So I just finished installing a new suspension on the 1986 944 Turbo. In addition to suspension, all other mx is finally up to date: fluids, brakes, hoses, filters, etc. Next step in this project is to increase HP to a reasonable amount, and I've picked 300 as the target. From what I understand, this number provides a good balance between increased performance and reliability (and cost). This car is a weekend toy, that i would like to try to get out to autocross events and some HPDEs. I'd also like it to be able to keep up with the other cars I occasionally run with run in the mountain roads of NM, AZ and CO. I'm shooting for 944 Turbo Hotrod. Give it a little more attitude.
Anyway, looking for suggestions on how to move forward. Lindsey Racing provides an "easy button" with their 300 HP kit. Looking for thoughts on that or other options. What have you done to your car that you can recommend?
Thanks in advance.
Ken
Road map to 300 HP...
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Tom
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I'm not a huge fan of the LR 300hp kit. If you look at what's in the kit, the most expensive item is the 4" exhaust, and for 300hp, that's totally overkill. It's also a lot of bulk to fit in a tight space. For reference, I made 500rwhp on my 3 liter with a 3" exhaust. So the bulk of the cost of that kit goes toward something that doesn't offer that much power, if any for a mostly stock car, over a simple test pipe. I'd also note the comments -- i.e., that it only offers 300hp is you have a Turbo S (K26/8) turbocharger. If you car has its original '86 turbo, K26/6, you'll likely see more like 265-275 at the wheels at 16psi. 275 can be plenty fun on these cars, but you don't need to spend $1870 to get there. Lindsey is a good marketer and there's an appeal to a 'kit' that removes all guess work, but you can achieve more for that kind of money. For less money and more power, here's one way to go:
1) A set of performance chips that eliminates overboost protection and uses a 3bar FPR
2) 3bar FPR
3) manual boost controller (black knob)
4) Tial waste gate
5) A cat delete
6) Evergreen turbo 'cheater' rebuild
7) I'd also be tempted to add.a 3" downpipes, since the factory ones can have collapsed walls, but that might put you over budget, so I'd just take a close look at yours when the turbo comes out...
If you do your own cat delete (cut it out with a SawsAll and use a pipe with band clamps in its place), you can keep the cost at or under the price of that LR kit and pretty much max out the power limits of the car without changing over to a bigger turbo with MAF or stand-alone (and clutch and fuel pump and injectors, etc., and whatever else starts to break).
1) A set of performance chips that eliminates overboost protection and uses a 3bar FPR
2) 3bar FPR
3) manual boost controller (black knob)
4) Tial waste gate
5) A cat delete
6) Evergreen turbo 'cheater' rebuild
7) I'd also be tempted to add.a 3" downpipes, since the factory ones can have collapsed walls, but that might put you over budget, so I'd just take a close look at yours when the turbo comes out...
If you do your own cat delete (cut it out with a SawsAll and use a pipe with band clamps in its place), you can keep the cost at or under the price of that LR kit and pretty much max out the power limits of the car without changing over to a bigger turbo with MAF or stand-alone (and clutch and fuel pump and injectors, etc., and whatever else starts to break).
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Gaspowered
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Three hundred HP is reasonable, though I don't know if your 26/6 turbo can easily support that. Others here probably know more about that.
Also, in my opinion, if you start adding boost control (either manual or electronic), I would add in another ~$200 for a wide band O2 gauge and sensor.
Better to be safe than $$$$$$.
Cheers
Also, in my opinion, if you start adding boost control (either manual or electronic), I would add in another ~$200 for a wide band O2 gauge and sensor.
Better to be safe than $$$$$$.
Cheers
Brian
'88 944 Turbo S / Silber Rosa
'88 944 Turbo S / Silber Rosa
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Tom
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Very good point!!!Gaspowered wrote: Thu Jul 10, 2025 1:21 pm Three hundred HP is reasonable, though I don't know if your 26/6 turbo can easily support that. Others here probably know more about that.
Also, in my opinion, if you start adding boost control (either manual or electronic), I would add in another ~$200 for a wide band O2 gauge and sensor.
Better to be safe than $$$$$$.
Cheers
Thanks again for all of the inputs.
When i said 300hp, I really meant 300'ish. I love a car with a power to weight ration of about 1:10. But I also want to key on getting the boost to deliver lower down in the power band to make it more responsive in the twisties.
Tom,
I agree, 3 inch exhaust should be fine and what I'd like to go for. Thoughts on the fabspeed offering?
Cat delete. I've been cautioned about doing that. Emissions are no longer an issue here in NM for me, but I've been told it might make the car more "fume-y." Valid concern? Do you have a link to the process described (sawzall route)?
Chip. Seems like LR has the market cornered in performance DME and KLR chips. Who else out there is a source of a performance chip?
I've read good things about Evergreen. Definitely a company i will keep in mind when/if the turbo comes out.
Gaspowered,
I was already thinking about getting that gauge. Looks like simple/cheep insurance.
Ken
When i said 300hp, I really meant 300'ish. I love a car with a power to weight ration of about 1:10. But I also want to key on getting the boost to deliver lower down in the power band to make it more responsive in the twisties.
Tom,
I agree, 3 inch exhaust should be fine and what I'd like to go for. Thoughts on the fabspeed offering?
Cat delete. I've been cautioned about doing that. Emissions are no longer an issue here in NM for me, but I've been told it might make the car more "fume-y." Valid concern? Do you have a link to the process described (sawzall route)?
Chip. Seems like LR has the market cornered in performance DME and KLR chips. Who else out there is a source of a performance chip?
I've read good things about Evergreen. Definitely a company i will keep in mind when/if the turbo comes out.
Gaspowered,
I was already thinking about getting that gauge. Looks like simple/cheep insurance.
Ken
1986 Porsche 951
2016 Porsche GT4
2016 Porsche GT4
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Gaspowered
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For performance chips, you should check out Vitesse Racing (@Fast951 here on this forum)
http://www.vitesseracing.com/
I don't think he sells turbos currently, but I do believe he still sells chip sets. I know he's been the "go to" for 951 performance for quite a few years.
Cheers
Note, Here's a recent thread on the same topic.
viewtopic.php?t=1419
http://www.vitesseracing.com/
I don't think he sells turbos currently, but I do believe he still sells chip sets. I know he's been the "go to" for 951 performance for quite a few years.
Cheers
Note, Here's a recent thread on the same topic.
viewtopic.php?t=1419
Brian
'88 944 Turbo S / Silber Rosa
'88 944 Turbo S / Silber Rosa
Great link. I'll be reading through this carefully.Gaspowered wrote: Thu Jul 10, 2025 2:16 pm For performance chips, you should check out Vitesse Racing (@Fast951 here on this forum)
http://www.vitesseracing.com/
I don't think he sells turbos currently, but I do believe he still sells chip sets. I know he's been the "go to" for 951 performance for quite a few years.
Cheers
Note, Here's a recent thread on the same topic.
viewtopic.php?t=1419
1986 Porsche 951
2016 Porsche GT4
2016 Porsche GT4