V2Rocket

Hi,

The purpose of this thread is to document some modifications that will be coming in the near future to my 1985/1 944.

I bought the car 8 years ago this month and it has come a long way. I rebuilt the engine and suspension before driving the car even once. That was at 66985 miles, and after 7.5 years of hard driving the odometer now says an incredible 66985 (will fix that eventually...)

In late 2010 in a series of unfortunate events henceforth known as a "crash" ruined the front of my car from the license plate to the shock towers. A few months of monster-garage ensued and the body was repaired "like stock" but much sturdier and using no original sheetmetal. Turbo nose conversion completed at the same time. To top it off, the car was given a new color, a 997 color called Carmona Red.

Since about 2007 I have been planning a supercharger and never really got much done on it because I was still in school and basically had no money. But in the last 2 years I acquired more and more parts needed and now it is just about ready to go. Expect more on that in coming weeks.

There will be updates here as I get them done, to see where my power levels are at based on individual mods. The purpose here is to show you all what some long-term planning, too much spare time on your hands, and not a lot of spending can accomplish.

V2Rocket

To start things off, here is the chart from the dynamometer pulls done about a half hour ago. I will add videos of the dyno runs when I get a chance, maybe this weekend.

As you can see the curves and numbers are pretty consistent across the 3 runs. The numbers increased with each run - the 118HP number was the first and the 121 was the third. I credit this fluctuation basically to the car really warming up with each run as the car had been sitting for a bit as we figured how to strap it down.

The motor has approximately 45-50,000 miles on it since the rebuild was finished in mid-2006, so this engine is still in a good place in its life cycle. If going by the rule of thumb "15% drivetrain loss" and divide the rwhp/rwtq numbers by 0.85, we get 143.05HP and 150.74TQ at the flywheel.

Basically, power is exactly where it should be for a stock 944 and torque is actually up, maybe my belt is stretching and advancing the camshaft?

Also to note is how rich the AFR gets in the higher RPMs - there was black smoke puffing from the tailpipe over 5500RPM, not a lot but it was visible. Again, engine is completely stock, DME is not touched, and I haven't even messed with the AFM mixture screw. The only non-stock thing really is the aftermarket replacement catalytic converter.

Interesting to note was another 944 run on the dyno's file - someone else in my area with a 1988 944, named Jim F., is putting down 156rwhp/tq but the power/torque curves are nearly identical, just higher. So whoever you are Jim, you've got something good going...

To start the modifications off at this point will be the Rogue NA-tune MAF kit, which I hope to install next week and will run the dyno again.

odurandina

good luck.

don't get too hurt.

Gawernator

At least it only has 66,985 miles!

V2Rocket

NA-tune results.

Green lines are the best from the last dyno trip. Red is tonight, only change to car is installation of Rogue's NA-tune MAF and chip. I realize it is an awful quality picture but it's all I have for now.

Needless to say, big improvements. Peak numbers are up about 5 hp/tq, but the real gains take place in the lower RPMs. Highlighted is the largest increase...14lbft is HUGE. This MAF has the effect of moving the whole torque curve ~500rpm earlier but maintaining the original shape, so it easier to drive all around town.

Car idles smoother, pulls at part throttle smoother, and is all around better.

Nice work, Josh.

chriscross

Did you get the woodruff offset key to advance the cam timing and was it installed for that run? It would be interesting to see how much gain comes from just advancing the timing.

Regardless, I really need to buy myself one of those NA-Tune kits.

V2Rocket

No, I won't be doing the key until my next timing belt change, which shouldn't be til end of next year "according to schedule"

odurandina

I sat behind turn 4 at Daytona two weeks ago during a practice for many of the ALMS racing teams.

I'd seen the GTs and Prototypes flying around the track before (at 2 Rolex races), but that view was from the infield... it's different.

seeing the cars coming out of Turn 4 from just a few hundred yards back,
was akin to seeing donuts-on-a-rope over Norton Air Force Base.

I've been talking up the V8 swaps ever since I can remember...


but after that day, I finally got it. (the 458... omg, that 458) !!


so, with this new found understanding, my suggestion is that

your drive the f_ck out of this motor until it explodes.


then build a real, honest to goodness GT car for the street.

why? because you can.

this magical thing can happen with just a 6 or 8 cylinder engine
and loading up the horsepowers of your choosing.

V2Rocket

that's been the plan since day 1.




we'll see how long this thing lasts, though. the longer i wait for a swap, the cheaper the good engines will get...

Voith

guess how many cylinders this one has?

konakat

WTH is that? Looks like an Abarth badge on the side maybe?

bordin34

Lancia Abarth SE037. Right click search image on google. 4cyl

86 951 Driver

Get the supercharger on that engine.

phlfly

Interesting... Supercharge. Ok Let us know how it goes.

V2Rocket

It's coming, it's coming...

Problem is, I can only really do big work when I'm at my other house, 2.5 hours away, which is only every few weeks...even then, it needs at least a few days free to get anything meaningful done and still have the car ready to drive to work on Sunday!