More power from an S2?

[Frazerb]

I have spent a good bit of this weekend looking for "ways to add more power" to my S2 cab. As you will all know there are "hunderds" of so called modifications available if google is anything to go by.

So the question is anyone with real experience of pushing the S2 engine a little further then the standard 211bhp. My car is my real pride and joy so not keen to do anything risky but up for a quality chip or something if such a thing exists.

Thanks in advance ....FB

 

[Peter Empson]

Hi Frazer,
For the money I think a chip is worth every penny as it will improve driveability. There are lots of vendors, I only have experience of the Promax chip but it did exactly what I expected and wanted.

Other than that you might want to look at a decat pipe which seems to give pretty good gains by all accounts.
Best regards,
Peter

 

[Black_JPN]

I had a blitz chip, after market air filter in my S2 when I had it. It made a little difference and I would probably do it again if I had an S2. Also, the decat as mentioned..

 

[NorthernBloke]

I had mine chipped, put on an induction kit and a Janspeed exhaust system and it made a huge difference to the feel, not to mention the fact that it sounded awesome []

 

[knightma]

IMO, the recent Dyno Day illustrated that you are on a hiding to nothing trying to extract considerably more power out of the S2 engine (without going to the extremes of forced induction). A chip is worth about 5 BHP at the top end as is a Decat exhaust. The most power seen from a modified S2 that day (or at any of the previous Dyno Days) was Peter Empsom's 222.7 BHP, only 11.7 above the factory figure. If you really want a meaningful increase in power, I would sell the S2 and get a turbo.

 

[Diver944]

.....and here is the link to Ricks excellent chart comapiing all the Dyno figures of 944s we have tested. The S2s are in the normally aspirated section (obviously) and if you want to check out what each car has got then look up the registration number in the large spreadsheet further down. Individual dyno charts are at the top of the page again listed by registration.

http://www.cannell.co.uk/944%20UK%20League.htm

 

[mik_ok]

As per Mr Empson ~ I fitted a Blitz chip to our S2 when we had it and was very happy. No downsides, and the upside is a far cleaner delivery (smoothing the spike around 4krpm) and a more urgent top end (above 4.5krpm). Well worth the effort (although a bit of a pain to fit!).

 

[morris944s2john]

Interesting that two cars I looked at had the factory figure for BHP (or very close) and were unmodified and with high mileage!

Just a thought- anyone fitted Nitrous??? an S2 could then make 300FWBHP.

 

[Peter Empson]

I think we risk missing the real benefit of the chips, sure they do give you a little more power, but the key is the way the power is delivered. With the chip the car feels quicker on the road and simply much nicer and more modern to drive. The same argument applies to the MAF in my opinion, no real power gain as standard but a big improvement in the throttle response (albeit it at substantially more cost!).

 

[zcacogp]

OK, as one who has a decently-performing standard S2, this is something that also interests me.

Old-Woman question here, but is there really no downside to a chip? No increase in fuel consumption? (It's getting more than expensive enough as it is at the mo!)

If so, I could be quite interested ...


Oli.

 

[mik_ok]

No increase in fuel consumption, but the remap on the blitz chip was designed to take advantage of higher octane fuel, so it was only run on Optimax / BPUltimate after installation.

I've heard the gains dissapeared if you used 95RON, but never tried it myself.

 

[pauljmcnulty]

Old-Woman question here, but is there really no downside to a chip? No increase in fuel consumption?

Old woman reply.....there's always a downside? Like medicines always have side effects?

As my simple mind understands, if you chip an engine from 200 to 400 HP for instance, that must have short-term driveability issues and long-term durability issues. How many 150k mileage Evos are out there on original engines?

The S2 chips, however, don't whack the power up so won't be stressing the elderly parts, and if the power is delivered more smoothly and the car more driveable maybe it will actually cause less wear? Just my uneducated guess....[&:]

 

[knightma]

Have a read of this, very informative web page.

http://www.pumaracing.co.uk/chip.htm

 

[Peter Empson]

I've actually had my fuel consumption improve slightly after fitting a chip. I put this down to the improved mid range flexibility and the removal of that jerkiness you get when coming on and off the throttle in traffic, meaning you can more easily measure out the power you need.
In terms of wear and tear all we're really doing is making the engine work more efficiently and getting rid of some of the original designed in compromises (such as the ability to run on low grade fuel) so I so no need to worry about any damage from a good chip.

 

[Frazerb]

Thanks everyone for the views and opinions - I like the sound of a smoother delivery etc.

Looking on the internet the Blitz chips seem to be the same as the Promax chips - am I correct here?

Also the place to buy them seems to be K300.

Anyone any other ideas on best place to talk to and discuss purchase with?

Cheers..FB