944 to 968 conversion

[smokin_944]

Folks, I would like some info on transplanting a 968 motor and transaxle into a Series 1 car, an 84 to be precise. What needs to be done, what can be done, what should I consider before starting the project?

[azbanks]

Engine, transaxle, and engine management(computer with harness) are the main things.
Does the engine include the 968 clutch and bell housing?

[smokin_944]

The transplant would be the engine complete, engine management, 6 speed transaxle, clutch, bell housing, etc. but some of the components seem to be for flat out racing and my intention was to make a great highway cruiser. I am told the engine may have performance cams, the engine has a high performance aluminum flywheel, the clutch is a stage 3 clutch, so I have to see if this would be worthwhile will all the changes to be made to make it easy to drive. Originally I had thought of going to a stock LS1 Vette engine but my son thought the 968 option would keep the car Porsche...

[Ernie944]

JP look at the thread just above your's it migth help with your project ...Take care Ernie

[J1NX3D]

I had a shop convert my '86 944 using the engine, TT, transaxle, suspension and brakes from a '94 968 6-spd partscar I had. The work was started in about July 2018 and finished in Nov 2018, then went through the engineering certification process and was legal after some rectification by March 2019.

I'm working in Antarctica until the end of March so dont have access to anything I don't already have online. You can join this Porsche 944 outlaws group if you're on facebook, I uploaded some stuff I compiled from I found from forums and websites all over the internet for the last 10 or so years, lots of which are now dead. My internet here is too slow to be much more help sorry.

porsche 944S3 conversions
https://www.facebook.com/groups/355048731546630/permalink/698760567175443/

944 to 968 wiring reference
https://www.facebook.com/groups/355048731546630/permalink/698760630508770/

[smokin_944]

Thank you very much for the links, I will sign up so that I can access the info. It is much appreciated as I have been torn between doing the LS1 swap or the 968 swap... I am looking for a reliable highway car to travel the country with...

[Ernie944]

Originally Posted by smokin_944

Thank you very much for the links, I will sign up so that I can access the info. It is much appreciated as I have been torn between doing the LS1 swap or the 968 swap... I am looking for a reliable highway car to travel the country with...

Just a little advice JM,a LS1 willl be less headaches & softer on the wallet than a 968 transplant,I've never tougth that I will sugest such a transplant since I,m a Porsche hardcore man.But let's face the reality here not only a 968 transplante will be lot more expensive it will also involve doing maintenance on that motor which is by no meant cheap to do,exemple let say your body throttle let go on you ,they are almost impossible to find a use & a new one will set you back some 1,500 $ maybe more.You will still have to do the belts,water pump ect ect on the 968 which are also not that cheap.An LS1 is a motor that you will find new part or use one for halft the price of the 968 parts.At one time I almost when at it with my ex 83 -944 ,the only reason I didn't ....the car was in extreme good shape mechanicaly & had low mileage.But still the power wasn't there & not much you can do with that four banger.A good LS1 should give you plenty of power maybe more that you can handle.Well this is my point of view ,it's your car & up to you to chose the rigth & less expensive option.Lte us know what you decided .Take care Ernie

[smokin_944]

I am now thinking the same way you are Ernie. My brother has an LS1 with 16000 kilometers in his Vette that he will part with because he wants the hi-performance version of that engine. I need to find a shop that will do the conversion if I go that route because I have a neurological problem that means my fine motor control doesn't exist any more... It sucks! At least someone sells the parts needed for the job.

[Jfrahm]

Take a look at some of the nice LS conversion threads, lots of money and time, doing and re-doing stuff and sorting out problems over the course of a year or years.

[Ernie944]

Originally Posted by Jfrahm

Take a look at some of the nice LS conversion threads, lots of money and time, doing and re-doing stuff and sorting out problems over the course of a year or years.

Maybe ,but it will be lot more expensive sorting out problems on a 968 conversion that I'm pretty darn sure.And you'll still have the 968 maintenance to cope with ,like mention in my reply earlier,don't forget our location up here in Canada where most of 968 parts has to be order from across the border ,with our dollars being most of the time a lot lower than the US one,plus custom & shipping which are killers when order from the states..Ask any Canadian Porsche owners & the answres will be the same,I,m for one very aware of the problems since I,ve own both a 944 & a 968 for a period of over 30 years.What I'm saying is if you can't buy a very A1 mechanicaly low mileage s968 & you want the power of the 968 than the best option will be the LS conversion ,if well done it should be also very realeable.In the mean time will get Smoking _944 drolling This or
That

[Charlie44]

Originally Posted by smokin_944

Thank you very much for the links, I will sign up so that I can access the info. It is much appreciated as I have been torn between doing the LS1 swap or the 968 swap... I am looking for a reliable highway car to travel the country with...

I had a shop do a 968 transplant into my 944S2 and it was relatively straightforward. Ran that car on track for years and years--it was a great modification. Yes, an LS1 will give more power, but it's a much bigger and more expensive task.

