944 horsepower

[Josh Y]

what are some ways, if any, to get horsepower out of a base 944? besides a chip?

[Mike Cornelius]

Not much, without spending lots of $. You could start by making it lighter. Or, buy a turbo.

[Autobahn]

You will spend more money trying to make a 2.5 fast than just getting a different car. Set a budget and see what works for you. It's just money!




Here are some HP numbers...

http://www.clarks-garage.com/tech.htm

[gulf911]

what are some ways, if any, to get horsepower out of a base 944? besides a chip?

Put a Porsche motor in it....

[Steve Grosekemper]

what are some ways, if any, to get horsepower out of a base 944? besides a chip?

Put a Porsche motor in it....

Ouch!
Hey Dan it says Porsche right on the cam cover!

But seriously, the best way to make a 944 go faster is to put good suspension/wheels/tires on the car.

[pdy]

the best way to make a 944 go faster is to put good suspension/wheels/tires on the car.

.... And have Steve drive it.

[cam]

what are some ways, if any, to get horsepower out of a base 944? besides a chip?

I used to have a sign that said "SPEED COSTS....HOW FAST DO YOU WANT TO GO??"

[LUCKY DAVE]

A 944 engine is an engine just like any other, and should respond to conventional speed tuning techniques just like any other.
More static compression ratio (improved low end torque), correctly timed longer duration/higher lift cam (raise peak torque rpm), improved external breathing parts (improved BMEP), tighter squish band clearance (faster burning/more combustion chamber turbulence/more detonation resistance), race quality valve job (cleaner intake pressure signal), insuring round straight close fitting holes at running temperature/pressure/head torque values, close attention to dyno development of fueling/spark advance curves, etc.
Careful, expert tuning should roughly double the power output of a stock mass produced street engine.
But, just like any other engine, it's not free.
And the fuse may get pretty short

[Dan Chambers]

what are some ways, if any, to get horsepower out of a base 944? besides a chip?

In my experience and MHO:Not much. The out-the-showroom engines in N/A 944's where fairly well optimized. Change air cleaner/intake? No noticable improvement. Change headers? No noticable improvement. Change muffler to more open breather? No improvement ... just annoy the neighbors at 6:00AM. Chip it? Maybe 5% (runs richer) and raise the rev. limiter to 6800-RPM (POP! goes the #2 rod-bearing ).

Lucky Dave is correct about many points: unfortunately to do those things he mentioned you could end up dumping HEAPS of cash into a $2500 to $4000 car and still get smoked by a 951 that could cost less than all your upgrades

Best way to "go faster" is, as Steve G. mentions, go with the suspension and wheels/tires ... and driving skills. Best way to "feel" faster off the line is to lighten the car - a la spec-car weights.

It's my view (after owning, "tuning," and enjoying a 944 for 6 years) that the best task for a 944 is ... Touring (sorry 944Spec ... I know that smarts). From what I experienced, the power-to-weight ratio's, gearing, vehicle weight, suspension set-up, interior room, "luxury" appointments, gas mileage, etc. all point this Porsche model ...(Yes, Dan Andrews ... it is a Porsche) ... toward enjoying the country-side views while listening to the CD player with the cruise-control on and lightly touching the power-steering with one hand. That's just one man's view.

Don't get me wrong, they (944's) are inexpensive, GREAT handling cars that you can really have fun with at the track ... just not the "top-ticket" for performance driving, feeling the power, or experiencing quick throttle response.

I'd look for a good '86 to '88 951 (944Turbo) before I put any money in to "powering up" a 944N/A .... just my opinion. Ask Jad Duncan or Chuck Sharp.

Enjoy what you have, and don't worry about power. Worry more about driving skills. That's where the real speed is.

[harnishclan]

What Dan said above, except double the numbers. The only place I have found to do that kind of head work charged 1800-2100 just for the head work.

This discussion should re-focus from "how do I get more horsepower?" to "how do I go faster (or get better lap times)?" And that is an easy answer presented below in order.
Experience
Less weight
Suspension
Tires
Brakes

Until you can maximize your driving for 100% of the track, you don't need more HP.

You can have a load of fun in these cars for dirt cheap. My car total cost with it's first set of Kumho V710 was $1700. And my times are not very far away from the top cars. But the fun factor is the same.

[LUCKY DAVE]

Don't misunderstand me guys, getting a NA 944 engine to scream bloody horsepower would be a foolish waste of huge piles of cash, and I'm not suggesting anybody do such a thing.
But it could be done.
To get real power out of this engine, you'd have to rev it to 9500 rpm, with a torque peak at 8000.
Heck, you'd have to start with a billet crank, beefed up main bearing saddles, and Carrillo rods before you did anything else, like fabricate 4 valve heads and valve gear 5 axis cnc machined out of billet, design motor driven variable length intake trumpets above the custom designed showerhead injectors, come up with forged pistons that have the compression ring a more reasonable dimension from the crown (higher) and on and on and on.
But....if there was enough money/company prestige at stake, it's possible.

[cam]

Like I said....HOW FA$$$T DO YOU WANT TO GO???

[harnishclan]

Lucky Dave at the risk of sounding rude, what you are proposing to do to a 20 year old aluminum block is insane

[LUCKY DAVE]

I'm not proposing to do anything to an old 944 but drive it.
I used to race AMA superbike class (pro motorcycle road racing, I did it for 20 years) and the rules said we had to use the original manufacturer's engine cases, the bore/stroke couldn't be changed, and no additional transmission ratios allowed (a six speed stays a six speed, actual ratios were up to the tuners). Everything else was fair game.
In other words, a "silouette" class, where the bike had to look like the street bike it was based on to the fans in the stands (100 feet away in other words).
The only parts of the original engine we used were the cases, everything else got replaced with aftermarket bits. We took 60 horsepower 750cc street engines and turned them into 160 horsepower 750cc time bombs. Lots of dyno hours involved.
It was expensive, $50,000 each engine on average, and a serious team has to have a pile of them.
Ahh, the good old days.......

[LUCKY DAVE]

Look guys, I'm spinning a yarn about what's possible, not what's sensible.
My own NA 944 features a recent oil change as it's big mod......