Swapping 968 and 944 tranmissions

[racecar866]

Is it possible to put a 968 tranny in a 944. Direct bolt or do you need to modify? We are building a monster 944 Turbo race car and think the 6sp 968 would work better. Anyone tried this??

[legion]

What year is the 944?

Do a search. There are some "issues", but all will bolt in and work.

[BananaClip]

It should pretty much bolt up I think, but you'll need to do something creative about the speedo. The 968 checks speed at one of the front ABS sensors, not the tranny, like most of the 944s.

Also mind the R&P, they aren't the strongest in the world.

[adrian jaye]

Speedo is a big issue.
opther stuff as well,
no gain for doing this

buy a 968 !

[Britwrench]

For a race car the speedo issue is not relevant. What is essential is that the gear ratios are correct for the circuit the car is going to be raced on.
If not, there is no gain. For different circuits, you may need different ratio transmissions...if you want to keep the turbo on boost.

[yellowline]

Pinion bearings are weak on some 968 trannys, I don't think they's stand up to a lot of power unless it's been taken care of.

[Britwrench]

No, the pinion bearings were incorrectly set up by the factory.
Once replaced and set as they should be, it's a good, but not exactly exciting transmission. The pinion bearing problem is normally apparent during the first 30,000 miles.

[Dantilla]

Speedo would not be an issue on an early 944 that has the cable from the left front hub.

[racecar866]

Your right about getting the correct gear ratios, the beauty of the 968 box is that you have a 6th gear. So you can set 5 gears nice and close ratio, but have a 6th for longer/high speed tracks, it makes sense. But getting back to my original question which nobody has answered, is it a direct bolt in?????????????? And what is the issue with the weak ring/pinion????

[Britwrench]

I would first check that the ratios are going to work before anything else.

[JivenJim]

I did a Full 968 Engine and Tranny Swap in my 87 924S posted last month. I've been meaning to add to my write up on lessons learned.

The 944 N/A / 924S have a different Torque Tube (drive shaft) flange style that are not Tranny Compatible with 968.
Not sure if the Turbo has the same 944 flange on Torque Tube, but I think so.

The 968 Vs 944 Toque Tubes have a different lengths to account for the longer 968 Bell housing. 968 added a 12" extension shaft and two coupling Sleeves for the Clutch Bell house to toque tube connection making the overall length of 944s' and 968's the same. So they shorten the rest of tube and flange to flange length by the same 12". This also allows a 4 hour 968 clutch change compared to 16 in a 944.

To make it work:
I believe you would need a 968 Toque Tube Rear Flange welded on your 944 Torque tube to mate. A 968 Torque tube would not work cause of length difference mentioned above.

Then you would need either convert the Older style welded in Tranny support cross member to a new bolt on version. Or make an adaptations bracket, like I made.(924s have the older pre 85 welded in cross member) The Older style Tranny used the Ear style mounts that came out from the bolt pattern by CV's. The newer hangs from a combo brackets that mounts to a more gondola (center line)

Or Get a welder and cut out Original Tranny Cross member and then tap in some Screw in body just outside old cross member and behind the upper body rear suspension body mounts.

Oh yea.. and you will need to cut out your spare Wheel well to fit the longer 968 Tranny if it has a LSD.

And If you change to the Latter style Tranny mount system You will have issues with the Gas Tank mounts.

You would also need the shifter linkage for the 968.

FYI I heard the Pion issues were fixed around mid 93 on the 968's

So have the na-sayer's convinced you to stick with your old Tranny yet!

I have some pictures of all these comparison T-Tubes if you need after Friday.

[BananaClip]

Originally posted by JivenJim
4 hour 968 clutch change

wow


good information!

[Britwrench]

Still comes back to for use as a race car, if the ratios are wrong it won't work. A high 6th gear might be good at say, Daytona..but if the car falls off boost then it doesn't work. For street cars you can compromise, for race cars compromise means you loose. There are many factors in determining the best features to use for the track.

[JivenJim]

Here's some comparison Pictures. I forgot to add the 968 approximately 12" shaft with two coupler sleeves for the length comparison so keep in mind this gets added (it resides in 968 bigger Bell housing)




The Last is the 968 Tranny going in on 968 torque tube

[mike944]

if you use the 968 bellhousing, flywheel, clutch & starter motor, there's no need to modify the torque tube. All those parts should bolt right in as a set.

You definitely can't get the 968's 4-hour clutch change, without the 968 bellhousing and torque tube. Those are the major parts that were changed to allow the 4 hr. clutch change to work.