Jchiodi

I know it's early to start thinking about this, but seeing all the neat stuff you can do to these cars does get a person thinking, not clearly, but that's another story...

After getting the suspension, brakes, grounds/electrical problems, and a few other minor problems sorted out, I plan on doing some upgrades.

1) lighting. Not sure how far with this. but better than I have now.

2) exhaust upgrade- muffler bypass, eliminate cats. Not sure if this is worth it. Sounds like it will make checking preload easier.

3) Performance chip, still checking, see different claims on this and not sure about real-world results?

I don't plan on racing this baby, just want to get back to spec first, and bring up a notch or two,

Leon Speed

There are many threads about installing xenon lights around. Personally I think halogen bulbs better fit the style of the car. I simply used 100W off road bulbs. I also installed new fog lights, looks great, but a bit pricey.

An RMB does add sound but no HP. A better upgrade is an X-pipe. It's cheap and adds HP.

If an early 86 is an S3, then Porken supplies chips with good reviews.

Courtshark

Lighting should not be your first "performance" modification. I would recommend lots of yellow stickers instead. 5 hp each!

To go fast, one must first go slow. Upgrade your brakes.

After that,
1. exhaust (headers are nice, but unless you're going for 500+ hp, not necessary); RMB is a smart start; bypassing cats is illegal
2. suspension & steering upgrades (highly recommend the solid steering rack bushings; best bang for the buck upgrade on a 928)
3. sharktuning (need to do this myself)
4. lots of options from here: turbo/SC install/cams/build a stroker/install a corvette 6 spd...

Courtshark

This has probably been covered before, but I wasn't paying attention because my black one doesn't have an RMB; the Kraken does. BUT.... an RMB does NOT add hp? It's removing a pretty large restriction in the exhaust system. Seems like it would be more effective than even yellow stickers.

Landseer

A few suggestions

New plug wires and new distributor caps
32v'r tool to set cam timing
87 fuel pressure regulator and Porken chips
Biltsein shocks / stock springs
Valve body spring kit
Bowden cable adjusted a bit tightly, else, kickdown switch
Either a Pklamp or Constantine clamp
8" H4 headlight conversion

Jchiodi

I've got bilsteins, have a thread about getting em replaced with Boges or not. I just got poly bushing for sway bar, and steering rack. I'll have to read up a little on the 87 FPR-Porken Chip and the Pklamp.

I'm not as worried about the brake performance, seems fine and should be better after I change the rear rotors and change brake fluid out.

I do consider the lighting to be a performance upgrade btw, I have grown used to the headlights on the Acura TL thats my daily driver. Hate the old lights, probably would be okay once I get the driving lights working.. another one on the long and getting longer list!

jc

stolarzj

The Porken chips are about the best upgrade and bang for the buck mod you can make to the car.

Jadz928

The rear muffler restriction is so far downstream, it does't not affect any reduction in back pressure when removed.

I've read 5-10hp, and a reduction in weight.

And it help the S4's in particular, with a highly muffled stock system.

James Bailey

there is no RMB for the early 86.....and it only makes more noise which MIGHT sound faster. With no cats and no rear muffler the early two pipes on one side exhaust with a tiny resonator is going to be really loud like an old 79 Chevy truck with a rusted out muffler. Porken's chips are well reguarded, will require premium fuel.

bigmac

the RMB make my 1990 sounds wonderful. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TmVaF...eature=related

PorKen

Weight is an easy performance mod. Remove the spare/tools, smog pump, get a smaller battery ('86.5-up spec). If the A/C doesn't work (and you don't plan on fixing it), remove the A/C pump, and belt driven fan (the A/C fan works fine).

A RMB on a '86.5 may make a little extra HP, but it's noisy with X-pipe. The pumkin style muffler forces the exhaust through perforated tubes. Modifying a pumkin to remove the restrictions w/X-pipe is perfect, IMO. S4-up have a straight through rear muffler (=resonator), so a RMB only makes more noise on those.

There's also a 89 octane version for those who can't bear the extra $2 per fill-up.

Please, don't waste $50 on eBay chips (= all AutoThority copies). ATs are basically warmed-over stock chips. They may give you a SOTP improvement with a little more torque, but the WOT maps are stock, so there's no way to get higher HP. They also have too much advance in places, and may ping even w/Super.

BIMMERMIKE

I would first suggest getting your running right, as it did when it left the factory then consider chips and other performance upgrades.

bcdavis

One thing I noticed with my 928, is that it was easy to over-spend on "performance enhancements",
that really don't make a huge change in how fast the car is. Honestly, with all the money spent on cams,
head work, headers, chips, intake, exhaust, suspension, brakes, etc, you might be much happier saving
all that money for a supercharger kit.

The other thing people pointed out, is that if you have an earlier 928,
there is a pretty significant increase in power, braking, etc, if you simply
upgrade from an older 928 to an s4, or from an s4 to a GT or GTS,
rather than spending thousands and thousands trying to get an older
928 up to the specs of one of the newer models.

It really depends what you expect from the car. If you are happy with it the way it is,
then yeah, just upgrade the exhaust, brakes and minor things like that.

But if you have the bug to make it significantly faster, better braking, etc,
you might be better off just saving your money for a few years, then
selling your older 928, and getting a newer one.

jbrob007

I have an 86.5 that already runs fantastic & the brakes are great, but like Ricky Bobby... I wanna go FAST!!! Exhaust: I already have the RMB and it SOUNDS faster... Air pump is already gone. The Cat delete and X pipe are next... but the intermediate resonators are staying... too damn loud without them - seriously LOUD droan.

The Porken chips are the best bang for the buck @ $124.00. You'll have to replace all the rubber fuel hoses in the engine bay (need to do that anyway) & replace the stock Fuel Pressure Regulator with one from a MY87. All in all a few hundred $$... Porken sells the chips and 928sRus sells the fuel line parts & the FPR. The instructions for all three small jobs are readily available on line and Roger is great about helping out when you have questions... I call him a LOT!!! The Porken chips go in next weekend - I will find out very soon if it was worth the little bit of time & cash it took to do all of the above. All the reviews I've read point towards more HP & Torque and smoother running all around. Just what the Dr. Ordered!!!

jbrob007

Just slightly less than a Supercharger...