Discussion
Hi there,
Ive just bought a Porsche 944 S2 to use as a trackday car.
I would like to upgrade the suspension and want some advice on the best type for this car, as well as a decent company to source it from.
Also, any other S2 owners, have you tried any modifications to the engine to try and get more power? Do they work?
At the moment its a bog standard 944 S2, no LSD, no MO30 - what can I do to bring it to life!!!!!
Cheers
Paul
Ive just bought a Porsche 944 S2 to use as a trackday car.
I would like to upgrade the suspension and want some advice on the best type for this car, as well as a decent company to source it from.
Also, any other S2 owners, have you tried any modifications to the engine to try and get more power? Do they work?
At the moment its a bog standard 944 S2, no LSD, no MO30 - what can I do to bring it to life!!!!!
Cheers
Paul
KW seems to be favourite - have a look over on http://www.porscheclubgbforum.com/ there are a few threads that will help (you need to register but don't have to join the club)
KW V3 is favourite, working well on the road and excellent for the track. If you want to be able to dial in the camber for the track you will need some adjustable camber plates, the best ones are made by Racers Edge in the States, shameless plug but I have a set for sale (including GT3 spring hats) that just came off my 968 which was running KW V3 as well. Whether you want the plates or not, definately get the KW. Its not cheap at around £1400 plus fitting but its worth every penny.
Speak to Kev or Alex at EMC in Birmingham 0121-328 2225. They're knowlegable and trustworthy.
They race and look after a lot of track 944's and have a very good bespoke suspension set up at £1300 fitted (KW is more like £2k). They also know the weak points and can suggest safety and brake improvements.
They also look after KNoB, the SS7 trackday 924S.
SS7
They race and look after a lot of track 944's and have a very good bespoke suspension set up at £1300 fitted (KW is more like £2k). They also know the weak points and can suggest safety and brake improvements.
They also look after KNoB, the SS7 trackday 924S.
SS7
... as far as getting more puff out of the S2 lump - don't bother trying it, unless you have a LOT of cash. There is not much you can do, to be honest. The only mod that will make real power is a supercharger, and that is not cheap (think £3.5k upwards.)
I think there was a thread on here about modifying the S2 a while ago - try using search.
Oh, suspension - KW V3 is what I would buy if I had more money. Good tyres. Lindsey racing in the states do some good strut brace kits which are meant to make a huge difference as well.
Oh, and you can do alot with the brakes as well, if you want to.
Oli.
I think there was a thread on here about modifying the S2 a while ago - try using search.
Oh, suspension - KW V3 is what I would buy if I had more money. Good tyres. Lindsey racing in the states do some good strut brace kits which are meant to make a huge difference as well.
Oh, and you can do alot with the brakes as well, if you want to.
Oli.
I think the best performance enhancement for the 944S2 has to be to lose some weight:
sunroof motor
rear wiper and motor
interior (including very heavy seats)
that cassette holder thingy in the middle (which is probably broken anyway)
seatbelts
Replace the seats with a couple of decent buckets on fixed mounts add a half roll cage and some harnesses - net saving 50kgs maybe a little more?
As Colin Chapman said "for speed, add lightness"
sunroof motor
rear wiper and motor
interior (including very heavy seats)
that cassette holder thingy in the middle (which is probably broken anyway)
seatbelts
Replace the seats with a couple of decent buckets on fixed mounts add a half roll cage and some harnesses - net saving 50kgs maybe a little more?
As Colin Chapman said "for speed, add lightness"
tertius said:
I think the best performance enhancement for the 944S2 has to be to lose some weight:
sunroof motor
rear wiper and motor
interior (including very heavy seats)
that cassette holder thingy in the middle (which is probably broken anyway)
seatbelts
Replace the seats with a couple of decent buckets on fixed mounts add a half roll cage and some harnesses - net saving 50kgs maybe a little more?
