300whp 951 on a budget

[Tom]

I have a stock 86 944 turbo and want to get a reliable 300 wheel HP. Would a chip, 3 bar FPR and exhaust do it? I have a 928 motorsports head gasket, silicone boost hoses. The car is currently being restored by Edredas.

Not with a stock k26/6 turbo and air flow meter. You'd need a turbo that flows a bit more air, a way to bump boost to 15-16 psi, and a MAF most likely. The stock AFM can only measure so much air (said to be around 300) and the snorkel is a restriction point.

[Latitude48]

I have a stock 86 944 turbo and want to get a reliable 300 wheel HP. Would a chip, 3 bar FPR and exhaust do it? I have a 928 motorsports head gasket, silicone boost hoses. The car is currently being restored by Edredas.

Not with a stock k26/6 turbo and air flow meter. You'd need a turbo that flows a bit more air, a way to bump boost to 15-16 psi, and a MAF most likely. The stock AFM can only measure so much air (said to be around 300) and the snorkel is a restriction point.

For reference my 1989 951 (formerly my son's), made just shy of 300 ft-lb torque and 265 ish HP on a dynojet way back in 1999. This had the stock K26/8 turbo, Autothority DME and KLR chips, and the Autothority banjo bolt restrictor insert. So, to get 300 wheel HP, as Tom said, you will need more than you are planning... more flow and more boost.

However, to put the above into perspective, our 951 felt very fast at the time with that much power. Some of that was undoubtedly due to turbo lag and the sudden rush of power you get with a 951 It's amazing how technology has advanced to the point where my little 2 liter VW Golf R can be much quicker than the 951 with a simple ECU tune. But a good 951 today still provides a tremendous amount of "old school" fun, ha, ha.

[Tom]

I have a stock 86 944 turbo and want to get a reliable 300 wheel HP. Would a chip, 3 bar FPR and exhaust do it? I have a 928 motorsports head gasket, silicone boost hoses. The car is currently being restored by Edredas.

Not with a stock k26/6 turbo and air flow meter. You'd need a turbo that flows a bit more air, a way to bump boost to 15-16 psi, and a MAF most likely. The stock AFM can only measure so much air (said to be around 300) and the snorkel is a restriction point.

For reference my 1989 951 (formerly my son's), made just shy of 300 ft-lb torque and 265 ish HP on a dynojet way back in 1999. This had the stock K26/8 turbo, Autothority DME and KLR chips, and the Autothority banjo bolt restrictor insert. So, to get 300 wheel HP, as Tom said, you will need more than you are planning... more flow and more boost.

However, to put the above into perspective, our 951 felt very fast at the time with that much power. Some of that was undoubtedly due to turbo lag and the sudden rush of power you get with a 951 It's amazing how technology has advanced to the point where my little 2 liter VW Golf R can be much quicker than the 951 with a simple ECU tune. But a good 951 today still provides a tremendous amount of "old school" fun, ha, ha.

That's a great point. Often, people have specific HP targets without realizing that not all power feels the same. Way back in the day, my original 2.5L motor made 270hp and 290tq at the wheels on a dyno jet, using an old Huntley turbo. The car felt very fast -- faster than the other 951 (s) at the dyno that day -- but my actual numbers were lower by 20hp/tq. We were both pretty surprised. The turbo kick made it feel that way I'm sure. Very fun street car to drive. But it's definitely worth mulling why 300hp is the target.

[MoeMonney]

Im looking for a reliable set it and forget it power upgrade. My car is stock with an upgraded 928 motorsports head gasket and new lifters and injectors and its been resealed and has silicon boost hoses. Still has the stock Diverter valve and waste gate. So its definitely healthy. Maybe just a chip upgrade, 3Bar FPR and an exhaust would do?

[JamesM]

Evergreen turbo would probably suit you well, like his k26/8 raptor I got mine built for I think $850

[Latitude48]

Evergreen turbo would probably suit you well, like his k26/8 raptor I got mine built for I think $850

Here's some info Charlie at Evergreen Turbo <evergreenturbo@aol.com> sent me back in 2021:

"Depending on which upgrade you go with there are few options.
#8 with high flow stock size turbine wheel and stock size billet compressor wheel is $895.00 Up to 300 HP faster boost response then Standard #8
#8 Raptor upgrade is the larger 58mm high flow light weight turbine setup with K27 Billet Compressor wheel 54mm that will respond in the 2700 RPM range HP up to 350HP with long torquey RPM range. $1175.00
Also a 60mm Billet Compressor Upgrade that will get you in the 425 to 450 range.
$1275.00
All turbochargers are blueprint built machining all area's of the turbocharger ie Line Boring Bearing Housing/ Seal Area's if out of spec/Rotor Group work for zero runout and balanced."

Check with Charlie for current pricing.

[MoeMonney]

Also considering this LSD upgrade. With more power I think installing an LSD would help with the driving experience. This one is not too expensive.

https://www.tractionconcepts.com/Porsch ... pocus1.htm

[Latitude48]

Also considering this LSD upgrade. With more power I think installing an LSD would help with the driving experience. This one is not too expensive.

https://www.tractionconcepts.com/Porsch ... pocus1.htm

That's certainly a cheap way to get some limited slip action, but like most things, you get what you pay for. The stock differential isn't very strong, and neither are the factory LSDs, so I think you could risk "grenading" your differential. Considering you must pull the trans apart enough to get the pinion out to remove the differential, I'd be much more inclined to install something better. I think you can find a Wavetrac torque biasing differential at a reasonable price. I have two of them in my A4 and they work great.

[MoeMonney]

Are you ... adding a cold air snorkel to replace the black plastic from the factory?

Has anyone confirmed a benefit of an aftermarket snorkel vs factory air intake? I just don't get the "cold" part; these cones draw from inside the engine compartment while the factory plumbs from outside the fender ...?

What aftermarket snorkels are there? Ive been looking for an alternative cold air setup. Would like to keep it looking stock if thats possible.

[944m3]

Are you ... adding a cold air snorkel to replace the black plastic from the factory?

Has anyone confirmed a benefit of an aftermarket snorkel vs factory air intake? I just don't get the "cold" part; these cones draw from inside the engine compartment while the factory plumbs from outside the fender ...?

What aftermarket snorkels are there? Ive been looking for an alternative cold air setup. Would like to keep it looking stock if thats possible.

https://928-944parts.com/en/products/h2

Might be what you’re looking for.

I remember reading somewhere (might have been Joshua from Rogue Tuning) that the factory airbox and stock filter were not restrictions.