Re[2]: How can I speed up my Audi coupe?

[J_T_Douglas%mwcorp1@MWMGATE1.mitre.org]

Patrick -

>>1. Post your question on the Audi mailing list.

>Wow! I didn't know there was one! Could you tell me how to subscribe?

a) great!  I think you might be the first member from New Zealand [most list 
members are US or Canadian, with a few from the UK.  Now if we could only get 
some Germans to join (like a VWAG employee) we'd get all the inside info :-)] .  
I'm afraid that you will be subjected to many questions about the automotive 
environment there and what VW/Audi products were and are available.  You will 
probably find a lot of info to satisfy any curiousities about Audi's US 
offerings.

BTW, I'm taking the liberty of posting this to the mailing list too.  

NOTE TO ANY LIST MEMBERS REPLYING - YOU PROBABLY SHOULD ALSO REPLY DIRECTLY TO 
PATRICK UNTIL HE IS ON THE LIST. HIS ADDRESS IS: pleu01@cs.aukuni.ac.nz

b) Here are some instructions I shamelessly stole from the list administrator 
    :-)

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>>2. Try a more radical cam.

>How much will this cost, what will its effect be and what are the possible
>disadvantages of installing it? :)

Gee, I don't really know.  I've heard that they are available (OEM quality 
through a mail order discount parts place) for something in the neighborhood of 
$200 (US), but don't quote me on that.  The disadvantages would depend strongly 
on how "Radical" a cam you bought.  A "mild" cam would make a modest 
improvement, while a more aggressive cam would make a bigger improvement but at 
the expense of low rpm power and fuel economy.  It would tend to make the 
torque curve a lot more narrow with a taller, more pronounced peak.  While that 
would be good with a 5 speed, it might not work as well with an automatic (as 
you can't manually change the gears to keep the engine operating at the rpm 
where the torque peaks).

>>3. put in a later model year engine, maybe even a turbo :-)

>What's the engine in yours like? Is it injected? My owner's manual says
>mine outputs 85kw and maxes out at 177km/h (automatic transmission -  sigh)
>How much would a newer engine cost and where could I get one?

Well, I'm embarassed to say that I don't know the outputs by heart in metric 
terms and don't have the conversion numbers to calculate them at hand.   So, 
assuming that our arcane customary measurements are of some use to you:

My 86 5000S (same body as the 100) has a 2.2 liter 5 cylinder.  The output is 
110 hp and about 115 ft-lbs.  I don't know the top speed, as that is not part 
of the normal specifications, but it ought to be around 180 kph.  The 
compression ratio is a measly 8:1 to accomodate the lower octane lead free gas 
a moderately sophisticated engine controls Audi was using then (Bosch KE 
Jetronic, called CIS-E by Audi, is a mechanical system with an  electronic fine 
adjustment).  The earlier cars (84-85) had the straight K-jetronics, without 
electronics, and had about 10% lower output.  Later cars, starting in '87, had 
a connection between the spark advance and the injection.  This extra 
sophistication allowed a 10 or 10.5 compression ratio and output of 130 hp.  
Later, of course, they went to a fully integrated ignition and fuel control 
system (Digifant) which is based on the Bosch Motronic system.

A new engine would be drop-dead expensive, I'm sure.  If you are serious, your 
best bets would be to either get a newer car (sorry), hot rod the one you have, 
or find a later model year wreck with a good engine.  Of course the turbo would 
entail higher maintenance, and you might be a bit cautious in buying a wrecked 
turbo.

>>The stock exhaust system is already pretty good.  You will have a hard time
>>bettering it.  Beware of cheap stuff that will rot out fast.

>>Use the Bosch three electrode plug.  You will probably notice a very small
>>difference and you will find that these plugs are exceptionally long lived.

>>If you have injection, don't go to the "twin carb" mentioned above.  Bosch
>>injection systems are typically adequate for far far me output than the
>>stock engine can produce.

>This is probably a dumb question, but is it possible to install a fuel
>injection system?

Sure, but it would be a major job, and extremely expensive unless you had a 
complete used system (from a wreck) to use.  I'd say you might be better off 
going to a higher performance carbureuttor.  Certainly some list members could 
advise you.

>>I've always found that one of the best handling enhancements (in terms of
>>expense + effort vs. payback) is to replace indifferent tires with good
>>ones.

>What tyres do you use?

Well, I'm sure you will find many, many opinions about tires on the mailing 
list.  Many of members are interested in high performance, and they use top-end 
low aspect ratio tires.  My car is basically a family car, and since I live in 
a suburban area there is little room for responsibly driving fast.  I use high 
quality (but not top-of-the line) Michelin and Bridgestone tires, and I'm 
generally pretty happy with those two brands.  With a family car, I find that 
70 series tires are a very good compromise for handling, comfort, and wet 
weather/snow traction.  The more sporty cars on the list probably run 60 or 
even 55 series tires.

Jason
86 Audi 5000S

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