As Colin Chapman said "for speed, add lightness"
Excellent point. The S2 is no lightweight. Losing some of the lard has to be the way forward.sunroof motor
rear wiper and motor
interior (including very heavy seats)
that cassette holder thingy in the middle (which is probably broken anyway)
seatbelts
Replace the seats with a couple of decent buckets on fixed mounts add a half roll cage and some harnesses - net saving 50kgs maybe a little more?
As Colin Chapman said "for speed, add lightness"
Oli.
tertius said:
I think the best performance enhancement for the 944S2 has to be to lose some weight:
In my very humble opinion, the best performance enhancements for the S2, or any car for that matter, in order, are...1) Driver Tuition/Development (not cheap, but a permanent improvement)
2) Tyres
3) Brakes
4) Suspension
5) Reducing weight
I have added some comments inline below
1) Driver Tuition/Development (not cheap, but a permanent improvement)
IMHO one could have the mistaken belief that because the 944 S2 is easy to drive it will be easy to go quickly on the track. This is not true at all and to get the most out of front engined pork it is clear that one needs a very smooth flowing style that some ppl find very difficult.
2) Tyres
One needs some grip after all
3) Brakes
The consensus is that stock S2 brakes will cook after about 2 hard laps. However 968 cooling ducts, fresh fluid like ATE blue / SRF and some track focused pads seem to go a long way to making the stock caliper and disk sizes work.
4) Suspension
I would go on the track at least once just to see how it feels before spending loads on suspension but at the moment given the costs of any sensible option going the whole hog for KW V3 seems the way to go.
5) Reducing weight
Easiest is to remove the spare wheel, tools, compressor, rear carpet. This can all be refitted latter. Other easy options are decat and stereo removal including all the speakers and cabling, and the rear seat back. None of this costs money, whereas seats do. Once you get serious things like plastic rear window, fibreglass or CF bonnet and front wings save a massive amount of weight.
GarrettMacD said:
tertius said:
I think the best performance enhancement for the 944S2 has to be to lose some weight:
In my very humble opinion, the best performance enhancements for the S2, or any car for that matter, in order, are...1) Driver Tuition/Development (not cheap, but a permanent improvement)
IMHO one could have the mistaken belief that because the 944 S2 is easy to drive it will be easy to go quickly on the track. This is not true at all and to get the most out of front engined pork it is clear that one needs a very smooth flowing style that some ppl find very difficult.
2) Tyres
One needs some grip after all
3) Brakes
The consensus is that stock S2 brakes will cook after about 2 hard laps. However 968 cooling ducts, fresh fluid like ATE blue / SRF and some track focused pads seem to go a long way to making the stock caliper and disk sizes work.
4) Suspension
I would go on the track at least once just to see how it feels before spending loads on suspension but at the moment given the costs of any sensible option going the whole hog for KW V3 seems the way to go.
5) Reducing weight
Easiest is to remove the spare wheel, tools, compressor, rear carpet. This can all be refitted latter. Other easy options are decat and stereo removal including all the speakers and cabling, and the rear seat back. None of this costs money, whereas seats do. Once you get serious things like plastic rear window, fibreglass or CF bonnet and front wings save a massive amount of weight.
GarrettMacD said:
tertius said:
I think the best performance enhancement for the 944S2 has to be to lose some weight:
In my very humble opinion, the best performance enhancements for the S2, or any car for that matter, in order, are...1) Driver Tuition/Development (not cheap, but a permanent improvement)
GarrettMacD said:
2) Tyres
3) Brakes
4) Suspension
5) Reducing weight
Agree with all of that. However, I think we're discussing a dedicated track day car, so losing weight should be easy and a priority in my view. Moreover less weight means less stress on tyres and brakes and suspension - effectively an upgrade for them all in one go.3) Brakes
4) Suspension
5) Reducing weight
Curretly taking bits out of mine to make it ligher.
