k24 = fun! was Re: 5ktqw Low End Power

[John Karasaki <johkar@teleport.com>]

At 02:08 PM 11/16/98 -0800, Todd Phenneger wrote:
>Hmmm,
>    I believe the K24 is less suspect to overspinning.  It will spin
faster easier
>but it can handle a lot more.  YOu may be right about chipping it though.
BUT,
>simply putting on the k24 would give him the power that he wants down low.
 That
>should be safe enough and fairly cost effective.  Whats a new k24, $1,200.
 Audi
>Sport unit is like $1,800.  Used is what, $400.
>    THanks for the point on the altitude
>Oh, and as for CALIBAN, I have no idea.  I know plenty of people who run
higher
>boost on the list at altitude with no problems but if you do it day to
day, you
>may run into Turbo Longevity problems or something.  Exp if the point on
the k24
>is right and it will overspin easier than k26.  I think it can spin faster
though
>and be safe.  I'd ask a Turbo Guru like Ned at Intended Acceleration though.
>BTW, John Karasaki just put a k24 in his UR-q and it is Fast.  He is running
>slightly higher boost too but was hitting 115 at the end of PIR straightaway.
>That is moving.  Looked to pull hard right out of the corner too.
>    L8R
>Todd

I promised a full report on the k24 turbo install after the PIR event.

That said, there is not much to say except:

"I SHOULD HAVE DONE THE K24 TURBO SWAP 2 YEARS AGO!"

The only reason I had 2 years ago NOT to do it was, in hind sight, because
I hadn't upgraded the brakes to the G60's yet!  Always get better braking
before making any performance gains!

The air temperature yesterday got up to 61 deg. F.  Without an aux.
radiator and running in excess of 2 bar and at full throttle for most of
each 30 - 40 minute session, the water temperature stayed less than 190
deg. F and oil temperture around 250 to 260 deg. F.

Removing the AC compressor and condenser was the best thing I ever did!  It
is very nice to be able to take one cool down lap around the outside of the
park and have the oil temperature drop from 250 to 210 deg. F and water
below 180 deg. F!

Heat soak is no longer an issue!  I can't wait to do some summer (90+ deg.
F) testing!*

The k24 allowed me to slow down more and set up properly through the turns
because I had instant power on tap to sprint in the short straights between
the turns.  All in all, the car can be driven much smoother than ever
before in the past.

Like any urq, it still takes forever (it seems anyway) to go from 85 mph to
115 mph.  Is it the poor aerodynamics of the car?  In the past (with the
air cooled k26), I'd hit 80 mph at the GoodYear bridge (for those
unfamiliar with Portland International raceway, that is at the beginning of
the front straight away).  With the current setup, I was hitting 85+ by the
bridge.  Then, as before, a whole lifetime passes to get to 115 mph (110 at
best in the past with the k26) then brake hard to set up for turn one.

Here is where the RS2 or some other hybrid would be great.  Also, if you
can afford it, I'm convinced the MC conversion (MB in the old country) is
THE way to go with the urq.  I'll let others on this list who have done the
MC upgrade talk more about it, but the 2 cars in the PNW club that I know
with it are damn fast WITHOUT an intercooler!  When they get intercoolers
on those cars I'll need a set of Kumho race tires to stay with them!

IMHO, the k24 is the perfect "poor man's" urq performance upgrade.  If you
can't afford either the time or money to do the MC swap, this is a great
alternative.

AND this is a great alternative even before doing the other stuff outlined
on RDH's web site (thanks again Robert!).  I still need to get the
adjustable cam gear installed and use RDH's EPROM code.  I'd expect a more
subtle improvement with those measures, but some benefit none the less.

In summary, this simple swap has transformed the car.  I let others drive
it who have done so in the past and they share my enthusiasm!






* Some important data points.  Our '82 urq has an intercooler that is 2x
the stock size and an oil cooler that is about 3x the puny OE size.  Also,
we are running Mobil 1 10w-30.  AND ALL THIS PERFORMANCE IS WITH THE 140K
MILE CATALYTIC CONVERTER INSTALLED!  In the past, the car always ran on the
track without the cat!
Best Regards,

John Karasaki
Portland, OR