More power required? Supercharging

[p27549]

I currently have my C2 Cab up for sale as i want some more power for my fuel costs. So thought was to jump into either a 964 or 993 Turbo. As yet there has been no genuine interest in my C2 Cab. So the thought is to look down the road of a supercharger kit. That way i keep a cabriolet (A benefit over a Turbo coupe), have near 330 BHP at the wheels and keep a low milage genuine car.
Has anyone on the site played with supercharging a 993? I see TPC seem to do a good kit. 9M have played but prefer to tune the engine itself at quite a huge cost.

Any thoughts?
TIM
C2 Cab
55k miles

 

[danofesher]

I supercharged a 3.2 - the difference was phenominal and I never felt short of power. If you do supercharge it make you must make certain that you get every bit of your car back because when you come to sell you'll find that nobody wants a supercharged car - plenty will hopefully want an original car and plenty will want to buy the supercharger kit, i.e. I ended up taking the supercharger off and selling the car as original and I got a good price for the supercharger kit.

 

[p27549]

That is good advice thanks. Its good to hear that the performance was very noticable. Would you recommend any mods to the engine, i.e chip, Exhausts, clutch etc

Cheers
TIM

 

[danofesher]

As part of the installation you'll need the chip to be remapped (e.g. to retard ignition). I had mine done by AMD who blew a new chip so that my old could be kept for if/when I converted back to standard. The company that did my conversion are no longer in business (I'd seen an article in 911 and Porsche World). The kit was bolt-on with its own oil cooler. It had a very large intercooler. It also had an additional large fuel regulator and wastegate (in order to house all this I had to change my engine lid to a Turbo one). I didn't upgrade brakes/suspension other than fitting much stiffer rear shock absorbers (because of the rear trying to ground itself when accelerating). It would have been nice to upgrade these (again, remembering to keep all your original parts).

I'd be surprised if there aren't American websites that can sell a kit which someone here could fit for you. Mine cost me about £8k because I had a top-end overhaul (including new rings) at the same time (plus a new clutch). I ran it trouble free for 4 years (about 12k miles) and enjoyed every minute!.

 

[p27549]

TPC in the US are doing one for 4K. Dyno shows 350bhp at the wheels and 330lb torque. All bolts in easily. I will do it myself as it looks very straight forward. Thanks for your info, i think i will go with it as it will be cheaper than a turbo with equivalent power and i keep the cabriolet roof.
Thanks
TIM

 

[danofesher]

ORIGINAL: p27549

i think i will go with it as it will be cheaper than a turbo with equivalent power and i keep the cabriolet roof.
Thanks
TIM

The supercharger will be a totally different feel to a turbo. A Turbo always has lag whereas the supercharger is providing instant power accross the board. You should tell the supplier that it's a cabriolet because it may have some body strengthening that'll be in the way of the supercharger (the chap that bought mine had a cabriolet 3.2 and it had a bar that was in the way so he had to do some slight mod). I'm sure that 350bhp is realistic on a 993 engine (my 3.2 initially produced 330 but I asked for it to be lowered a little). I wonder whether with all that power, in a cabriolet, when you put your foot down the body'll twist and the doors fly open

.

 

[jmspear]

I personally would not fit a s/c to a cab. I boought a brand new never fitted TPC kit on ebay (in the UK) from a cab owner who had decided not to fit it because of chassis twisting issues. Also check with your insurance very carefully as they may take a dim view of s/c without serious brake and suspension upgrades which will make your cab pretty uncomfortable, a cab with RS ride quality - interesting!

Finally I would be aware that if you wanted to track your car you will need more upgrade work that in the standard TPC kit to keep the engine intact. This was the reason that in the end I sold the TPC kit on (wonder if it has been fitted yet?) and went with the 9M conversion.

Worth looking at buying the kit in the states and bringing back in your hand luggage (very big box tho) to avoid duty which ads considerably to the US cost.

Finally if you are not dissuaded there is a chap in Edinburgh who is importing the kits and fitting them, he spoke to me at the RS day in march and I have his details somewhere if you are interested. I know nothing about him other than he spoke to me at oulton.

Cheers

John

 

[p27549]

Thanks for the responses. I am not interested in track daying the car. It is not going to be hammered round corners. I just want the extra power for the grin factor. I think the guys from Scotland are the Engine Room. I will get in contact with them. If anyone wants a C2 Cab then i will get a Turbo. Problem is no takers in the West country and garages are offering ridiculous Px prices. 16K for a 55k miles 993. One thinks not especially when the Turbo's are high milage and expensive.
More questions to be asked one thinks, especially ref insurance and body twist.

Thanks all, more info the better.