adjust the wastegate actuator preload by tweaking the rod length or spring tension—takes about 5 minutes with basic tools. This can help the wastegate stay closed longer, spooling the turbo faster and cutting lag, but you gotta be careful not to overboost and stress the engine. Another trick is removing or swapping the restrictor pill in the boost control solenoid line, which can alter how much pressure hits the wastegate, sharpening response.

I’ve heard of folks doing this on Subies and Evos, but it’s super car-specific—depends on whether you’ve got an internal or external wastegate setup. Since you mentioned a “restriction,” I’d bet it’s the pill mod. Check your turbo’s boost control setup; if it’s got a solenoid, look for a small inline restrictor in the vacuum line. Swapping it for a larger or smaller diameter can change boost dynamics quick. Just don’t go too wild without a tune, or you’ll risk overboost codes or worse. You running a stock ECU or aftermarket? That’ll affect how safe this is to try.