Questions about interchanging parts (seats, sideview mirros, etc)

[princetonprep17]

Has anyone attempted and had success with mounting a late model power seat in their early model 944? How hard is it to wire up a power setup for those seats? What about sideview mirrors. I saw a picture of an 85/1 944 that had late model 911 mirrors on it and it looked pretty good. Is it hard to do this switch? Has anyone else done any other cool switches with their cars between other porsche models?

[SoCal Driver]

Post 85.1 mirrors require some rewiring. They have better mechanics inside than the early mirrors. Many pay the big bucks and get the 968 mirrors.

Later seats will fit in the early chasis. Have to get the entire electrical harness from under the dash to the seat. Need to install a fuse or two in the Aux. fuse block. You will have to cut off the seat belt bracket on the seat and use the stock belt and center tunnel mounting point. I have a pair in my 83.

Some have even installed the dash from the later models. There is a complication with the heater controls that requires a bit of re-engineering. Also with the speedo drive. The early cars have a cable off of the left front wheel. The later use a sender that comes off of the trans.

You may find a thread or two where someone has completely gutted an early chassis and put all of the later components in it. These are usually European owners where there is a very high tax on the later cars but not on an early chassis with later stuff in it. Very creative.

Windows, window motors, DME relay, door handles, steering wheels, shifters, engines, transmissions, drive shafts, some stock wheels (have to watch the offset) some suspension components (that offset again), headlight motor, windsheild wiper motor (with a minor mod), cargo cover, taillights, mufflers and yes the front badge/crest. There may be other items but I haven't broken them yet.

Not all transmissions are geared for the early N/A engines. The steering links are different lengths for the manual steering than the power steering. The steering column switchs are not the same. But do match the VW's and Audi's. Door handles match the VW's and Audi's.

There must be more. This would make a good sticky for the top of the message board.