2.5 n/a power increase

[satancom]

All,

I have recently been trying to sell my 1983 2.5 lux but not had much joy. Not even a bite.

So I have started wondering what I can do to make it a little quicker. Main things I have been wondering about is either fitting a turbo (from a 944 tub) or a nitrous kit maybe? I'm well aware I may end up blowing the things to bits but im not overly concerned to be honest as you can pick up a rotton lux for peanuts and swapping the engine out would not be a problem for me.

I also looked at fitting an S2 engine, as I believe this is fairly straightforward again. Although rotton S2's and engines on their own still go for a pretty penny.

Really im looking for bang per buck, reliability would be nice but its not paramount. Lifes far too short for that

Most things will be in the scope of my abilities, and I would be doing the work myself rather than paying for it

Cheers

 

[pauljmcnulty]

I have recently been trying to sell my 1983 2.5 lux but not had much joy. Not even a bite.

So I have started wondering what I can do to make it a little quicker.

I ran a Lux for 5 years. To be honest, I never felt the car was so slow that I couldn't have fun on the (admittedly busy South East) roads. [8|]

Personally, unless you're going to track it in which case start with weight loss, I'd do the following:

Driver training, re-furb suspension and brakes, proper 4-wheel alignment. Make sure you've got decent tyres, and get the alignment double-checked. Then, more driver training.

If it's still no fun, bearing in mind our pretty low speed limits and very poor roads, then I don't know what to suggest. I can honestly say that a Lux on P6000s is more "fun" than an S2. As in, 30MPH limits, wet roundabouts, cheap laughs, that sort of thing. It's often said that the most fun you can legally have in a car is a Caterham with the smallest engine and the skinniest tyres possible.

 

[satancom]

As in, 30MPH limits, wet roundabouts, cheap laughs, that sort of thing. It's often said that the most fun you can legally have in a car is a Caterham with the smallest engine and the skinniest tyres possible.

I appriciate what your saying and agree that its a great handling car, but living in the Welsh valleys means some great de-restricted roads with some long straights where the lux just seems a little lazy to get up to speed.

I am thinking about doing some track days, but would not be going down the weight reduction route as I like it to be fully trimmed. Track day wouldn't be so much about getting the best lap time, but more enjoying the drive.

I'll be honest im a little strange and like doing slightly over complicated modifications just for the challenge

 

[pauljmcnulty]

One thing, have you done the throttle cam? Most people find the 8-valve cars transformed. It was a special at the Porscheshop open day, but still only about £20.

 

[Mike_Pollock]

Nitrous is probably the easiest way to get big kick with standard internals. Turbo need knock sensor to work properly and they aremt on 2.5 n/a blocks unless you really dont care!
Mike

 

[JamesO]

I think an S2 engined early car would be a bit of a giggle.
Light weight, closer gear ratios (for as long as the gearbox lasts).
Mine will be getting a bigger engine once I have re-assembled it. Be warned it can get expensive fast if like me you think ooh it would be daft not to get the head refurbed, replace leaky seals, new big end bearings etc.
Could be reasonably cheap if you just drop it in and run it but you would need all the parts, dme, loom, oilcooler, flywheel, clutch, hoses, exhaust, etc. All the little bits add up quick if they don't come with the engine.

 

[satancom]

Be warned it can get expensive fast if like me you think ooh it would be daft not to get the head refurbed, replace leaky seals, new big end bearings etc.

Yup im aware, which is why my simple V8 conversion in my landy ended up running me £800 and that was with a free bottom end for starters. If I go down the engine swap route I would certainly do the rings and bearings.

Turbo need knock sensor to work properly and they aremt on 2.5 n/a blocks unless you really dont care!

Would the turbo manifold and such bolt up to my existing 2.5 engine, a knock sensor could be added im sure easily enough

One thing, have you done the throttle cam? Most people find the 8-valve cars transformed. It was a special at the Porscheshop open day, but still only about £20.

No idea what the trottle cam is, but im off to search for it now Cheers


Oh last but not least, if I went for Nitrous what would the safe(r) option be? 30shot, 50? or even going silly for 75?

Cheers again

 

[ChasR]

ORIGINAL: pauljmcnulty

I have recently been trying to sell my 1983 2.5 lux but not had much joy. Not even a bite.

So I have started wondering what I can do to make it a little quicker.

I ran a Lux for 5 years. To be honest, I never felt the car was so slow that I couldn't have fun on the (admittedly busy South East) roads. [8|]

Personally, unless you're going to track it in which case start with weight loss, I'd do the following:

Driver training, re-furb suspension and brakes, proper 4-wheel alignment. Make sure you've got decent tyres, and get the alignment double-checked. Then, more driver training.

