RE: What Lehman does for 380 HP

["Mark Nelson" <tahoe@msn.com>]

>The head is been reworked with cams, valves,porting...  The combustion
>chamber is reworked and the pistons are changed for lower combustion. Rods
>and I believe wrist pins are different (stronger?).  A lot of what was done
>is secretive (he would not tell me the specifics).

The pistons I am assuming have been dropped down to 7.5:1 compression, since
that's what all the factory race motors ran at, and hopefully are running
Total Seal rings (best rings I've EVER seen).  The stock Audi rods are
amazingly thin in the neck...I would be VERY surprised if they didn't
replace them.  Carillo's are a good option, but pricey.  There aren't any
off-the-shelf high performance rods, you can buy for these motors (not that
I've found anyway), so Lehmann either made them or had them made somewhere
(unless he has some Audi Sport parts).  Crower is building a set of rods for
my S2 (they should be done in about a week).  I decided to stick with steel
rods, as opposed to titanium, based on the fact that we wouldn't be gaining
much longevity for the greatly added price (not to mention the necessity for
new special rod bearings).  The reduced weight would be nice, but....  As
far as wrist pins, those undoubtedly are new and different sized, and most
likely were made by the piston manufacturer (probably Mahle, unless Lehmann
does it himself or contracts out to another small firm).

>The motor in its present form produces up to 34 lb boost max but I only run
>this boost on the track with Powermist or racing (unleaded) gas.  For the
>street I run lower boost (different Motronix and chip set).

So did Lehmann provide you with any dyno specs on the engine before he sent
it to you?  Based on his reputation and knowing how GOOD engine builders
work, the engine should have been broken in and tuned on the dyno.  I'd be
curious to know exact numbers if you have them.  TIA!

cya!
-mark nelson
mailto:tahoe@msn.com

'90 S2 (coming soon)
'90 CQ (daily driver)