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What did you do to/with your 944 today?
Posted: Sun Sep 19, 2021 3:28 pm
by Tom
Quiet day here today, so thought I'd start a thread all boards seem to need.
Personally I didn't do much other then map ohms to temps for my soon-to-be fuel temp gauge....
Re: What did you do to/with your 944 today?
Posted: Mon Sep 20, 2021 6:14 am
by Darwin
Unfortunately, as of late, my 944 time has been fairly limited. I did manage to get all the body panels back in after upgrading the tweeters, but I haven't re-installed the drivers rear quarter window yet. Honestly not looking forward to that...
Re: What did you do to/with your 944 today?
Posted: Wed Sep 22, 2021 4:10 pm
by AudiSport
Trying to remove the cam box to replace the head gasket. But someone over torqued the bolts so I’m trying to not strip them.
Also been stripping out the vitesse stage 2 system. Tons of hacks on the install so… going a different route and starting over.
Re: What did you do to/with your 944 today?
Posted: Wed Sep 22, 2021 5:48 pm
by Darwin
AudiSport wrote: Wed Sep 22, 2021 4:10 pm
Trying to remove the cam box to replace the head gasket. But someone over torqued the bolts so I’m trying to not strip them.
Also been stripping out the vitesse stage 2 system. Tons of hacks on the install so… going a different route and starting over.
What are you planning to do going forward?
Also if you're interested, battery cables are available from Porsche new, still. $300 replaces everything.
Re: What did you do to/with your 944 today?
Posted: Wed Sep 22, 2021 5:57 pm
by AudiSport
Darwin wrote: Wed Sep 22, 2021 5:48 pm
AudiSport wrote: Wed Sep 22, 2021 4:10 pm
Trying to remove the cam box to replace the head gasket. But someone over torqued the bolts so I’m trying to not strip them.
Also been stripping out the vitesse stage 2 system. Tons of hacks on the install so… going a different route and starting over.
What are you planning to do going forward?
Also if you're interested, battery cables are available from Porsche new, still. $300 replaces everything.
I have a voodoo turbo I bought in 2018 for my other Turbo (red) that is a basket case and needs a lot more done. So I'm moving parts to my black one I just bought last year. I'll be doing a standalone system along with the turbo and some other improvements as I go. Right now the main focus is get the head off. Blew the HG a month ago. Have a new SCE gasket and ARP bolts to go in. Then sell the Vitesse system and get the new ECU and build a harness.
Re: What did you do to/with your 944 today?
Posted: Wed Sep 22, 2021 6:25 pm
by Tom
Looks like some quality vintage parts that were installed by a caveman. Can't quite say I've ever seen anyone make a wire connection using a zip-tie.

Did it even run? Also looks like some LR patch cables in there and old Iceshark battery cables.... The latest Vitesse MAFs/software run like a sewing machine without much effort (when not installed like that) but I 100% get why you'd want to start over with a new harness, which in turn opens up the choice of ECU to whatever suits your fancy. Sounds like you have some work ahead, but very much looking forward to hearing how things progress.
I don't know why the cam tower bolts tighten up so much, but they do that. I've installed them a million times with a torque wrench set to 15 ft lbs, yet the next time I try to remove it, the bolts feel like someone torqued them to 150 ft lbs. Clean the hex sockets throughly, use a straight (not ball) allen key, and make sure its bottomed out in the bolt before turning (using a hammer to seat and wake up the bolt)... I have a step-by-step write-up on doing the HG if helpful. It's on the web and easy to find, but it just occurred to me I should post it here too.

Re: What did you do to/with your 944 today?
Posted: Thu Sep 23, 2021 7:06 am
by AudiSport
Thanks, I think I used your HG write up years ago when I did it on my other Turbo back in 2011. This car ran well, but had smoke at idle when hot. I was setting up a PCV system to draw more vac at idle as the larger MAF setup doesn't draw enough causing the turbo to not drain and then smoke out the exhaust. Got on it pretty hard on the test drive and popped the HG. So here we go...
Re: What did you do to/with your 944 today?
Posted: Thu Sep 23, 2021 11:17 am
by Thom
Lately I have been measuring many dimensions in front of the rad and in the area where the stock intercooler is mounted as I am having a custom intercooler made to suit the new engine. This is the last (*) piece missing in the puzzle and should let the engine breathe the way it should. On paper this upgrade should bring 150 rwhp, but I will be happy with only 100 more rwhp.
(*) wishful thinking
Re: What did you do to/with your 944 today?
Posted: Thu Sep 23, 2021 4:31 pm
by Tom
AudiSport wrote: Thu Sep 23, 2021 7:06 am
Thanks, I think I used your HG write up years ago when I did it on my other Turbo back in 2011. This car ran well, but had smoke at idle when hot. I was setting up a PCV system to draw more vac at idle as the larger MAF setup doesn't draw enough causing the turbo to not drain and then smoke out the exhaust. Got on it pretty hard on the test drive and popped the HG. So here we go...
The one time I had smoke at idle, an oil restrictor (NPT plug with 3/32" hole drilled in it) solved that problem. Since then, I built my own catch can to better deal with pressure building up in the crankcase under boost, and enlarged the hole in the top of the AOS. It was pushing up my dipstick among other things. Even with enough pressure to pop the dipstick out, it's never smoked with the oil restrictor in place. Just a data point...
Re: What did you do to/with your 944 today?
Posted: Thu Sep 23, 2021 4:45 pm
by Tom
Thom wrote: Thu Sep 23, 2021 11:17 am
Lately I have been measuring many dimensions in front of the rad and in the area where the stock intercooler is mounted as I am having a custom intercooler made to suit the new engine. This is the last (*) piece missing in the puzzle and should let the engine breathe the way it should. On paper this upgrade should bring 150 rwhp, but I will be happy with only 100 more rwhp.
(*) wishful thinking
Fingers crossed for you, but many moons ago I did some data logging with a stock intercooler vs. the original (seriously big) FMIC that Speedforce racing was making at the time. Bottom line was that the car didn't really make (much) more power with the FMIC, but the factory intercooler got heat soak much faster and stayed hot much longer. So, as a practical matter, it slowed the car down by not being able to push it as much, and as soon, as the big I/C. I remember thinking for the track the big I/C would really be helpful, but less so for the street. If memory serves I made 450hp to the wheels (dynojet) with the stock intercooler, so it flows better than some might think (until it heats up anyway). That said, the most I ever made was 500rwhp/tq, so if the factory intercooler becomes a major bottleneck above that, and is "the thing" preventing you from getting to 650 or something, then that would be good to confirm/know....