Just found this post from Mr Bill on the Wayback Machine, Findmall Modifications:
Increase performance considerably on your Surfmaster PI toward small gold jewelry. With a simple modification you can end up with a 15µS pulse delay. from a factory 22/24 µS.. This a very noticable modification that can be returned to factory specs with the adjustment of the external pulse delay control. Replace #Q2 (TIP 32 C) with an IRC 9640 MOSFET. It is a direct replacement. Replace resistor R6 220 ohm with a 390 ohm one.Re assemble leave board loose so you may get at trimmer R25. Turn on, set threshold to just hear audio hum, set pulse delay to minimum setting. Using a 1/2" square piece of aluminum foil run it by the coil, adjust R25 to give best response on foil. Your all done, re assemble.