3 simple mods, and my 944 is 300% better to drive
 

I've been so busy with other car projects that I've fallen behind on keeping the daily drivers up to snuff. So my mom's '84 944 has been slowly losing it's edge.

Among the many little issues it has, I recently nailed 3 annoying ones, and I had no idea that each one was going to make such a big improvement.

1. 1985.5 DME and AFM. OK, I did know this one was going to be a big improvement, but I still can't get over it. Losing that back-to-idle shudder is soooo nice, especially in stop-and-go traffic, no more lurching back and forth.

Incidentally, it also cured an issue it's had for a long time - it would run rough for the first minute or so, and any throttle would make it want to stall. I guess the old DME was bad, maybe cracked solder joints.

2. Only944.com hatch pin seats. These were easy to install, and totally got rid of the squeaks and chirps from the hatch while driving. The car is so much more enjoyable to drive now. I thought they might help a little bit, but (in my case) they totally solved the issue.

3. 2.5 degrees of cam advance. I just put new belts and rollers on it, and took the opportunity to change the camshaft woodruff key for a 2.5 degree offset one. I'm amazed at how this car feels now. It has noticeably more low-end torque, and is so much easier to drive on the roads. Setting off from stops, passing, everything is improved. I rarely rev it past 5k, so I don't care if it's lost any top-end. Seriously, I wish I did this 10 years ago.


There are a lot of other good ones, but I just did these 3 in the last month and I guess they all work together to make it feel great.

Thanks for sharing this very helpful info

Where did you get the offset key? Sounds like something I would like. I totally agree about the late DME/AFM setup. I'm so happy I made the switch on my car too.

http://www.928motorsports.com/parts/...aft_keyset.php

My favorites: throttle cam, brake bleed, throttle body rebuild kit, new shifter parts to eliminate play, and sway bar bushings. All are pretty cheap if you DIY.

Cam key - WOW world of difference. Around town, so much more power...


On my car, +2* advance got dyno-proven +4whp/+7wtq :) with no other changes, not even the tune.

Glad you are happy with the changes. So did you replace the DME & AFM with good ones?

You know, I wonder if my 944MAX chip is providing a similar ignition advance? I got the same sort of torque-biased improvements by switching the DME chip.

I can set off in second gear fluidly. Lots of usable around town torque, and flawless idle.

Glad you're benefiting from these mods.

Ignition timing and valve timing are different - although changing one will change the optimal settings for the other. Ignition timing is a software/tune setting, valve timing is mechanical and hence requires an offset key.

Thanks for that clarification. I'm not much of an auto mechanic, but I do understand that.

Which I why I just mused that the software-only DME tune that I applied seems to have given me just what OP reported, with his hardware change. Merely an interesting point, to me.

>valve timing is mechanical and hence requires an offset key.

Can you just offset the timing belt by a notch? Or would a single notch give too much advance?

I am not sure exactly how many teeth are on the cam gear.

Thats a lot more IIRC, The 2.5 is a pretty small offset.

8v timing gear is forty teeth iirc which is nine degrees.

I made the offset key by machining an Allen wrench. I just had to try it :P but next time I'll start with key stock. The original key is 4mm wide, and by my calculations, a 0.5mm offset equals 2.5°.

Are you guys saying I need to advance the ignition, too? It feels great right now.

Yeah, the new DME & AFM are good.

I need to try that round throttle cam, I've heard it's great. And +1 to fixing the shifter!

You definitely don't need to, but if you had it tuned on the dyno, the ignition advance table might look a little different because of knock threshold. Only because the valve timing affects the temperature gradients in the cylinder and the knock threshold will technically change. But you're definitely not in any danger.

thanks for posting.

I need my hatch pins/seats done.