Re: Squeezin HP outta of a V6? (long)

[Elliott Potter <epotter@abraxis.com>]

>
>Anyone know how to squeeze more HP outta of a V6?  I've got a new
>93 90 and was wonderin if this was at all possible.  I'd like
>some modest gains, not just 5-10hp.  Maybe anywheres from 20-50....
>There's talk of twin turbo charged V6 right?  Rumor, fact...?  What
>about a 30 valve head?  Possible, plausible, give me more?
>TIA!
>Later!
>Rob

Well, I've put a fair amount of thought into this, and have decided that
right now it's too expensive, but maybe sometime later.  I even broke it
up into "stages", breaking up the purchase from one huge purchase into
many huge purchases.  I'm hoping this way I can afford it sooner.  

Here's what I've been thinking:

1-
-change from regular oil to synthetic oil.  I'm pleased with regular
oil, but with some of the later mods high-temperature performance will
become more important.  I'm putting this early because synthetic oil is
generally thinner than regular oil, and this will give me time to make
sure there are no leaks.
-Throttle body upgrade.  This won't increase HP much, but will increase
low-end torque, especially when used with a:
-K&N cone filter.  More air into the mixture, to complement the added
fuel from the throttle body.

2-
-upgrade the wheels and tires.  The wheels/tires that came stock on the
93 90CS are narrow, and the tires are Goodyear Eagle GA's (H rated; the
sidewalls turn to mush at about 85-90mph.)  I'm looking at those neat
5-spoke wheels on the A4.  Are those any wider?  Oh, I hope so...
-probably get some bigger rotors/calipers if they'll fit (and if they're
needed).  I like the size of the brakes on the 1.8T.  Are those the same
size as the ones I have now?  If so, I'd probably get new pads since I
need them anyway but leave everything else.

3-
-exhaust system upgrade.  I like the stock exhaust system in the 90CS;
it's quiet.  However, for performance sake and because of mods to come
later, a higher-flowing system will probably be better.
-30v heads.  I'm still not positive if this will work, but the only
person who's said anything about this said that the bore and stroke are
the same, so I'm hoping that this will be possible.  If not, oh well...

4-
-put in some guages.  I don't know where, but I'd like to put in bar,
oil pressure, and oil temp guages.  These again are for mods that come
later.  I may get rid of the ashtray since I don't ever use it anyway
and put them there?  Maybe the shifter will be in the way.  I'll see.
-suspension mods.  Better shocks and springs will help handling a lot.

5-
Here's where the 'future mods' are.  This is why I've got the exhaust,
guages, synth oil, etc.
-Turbocharger kit.  I'm thinking that this will fit, but it will be a
tight squeeze.  I don't think two will fit; if they will I don't know
where and I'm not about to get _that_ creative with my car...
-Chip.  IA?  Hoppen?  TAP?  I'm leaning heavily towards IA but gawd,
it's expensive!  Also I don't know if he'll make a chip that will work
with all of this.
-I've always wanted to have an S4, so probably I'll go searching through
parking lots until I find one and swipe the badges (just kidding).

Anyway, I have absolutely no hope of affording any of this right now,
but if someone else wants to do it and tell me how it works, I'd be
happy.

Also, if anyone has any other suggestions I'm open.

Elliott