Exchange front seats for something lightweight - net saving around 38kg
Remove rear seat back 15kg - seat base weighs nothing (3kg?) and makes the car quite noisy on the way to the track- I should have left it in
Spare, tools compresser 12kg ish
rear carpet 5kg?
front carpet same but more noise
Easy to get at bits of aircon if you have it - 10kg?
Radio - not that much - I left mine in
Easy to get 70-80kg out - more than that and it gets a bit harder
Put the stiffer ARBs on though that makes a big difference and is cheap. Service the brakes, fit ducts or more open wheels, change the fluid and for not much money you'll make a big difference
Exchange front seats for something lightweight - net saving around 38kg
Remove rear seat back 15kg - seat base weighs nothing (3kg?) and makes the car quite noisy on the way to the track- I should have left it in
Spare, tools compresser 12kg ish
rear carpet 5kg?
front carpet same but more noise
Easy to get at bits of aircon if you have it - 10kg?
Radio - not that much - I left mine in
Easy to get 70-80kg out - more than that and it gets a bit harder
Put the stiffer ARBs on though that makes a big difference and is cheap. Service the brakes, fit ducts or more open wheels, change the fluid and for not much money you'll make a big difference
shoestring7 said:
Speak to Kev or Alex at EMC in Birmingham 0121-328 2225. They're knowlegable and trustworthy.
They race and look after a lot of track 944's and have a very good bespoke suspension set up at £1300 fitted (KW is more like £2k). They also know the weak points and can suggest safety and brake improvements.
They also look after KNoB, the SS7 trackday 924S.
SS7
Yep this is the way to go - the run several S2's in the Porsche Club & Open series - a suspension refresh on an S2 makes a staggering difference as most cars are on their original legs.They race and look after a lot of track 944's and have a very good bespoke suspension set up at £1300 fitted (KW is more like £2k). They also know the weak points and can suggest safety and brake improvements.
They also look after KNoB, the SS7 trackday 924S.
SS7
steil said:
shoestring7 said:
Speak to Kev or Alex at EMC in Birmingham 0121-328 2225. They're knowlegable and trustworthy.
They race and look after a lot of track 944's and have a very good bespoke suspension set up at £1300 fitted (KW is more like £2k). They also know the weak points and can suggest safety and brake improvements.
They also look after KNoB, the SS7 trackday 924S.
SS7
Yep this is the way to go - the run several S2's in the Porsche Club & Open series - a suspension refresh on an S2 makes a staggering difference as most cars are on their original legs.They race and look after a lot of track 944's and have a very good bespoke suspension set up at £1300 fitted (KW is more like £2k). They also know the weak points and can suggest safety and brake improvements.
They also look after KNoB, the SS7 trackday 924S.
SS7
He made mincemeat of a very respected driving coach in my S2 at Oulton park a few years back... ( the other guy was in a 'modified 968' )
Ive bought a complete M030 setup (suspension, ARBs, LSD gbox), also got the bigger front brakes in the deal (inc spindles etc)
Will be fitting it all this week, together with the removal of all the unwanted bit.
Also ordered a stainless exhaust and decat.
Thanks for all the help - taking it to the 'ring on 6th July.
Paul
Will be fitting it all this week, together with the removal of all the unwanted bit.
Also ordered a stainless exhaust and decat.
Thanks for all the help - taking it to the 'ring on 6th July.
Paul
shoestring7 said:
Speak to Kev or Alex at EMC in Birmingham 0121-328 2225. They're knowlegable and trustworthy.
They race and look after a lot of track 944's and have a very good bespoke suspension set up at £1300 fitted (KW is more like £2k). They also know the weak points and can suggest safety and brake improvements.
They also look after KNoB, the SS7 trackday 924S.
SS7
Agred that EMC are very good, the other 944 people are reallyThey race and look after a lot of track 944's and have a very good bespoke suspension set up at £1300 fitted (KW is more like £2k). They also know the weak points and can suggest safety and brake improvements.
They also look after KNoB, the SS7 trackday 924S.
SS7
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