Getting more HP from an 87 Porsche Carrera

[tt_chago71]

Hello. New to the forum and new to owning a Porsche. Simply wanted to get a ball park on figure as to what to expect if I wanted to get more HP. I been told to add a chip but what else is recommended ? Thanks



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[Roswell]

To give a complete answer we need to know a bit more about the car.

How many miles are on the car?

Have the valve guides Been replaced?

[Quicksilver]

The power you get from a chip is going to be from reducing the safety margins that the manufacture built in to deal with bad gas or from the "tune" of the engine deteriorating. The Steve Wong chip tells you their expected octane and you will need to use it. A chip isn't going to get you any serious increase in power. Much of the increase would be in driveability (Oh, and a lot of the chips are crap and don't help a thing.)
I take my car to Mexico every year so a safety margin for gas is just good sense and an aftermarket chip is out. I upgraded my car with the last chip that Porsche made for the 3.2s: #1267355358. It is the same as the ClubSport chip without raising the redline.

I had a discussion with Jerry Woods and Bruce Anderson about what you can do with the 3.2 and their answer was very clear. "There is 20 HP in the exhaust. Porsche didn't leave any power on the table in the intake or anywhere else." In other words a good set of 1-5/8" headers/heat exchangers will make you some power. Plus you can have fun selecting a muffler that will make you smile.

If you want more from the engine you will have to make changes so it pumps more air through it. That means: Turbocharge, supercharge, spin it faster, and/or increase displacement.
All of those means you either open up the motor and make changes or replace the motor.

[douglas bray]

Lots to do to insure you have a well maintained car before you chase a few horsepower. Having said that I'd get the Steve Wong chip and look at modern 4 spittle fuel injectors. The injectors have given me an entirely different engine. It's a beast.

[bigel]

I’ve got the Wong chip, exahust modifications and during a recent teardown had the fuel injectors cleaned, checked and serviced...she pulls plenty for me!

If you’re looking for more horses, trade her for a 964 turbo...now, that’s a big increase in HP; however, with the requisite increase in cost $$$

[FstTarga]

Just slap a turbo on it and run VEMS. Or alternatively headers, exhaust and a Wong chip will do you if a more modest bump and a lot less work suits you.

[Jack Stands]

If you’re in the Chicago area (I assume from your sign-in), I’d check with Sol Snyderman at Perfect Power in Buffalo Grove or George Weatherud at Midwest Eurosport in Bensenville. They’ve both been around for many years and know what will reasonably work for you. The old saying “Speed costs Money, how fast do you want to go?” certainly applies.

[Raceboy]

Originally Posted by FstTarga

Just slap a turbo on it and run VEMS.

Definitely cheapest way to get power and still have car that drives nicely.

[David E. Clark]

Start with "free" power by following Colin Chapman's mantra and "add lightness". "Adding power makes you faster on the straights; subtracting weight makes you faster everywhere".

[tratza]

During a rebuild in 2002 (head studs and an oil leak requiring a head pulled) I had the cams reground and as a final touch cut a nice big hole in the passenger side of the muffler and welded a driver side matching exhaust pipe. I'd already replaced the cat with a bypass had the hot wire set up which came with a chip. The highly respected race shop in Houston (long since sold) said changing out the chip again wouldn't do much if anything versus the chip that came with the hot wire. With all that it has respectfully produced 245 hp plus or minus very little adjusted at the crank and for ambient temperature several time on two different dynos.

I recommend cams during a rebuild but it's going to cost.

[Raceboy]

Pulling comfort stuff out of a street car makes it a bit faster (and barely tangible) but also ruins the experience totally. And adding power to the engine on a street car is most noticeable while you never take advantage of lighter weight of the car in the corners (doubt anyone is taking intersections at full tilt).

[hcoles]

Originally Posted by bigel

I’ve got the Wong chip, exahust modifications and during a recent teardown had the fuel injectors cleaned, checked and serviced...she pulls plenty for me!

If you’re looking for more horses, trade her for a 964 turbo...now, that’s a big increase in HP; however, with the requisite increase in cost $$$

^^^
This, buy the Porsche that has the power you want as stock. Unless you spend a huge amount of $$$ you will still not have a fast car and the enjoyability as a DD may be decresed. IMHO of course. There are many threads here re. this.