If it's still no fun, bearing in mind our pretty low speed limits and very poor roads, then I don't know what to suggest. I can honestly say that a Lux on P6000s is more "fun" than an S2. As in, 30MPH limits, wet roundabouts, cheap laughs, that sort of thing. It's often said that the most fun you can legally have in a car is a Caterham with the smallest engine and the skinniest tyres possible.

TBH even an S2 on P6000s can be made 'fun' in the wet on roundabouts!

I'd echo Mr. McNulty's advice. Get the car tracked and the suspension refreshed where needby (new dampers, 968 castor mounts etc.).

I'd then look to the engine. How old are the HT leads, when was the fuel filter last changed in addition to things like the cap and rotor arm etc.? If these are original or due to be changed, change them, it will help with the car breathing a little better.

Get the response cam for the 2.5. I'd heard they drive very differently with one.

Finally, get your cam timing checked. Quite a few will be out now, and this can cost as much as 15BHP. OK, it's not enough to make you burn away in 3rd on the tyres but it's probably enough to make your engine feel a little more peppy .

 

[Mike_Pollock]

The response cam is great - I've driven with and without - mine has one.

It may be worthwhile finding out how many horses are still in the motor, I changed my engine and got a lot more, only as measured by the seat of the pants, but a definate increase. The new one ('86 - replacing my '83) has been dyno'd at 148bhp since.

Is there anybody close with a similar motor to compare?

Nitrous - where you are, you want an F1 style extra boost without the possibility of a turbo boost coming on mid corner, so with 150 ish bhp + even a modest extra the straights should be shortened!

If you do go that way I'd love to see it!

Mike

 

[944Turbo]

Supercharger off an SLK?

 

[Tam Lin]

ORIGINAL: JamesO

I think an S2 engined early car would be a bit of a giggle.
Light weight..

..yes and no. The S2 engine (which I've got in a 924S rather than an early 944, but the weights are pretty much the same) is so smooth & linear, that it doesn't FEEL fast. Now searching for some cams for that on cam VTEC feel. VERY good fun on track, though.

 

[ChasR]

If the S2 got the cams timed up it does have a kick at 4k. Mine certainly does and pulls harder above 4k than it does below 3k (and I wouldn't call it a slouch before that either).

 

[944 man]

I have a a response cam (the first car thats had one in fifteen years) and I was curious to see how it affected the cars feel: unfortuneately its terrible! Fuel economy is poor and the benefit is hard to identrify. If you wanted to go faster the option was always there to push the pedal more, after all...

To make an early car quicker you dont need to add anything (apart from an unrestrictive exhaist, like a Dansk,): what you need to do is remove things! My old series one car is so much quicker than my series two 2.7l its untrue and beyond the exhaust all Ive done is lighten it...

 

[fulvia]

ORIGINAL: 944 man
I have a a response cam (the first car thats had one in fifteen years) and I was curious to see how it affected the cars feel: unfortuneately its terrible! Fuel economy is poor and the benefit is hard to identrify. If you wanted to go faster the option was always there to push the pedal more, after all...

When PH Sportscars swapped my engine over, they also swapped the donor car's manifold too (bit lazy I guess), with the response cam fitted. I decided to leave it on and try it out, but I've found it makes town driving too jolty, and as you say Simon if you want to accelerate briskly then just floor it! mpg seems affected for me too, but I only had the car a couple of weeks before the changeover, so can't be too sure about that.

So...if anyone wants to swap it for an original then let me know!

 

[ukmastiff]

Simon , tried to P.M you but your box is full [8|] , you mention the Dansk , do you mean just the rear box and pipe ( as sold about 200) or have you used some full Dansk system. I have many folk suggesting I go for a full 3" custom system and am wondering does a Dansk rear silencer really make much difference on a car with the normal front one still in place ?

Regards Mas

 

[Diver944]

ORIGINAL: ukmastiff

wondering does a Dansk rear silencer really make much difference on a car with the normal front one still in place ?

Regards Mas

Nope, none at all, it's a straight forward OEM replica. It made no noticeable difference to my Turbo or S2

 

[944 man]

Its lighter than the original part and I believe that you will see a small improvement at higher revs. Other people have suggested 5bhp at peak power; but whether this is correct I dont know. Id be surprised, but itll probably worth a couple of bhp.

 

[satancom]

It has a stainless steel sports exhaust on it now.. Although the brand and such I don't know. I ddi look into the cam but feel for normal driving it would just sap more fuel and make it more difficult to drive smoothly... And as said to go faster just mash your foot into the carpet

If I wanted to drive fats all the time I am sure it would help though and would still be interested to try it out.

Anyhow I have shelved the idea of modifying it and bought another V8 for running around in. The 944 is back on ebay after some new tyres and a price drop Rather keep it original and sell it on than modify it badly and blow it up!