We were hoping to bring you coverage of a rare Audi dyno day held in Southern California. Sadly, one day before the event, the selected facility experienced technical difficulties and its dyno fell out of commission. 034 Motorsport had already traveled south from Fremont, CA to showoff its '88 Audi 80 quattro, so they connected with their friends at AMS Motorsport in Carson, CA to unleash the powerhouse.
We joined 034 at AMS to see how they fared on the dyno. The car put down approximately 622hp and 619 ft-lb of torque. "We normally run 38psi for peak power," said president of 034 Motorsport Javad Shadzi, "but for some reason the Maha dyno didn't like the higher boost level and we were getting some pretty bad wheelspin." The 034 team tuned the boost to 25psi in order to safely run their project car. Despite the restrictions, the figures still broke the horsepower record at the AMS facility. Javad later showed us graphs of the car consistently running 640whp on their Mustang dyno at home.
We asked Javad why this extraordinary beast was created. "The car was originally built as a sleeper and budget street racer," he explained. "It was something to make guys who spend $70k on their car feel bad that a $2k Audi 80 sedan spanked them. It soon evolved into a test bed for new products where we determined how far we could push each component until it failed or reached its limit. Currently, the car has evolved into an acceleration machine. The current configuration is optimized for drag racing. The small brakes, light wheels, drag rubbers and suspension are tuned for hard launches. The car is capable of leaving the line with over 30psi boost and very violent straight-line acceleration."
Amazed at the Audi's goals, we pondered the secret under the hood. "There are no big secrets to this motor," Javad quickly answered. "It makes 800+ crank hp with extremely precise and powerful spark and fuel, high airflow, and sufficiently built components that have been tested to withstand the power."
Currently, the drag times for the car are 11.9sec at 135mph. Javad reassured us the car's top speed was capable of redlining at 204mph at its current state. After a transmission retrofit from a diesel model, the car will be capable of 240mph. 034 has plans to achieve the 1000hp mark by swapping out the GT40R turbo for a GT42R. A new cylinder head is also being prepared for 25% higher flow. These changes will take place with the same ECU and engine configuration, maintaining the Audi's street-drivability. The next major goal for the car is to become a top speed competitor at Bonneville Salt Flats. For more information about 034 Motorsport and its project Audi 80, visit the Web site at www.034motorsport.com.
Tech Spec034 MotorsportLocation: Fremont, CA
1988 Audi 80 QuattroEngine: 7A, 2.3 liter 20v block bored to 83mm, 034 Motorsport copper MLS sandwich head gasket, block O-ringed, 034EFI 144mm forged rods, JE 83mm pistons, Total Seal oil and compression rings, Chromoly top ring, new stock valves, head ported and flowed, intake to 225cfm up from 190 stock, 7A Coupe quattro cams, 034EFI HD valve springs, Autotech Vernier cam pulley, 034 Motorsport high capacity aluminum radiator and custom Mercedes turbo-diesel oil cooler, 034MS high output intake manifold with big bore 70mm throttle body, 034EFI stage IIC engine management system, 034EFI plug-In engine wiring harness, Innovate Motorsports LC1 with XD-16 wideband control unit, 034Motorsport stainless tube-header, Garrett GT40R dual ball-bearing turbocharger, 3" downpipe and exhaust system, OE Audi factory external wastegate with separate 1.5" dump tube, custom crankcase breather system
Drivetrain: custom Spec Stage 5+ clutch kit with double-spring pressure-plate, OE Audi 2.7T S4 transmission with cryogenically treated and micro-polished gears, Stasis 5:1 high-bias center differential and lockable rear differential, custom MR2 electronic power-steering pump
Suspension: 2Bennett coilovers with Koni adjustable shocks, aluminum upper strut mounts, front and rear sway bars removed for drag racing, 034 Motorsport delrin control arm bushings,OE Audi welded strut bar
Wheels & Tires: ISX OZ Ultraleggera wheels, BFG drag radials in 225/50/15, H&R 14mm wheels studs
Brakes: Pagid RS4 compound brake pads
Exterior: OE Audi 80 quattro bodywork,S2 headlights, carbon fiber B4 hood
Interior: OE Audi 90 leather interior, Cobra race bucket driver's seat, Schroth four-point harness
Audio/Visual: Sony CD player, Polk Audi replacement speakers
ImpressionsYou might be asking yourself, could 800hp be real or even drivable for this ancient chassis? I was in disbelief myself, but Christian Miller, a professional racecar driver and tech for 034 Motorsport, invited me to ride passenger. We made our way to the congested Interstate 405 on a sultry Saturday afternoon. Driving around city streets was effortless and smooth. Once we entered the freeway, Christian paced himself between packs of traffic to allow enough room for a mash on the throttle. A clearing in the road suddenly opened in front of us and my body was immediately sucked into the seat as we climbed from 60 to 125mph in a mere four seconds. I remember my vision experienced a motion blur. At the corner of my eye, I could just distinguish Christian's quick shifts. During acceleration, we were hardly in third and fourth gear as we achieved redline almost instantly. I must admit the car's insane power comes alive after 4000rpm and hits even harder after 5500rpm.- Sam