[Trackrash]

Assuming you don't have to worry about passing smog requirements it really depends on how much you want to spend.

Also you could consider an upgrade to a 3,6.

That said 3,2s get a nice boost just from a chip and headers.

You should buy Bruce Anderson's Porsche 911 Performance Handbook and Wayne's How to Rebuild 911 motors, both available from Pelican's Parts Catalog. You will see all your options.

"How fast do you want to spend?"

[HorstP]

I can fully understand the question. Here is what I dit in order of appearance:

1. aftermarket chip (very comparable to the SW chip): better driveability, better punch below 4.000rpm
2. replaced stock ceramic catalytic converter by 100cpi metal cat: big difference in overall performance, better sound
3. replaced stock airfilter with round filter and customer made adapter: more noise but due to the adapter slightly better midrange
4. installed headers, 2 100cpi cats and new muffler:again, big step forward
5. replaced 3.2l engine with 3.6l engine: much different caracter of the car with the higher torque at lower rpms
6. replaced the 3.6l engine with 3.8l engine: burned some unnecessary money...

[darrin]

Originally Posted by douglas bray

Lots to do to insure you have a well maintained car before you chase a few horsepower. Having said that I'd get the Steve Wong chip and look at modern 4 spittle fuel injectors. The injectors have given me an entirely different engine. It's a beast.

AGREE -- sounds like you're new to the air-cooled 911 world -- Keep in mind that these cars aren't going to have the straight-line performance of modern cars without spending BIG $$$. However, you might be very pleasantly surprised by how much improvement can be had by getting the stock engine properly dialed in by a person who's familiar with these cars' needs/peculiarities -- this should be done (imo) before any other tweaks/improvements take place.

Roswell's post is spot on too -- doesn't matter how much $ you throw at chips, injectors, exhaust, etc. if your engine's already old and tired -- premature valve guide wear affects a fair % of our 3.2 engines and any underlying wear issues should be addressed before taking other steps to boost performance.

Another alternative for chip/injectors is Sal Carcella, his philosophy is to start with a fully dialed-in 3.2 and go from there -- Sal has also worked with an number of mechanics and may will have a suggestion in the OP's area -- see http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-911-technical-forum/889886-sal-carcellers-chip-injector-system-3-2-a.html

[proporsche]

TT..c..all this is absolutely correct..but i am very surprised that nobody has mentioned the 1st thing to do to change the engine behavior on acceleration.That is reset-readjust the camshaft timing.This is the most unexpesive thing to do before you start changing exhaust and other components.

Most of the US 911 are set up to burn the fuel as clean as it gets.But with a little adjustment on cams you can get nice response right from 1000 - 50000 RPM and you do not have to wait till the tacho hits 2500...
it will not effect the emission ,no worries.


Ivan

[gomezoneill]

Originally Posted by proporsche

TT..c..all this is absolutely correct..but i am very surprised that nobody has mentioned the 1st thing to do to change the engine behavior on acceleration.That is reset-readjust the camshaft timing.This is the most unexpesive thing to do before you start changing exhaust and other components.

Most of the US 911 are set up to burn the fuel as clean as it gets.But with a little adjustment on cams you can get nice response right from 1000 - 50000 RPM and you do not have to wait till the tacho hits 2500...
it will not effect the emission ,no worries.


Ivan

Details on this procedure please. How much advance ? Numbers?

[proporsche]

Hi..details is basic camshaft adjustment...
The usa 911`s what i have experienced are most of the time around 1,15...I do mine and i like to play with fire ,close to 1,36-8 or i do the best to get to this number on both cams.
of course if the car went trough some knowledgeable mechanic ,he might have done already the adjustments?

Ivan

[gomezoneill]

Originally Posted by proporsche

Hi..details is basic camshaft adjustment...
The usa 911`s what i have experienced are most of the time around 1,15...I do mine and i like to play with fire ,close to 1,36-8 or i do the best to get to this number on both cams.
of course if the car went trough some knowledgeable mechanic ,he might have done already the adjustments?

Ivan

Thanks. I'm rebuilding the top end on my85 carrera next year.

[Fly911]

I'm doing a complete rebuild of my '87 Carrera engine. Expecting around 400Hp, naturally aspirated...