[Jfrahm]

Originally Posted by Ernie944

Maybe ,but it will be lot more expensive sorting out problems on a 968 conversion that I'm pretty darn sure.

Why? All the 968 parts are engineered to fit and work together on the 944 chassis. Some wiring needs to be addressed and I do not know what you have in mind for the clutch and transmission but it's all been done and is pretty straightforward.

No trouble with the power brakes, power steering, steering shaft, cooling... Even AC would be easy with a 968 conversion.

The LS conversion takes a lot of fabrication and fitting, many many hours of labor and from what I have read things get re-done a lot to iterate towards better results.

[jjeffries]

There’s a 95 968 Cab at an upcoming Copart auction in Bakersfield ... it is a Tip, though.

https://www.copart.com/lot/53401960/salvage-1995-porsche-968-ca-bakersfield

John

[Fast Freddy 944]

Hell, if you dont care of the re-sale value of your car, why not slap the chevy v-8 in that puppy and watch that classic haul tail down the highway. Yeup my response is dry, but when folks start hacking a classic, I usually interject..Good luck..

[jjeffries]

Freddie, there are many original 944’s being cherished and preserved for future generations to study and admire, no need to dissuade Smokin from his dreams. I’d think the bigger worry would be dead 944’s getting crushed, although the increasing prices for good cars on BaT will perhaps put an end to that? Either way, my view is that there are plenty of pews in this church.

Shifting gears (knock, knock) I wonder what that Copart 968 Cab Tip will go for?

Peace and Love,
John

[v2rocket_aka944]

Originally Posted by Ernie944

Just a little advice JM,a LS1 willl be less headaches & softer on the wallet than a 968 transplant

what are you smokin? lol

definitely not. a 968 swap is bolt-in and less than 10 wires to mess with IIRC.
the engines are hard to come across and cost $3-5k, sure, but you'd be hard pressed to get an LS installed, running and sorted for that much.

[Ernie944]

Originally Posted by v2rocket_aka944

what are you smokin? lol

definitely not. a 968 swap is bolt-in and less than 10 wires to mess with IIRC.
the engines are hard to come across and cost $3-5k, sure, but you'd be hard pressed to get an LS installed, running and sorted for that much.

Not smoking anything here,read my post carefully,it's a question off availabity up here ,first trying to find a 968 motor at a decent price then having a shop doing the transplante & buying parts to do the job,unless you find a wreck 968 for sale .Last time I check there was only two 968 for sale in Canada,,no coupe ,two of them cabs ,one for 30,000$ the other a 92 selling ...as is... for 16,000$.No parts cars what so ever.Like you I like to see him do a 968 transplante but at which cost ????.

[patfat]

Working on that swap now.

Rebuilt 968 motor going in with RS Barn header
New Moton setup
Racers Edge Arms with Tarret bumpsteer, and Tarret sway
Manual rack
S2 Gearbox with Guard LSD
The car weighs 2300lbs.

This thing should scoot!
https://app.photobucket.com/u/mahjik/p/a7ae4193-4ca0-4ab0-9205-a1b64bd38f29
https://app.photobucket.com/u/mahjik/p/fbda5462-01c0-452f-be10-f6e3c6fab08f
https://app.photobucket.com/u/mahjik/p/ee33fdb7-4852-4ae4-aec7-9b75f8d05bc1
https://app.photobucket.com/u/mahjik/p/f7e3b0f3-581a-4338-920c-cc2ee2a03cac
https://app.photobucket.com/u/mahjik/p/099b75a3-0bbd-4030-af74-cb6d0de856c8

[smokin_944]

I wasn't aware the 968 transplant was bolt-in, Spence, I was told there was some fabrication involved for both engine and transaxle although I didn't understand why because the platforms are similar. The other problem I encountered is that the 968 engine I was looking at was an engine built to race, completely tricked out if you wil,l from flywheel and stage 3 clutch to cams and such. That didn't sound like what I needed. Hey patfat! I'm guessin Moton is the engine mgmt. setup?

[tims944]

Originally Posted by smokin_944

I wasn't aware the 968 transplant was bolt-in, Spence, I was told there was some fabrication involved for both engine and transaxle although I didn't understand why because the platforms are similar. The other problem I encountered is that the 968 engine I was looking at was an engine built to race, completely tricked out if you wil,l from flywheel and stage 3 clutch to cams and such. That didn't sound like what I needed. Hey patfat! I'm guessin Moton is the engine mgmt. setup?

So first off JM.
I havent confirmed the internals are anything other than stock, hopefully with the snowfall comming this weekend i can set aside some time to open it up,
I would do all the maintenance first on it before installing, thats a no brainer,.

I didnt say the engine would need any mods

it bolts in, now if you want the 6 speed to fit with the TT etc, yes might have to modify the rear end,

we also discussed swapping in a bigger gas tank again plug and play might not be perfect

All things we can talk about, i know your pondering on the idea still wether ls or variocam!

cheers.