Dyno results: 2.6 liter short block

[Chris Darringer]

>
> We had both our cars at Laguna Seca this weekend (well, my beater
street 
> Coupe Quattro 20v), both cars seemed pretty evenly powered, I'll let
Chris
> comment whether he thought differently since I didn't get a chance to
ride 
> with him, but riding with me he mentioned as much.
>

Laguna Seca was a blast - driving my own Audi on a track like Laguna, no
matter how old or under powered, never fails to put a smile on my face.

As for the 2.6, yes, there was a noticeable improvement over the
original 2.3.  For one thing, I was consistently shifting a bit earlier
at several points on the track, even hitting the rev limiter on the
approach to turn 10 (which never happened before).  Another obvious
benefit was in the low-end torque.  Take turn 2, for example. It's a bit
too fast and awkward for 2nd gear yet slow enough to leave you trying to
"power out" of the turn in 3rd at only 3,500 to 4,000 rpm.  The engine
certainly pulled harder here.  It also pulled harder on the straightaway
immediately after the shifts into 3rd and 4th (before there used to be
this frustrating lack of power right after the shifts).

Power improvements at the top end, however, were not noticeable.  The
engine just tops out at around 6,000 rpm on the long uphill climb just
before the corkscrew, leaving you grinding your teeth as Porsches and
Vettes come up on you from behind like Justin Timberwood on Janette
Jackson (I missed that!  Anyone have the tape? Ha ha).  

In conclusion, I have to say the 2.6 was a little stronger at low rpms
than Javad's beater coupe but was not quite as strong at the top end.  I
would like to believe they were equal, but it's hard to say.  I was
hoping for a direct showdown on the track, but unfortunately it never
materialized.  I did see it once in my rearview mirror on the
straightaway...  I was so taken aback and determined to keep that punk
from catching me that I missed my braking point going into 2 and
proceeded to go off the track briefly in a cloud of tire smoke ;)  That
was my big "teachable moment" for the weekend.

So what's next?  I did get to meet and talk to the guys from Eurospec,
who were a bit surprised by the dyno results.  They have seen the same
amount of power produced in engines with stock cams and no head porting.
They initially suspected the 272 sport cam from Blau (which I believe is
just a ground down stock cam) as a possible culprit.  I am thinking
about swapping it out for either the stock cam or a 276 cam from Elgin
or Shrick.

Thanks for everyone's perspectives on the 2.6.  I will keep you posted
on the cam.

Chris 
'90 80q 2.6