ECU upgrade for 964, advice?

[codemonkey]

I'm thinking of upgrading the ECU chip for my 1990 964 C2. It has the RS single-mass flywheel fitted, and so is prone to stalling sometimes. I'm hoping to get a chip that will correct this as well as give a modest power increase.

Can anyone recommend a good make of chip?

Is it just a matter of fitting the new chip and you're good to go, or is further tuning usually required?

Thanks!
Sam

[Tom W]

Been there, done that, don't bother.

I did some testing last year with my 964 on a dyno and found no improvement from a supposedly high performance chip (in fact the dyno said i lost a few hp). It did nothing for stalling due to the LWF either.

I also have a LWF in my 993 and got a chip for it a few years back. While I did get maybe 8 hp more, the chip did not help the stalling.

My $0.02, don't bother. I doubt you see any meaningful improvement in hp or stalling from an off the shelf chip. Yes, you can go to a tuner and have them do programming specific to your car, but it isn't going to be cheap. There is definitetly power to be gained from our engines, but it cost more than one or two hundered to get it.

[DustinTarditi]

I have a C4 with LWF - my tech did quite a bit of tweaking with the throttle to keep it from stalling. I have also installed a newer DME relay - this helped a lot - now it is very infrequent and only when the engine is cold.

When reviewing the records (after purchasing the car) a PO had a performance chip installed a few years ago - he was getting poor performance and erratic engine behavior - they had to buy a new replacement ECU (the original was used as a core) - sounds like an expensive lesson.

[codemonkey]

Thanks for your replies! Sounds like an off-the-shelf chip just isn't worth it then...

[red964]

Never ever chip it.

the only way to do it properly is to map it live on the dyno.
With the right person.

Typical proven returns from a good strong early 3.6 engine are 290bhp
In the UK weve seen 305bhp max from a stock 3.6.

Given that engine management can get around 325bhp from the 3.6
the difference between doing it right and wrong (chip) can be massive.

typical remap cost around £500 in the uk

[DustinTarditi]

Anyone remap their 964 in the US?

[Jeff Alton]

Originally posted by red964
Never ever chip it.

the only way to do it properly is to map it live on the dyno.
With the right person.

Typical proven returns from a good strong early 3.6 engine are 290bhp
In the UK weve seen 305bhp max from a stock 3.6.

Given that engine management can get around 325bhp from the 3.6
the difference between doing it right and wrong (chip) can be massive.

typical remap cost around £500 in the uk

You picked up 40-55hp with just a remap of the ECU??
Really

[red964]

Yes,

With a proven before and after run mapping live on 98ron fuel
a typical strong (250bhp) 964 engine returns from 285-295bhp

(thats with the K&N filter and usual cat bypass/cup pipe).

Weve seen the late 964 engine return up to 305bhp.

Weve seen 3.6 993 engines remapped up to 315bhp.
(one showed 323bhp but we didnt quote that one as it was too good to be true).

With the 964RS engine mappable with motec up to 325bhp
you find the limit of the engine isnt normally the capacity, but the engine management and map. Find yourself a good mapper and you will make them fly.

Anyone returning you less than 285 on a stock car needs a kick.
Just dont chip it, the number of chipped cars that were showing less than stock power on the 'before' run is laughable.

same for 993 engines, the NV will typically map up to 300bhp
the VR to 305bhp.

all done on dynos showing 'stock' before and 'after' powers relative to many other Porsches, GT2s, Turbos. etc.