Update on 3.2ltr 16v turbo race car.

Talk and Tech about turbocharged 924/944/968 cars
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Thom
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Tom wrote: Mon Feb 09, 2026 7:53 am
Bergerac wrote: Thu Feb 05, 2026 10:51 pm I'm running 9.1:1 on 98, 9.5 on E85 doesn't sound extreme
16 valve head?
Yes and with stock cams I believe?
'90 944 turbo

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333pg333
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Thom wrote: Mon Feb 09, 2026 2:37 am IIRC Duke started with a CR of 9.x:1 then gradually took it down to 8:1 along with fitting ever more aggressive camshafts, ending up with the torque "curve" of a supercharged engine - an almost straight diagonal line peaking at peak rpm.
I wouldn't consider anything higher than 9:1. As Tom said it is far easier to turn up the boost on a large turbo that will be more efficient with lots of boost and adjust the timing profile accordingly than being cornered with a high CR and little to no headroom. It's a race engine that needs to deliver between 5 and 8k rpm, who cares if it's a bit sluggish down low, which it even won't in a lightened race car.
Just my 0.02€.
I would anticipate that we'll probably just stick with the existing pistons. So it will be a bit low on the c/r side but as has been discussed, not really a problem that can't be surmounted by a little extra boost and the fact that the engine is virtually always running above x rpms. .

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Bergerac
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Tom wrote: Mon Feb 09, 2026 7:53 am
Bergerac wrote: Thu Feb 05, 2026 10:51 pm I'm running 9.1:1 on 98, 9.5 on E85 doesn't sound extreme
16 valve head?
Yes 968 head, with variocam attached for now.

I think we actually ended up slightly under 9:1, the head volume was slightly higher when measured than what we specced the pistons for.

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