968 conversion?

[Desert Fox]

Is it possible to convert a 944 engine to a 968 engine by adding mass air sensor, intake manifold, cylinder head, exhaust headers, dual exhaust system from catalyst to tail pipe, engine wire harness and computer/DME from a 968?

Thanks guys, I really don't know much about the 968.

[Jrad0425]

different block, the 968 is a 3.0 liter block where the 944 is a 2.5 liter block

[Techno Duck]

As mentioned the 968 is a 3.0L and also uses a 16v head. If you found a complete 968 engine, they are a direct swap into the 944 chassis. It just requires a few areas of fabrication to work around some things.

[flash968]

yes - very different animal

i wouldn't say "direct swap" but it has certainly been done - cooling system changes, and adaptations to the drive train are some of the issues to be dealt with

then there are the suspension and brake upgrades necessary to handle the new power and weight

it can be come a long slippery slope, but it can be one heck of a car when it's done too - there is a guy in the bay area who drives one on a regular basis

[flash968]

yes - very different animal

i wouldn't say "direct swap" but it has certainly been done - cooling system changes, and adaptations to the drive train are some of the issues to be dealt with

then there are the suspension and brake upgrades necessary to handle the new power and weight

it can be come a long slippery slope, but it can be one heck of a car when it's done too - there is a guy in the bay area who drives one on a regular basis

[josephsc]

You'll also need a flywheel from an S2 -- but you can keep the 944na exhaust from downpipe and back by changing the flanges (I'm not sure if the dimensions of a 968 exhaust would even fit down there.)

[flash968]

lol - i was hoping you would pop in on this - you definitely have all the details

[phoenix_iii]

Doubt the trans would like the extra power very much...

[Schumi]

There was a guy, not sure if it was on here or rennlist, swap an entire 968 drivetrain into a 924S.

Also there was a guy (don't think it was the same one) do a 3 litre into 924S swap and ran it at some the Grassroots NASA time trials and got 3rd in class I believe.

Edit: it was the Grassroots "Ultimate Track Car Challenge"

Edit #2- Found the page with some great pics: http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2574674

[Desert Fox]

ok, thanks guys. I was looking at all those parts that one of my friends had, And I was thinking about the swap, and what it would entail.

hmm. now to find a turbo trans and a 968 engine.

[flash968]

lol - why not just find a 968? then you could spend the time you would spend building it driving it instead

[Rasta Monsta]

Originally Posted by flash968

lol - why not just find a 968? then you could spend the time you would spend building it driving it instead

I love the idea of a 3.0 924S. Great sleeper, fun track car. . .light, aerodynamic. . .

[josephsc]

Personally, I wouldn't drop in a 968 motor into a perfectly good 944 -- but if you happen to be a situation where you pulled the motor during an overhaul, and found that the motor was completely toast and you needed a replacement, then I'd say you might as well go a little further and take advantage of an upgrade -- especially if you like a good challenge. IMHO, if you have a running 944, it's infinitely easier to sell it and buy a 968.

BTW, as for the parts your friend is selling (I assume the ones listed in the classifieds and on craigslist) -- it seems to me that it's most appropriate for someone who wants to upgrade the setup from an S2.

Originally Posted by Rasta Monsta

I love the idea of a 3.0 924S. Great sleeper, fun track car. . .light, aerodynamic. . .

Didn't the very first Speed Force Racing/Ninemeister supercharger kit for the 968 motor end up in a 3.0 924s track car? I'd love to go that setup one day....

[JivenJim]

The swap is alot of work. The 968 Engine is more difficult to work on. And the the look on the faces of 928s, 911's , 951's, and S2's getting passed, is pricess.

I love it when guys see me in there mirror and then wonder why I'm passing them. Then later they tell me how good my car sounds as it when by....

[Desert Fox]

well the thing is, I have a 944s laying around, that I want to do something with. I have a messed up 83 engine with a bad head. I might just go try and buy a 968 engine and swap em out. just cause im going to put the car in the junkyard if im not gonna do it, and I really don't wanna junk it.

[JivenJim]

Well.. just know what you're in for. We want you to suceed. But I also want you to know what it really takes if you go that route.

I Swapped a 968 into a 924S

The Early 944 would only be able to run a 86 Turbo Tranny without mods or custom braket. ( I think the 86 has ear style) someone correct me if I'm wrong.

968 Engine $3500
Rebuild stuff ~$1000 if you do it yourself
S2 Bell house + Clutch & pressure plate, and flywheel sensor.
Add bigger Radiator.
short Engine mounts or the Clutch slave will infer with Intake MF.
968 DME wire harness.
Adapting the 9 pin Firwall Engine status connector to a 14 pin + hassel.
Fuel feed line is larger and needs to be adapted.
Throttle cable 968.
968 header to pre cat.
Larger exhaust. 2.5-3"

Read my budget on my post. Cause it adds up and you should be ready or don't bother.
These big swaps will rob you bank account faster than you can say Turbo.

There is a racer up in N cal under the user name Lemmings that's also done this.

A company out of Florida has done several of these swaps and I saw one killer 944/968 sell for around 9K on Evil Bay.

[Desert Fox]

Yeah its in an 87, but Id probably need a transmission too. Its probably one of those things Ill get to later, after I get done fixing my 83, and finish the swap.

I appreciate the input guys. I probably would be better off just buying a late turbo, or and actual 968 for that price then.

[Tam Lin]

Originally Posted by Rasta Monsta

I love the idea of a 3.0 924S. Great sleeper, fun track car. . .light, aerodynamic. . .

Me too.

I've done the suspension (KW v3), fibre glass bonnet (in the rest-of-car-colour, so as not to look too ricey) , fibre glass sunroof glued in (ditto), Wilwood brakes, recaro apex seats, Fuchs lightweight wheels.

I've bought a complete 944 S2 as a donor car, to take the plastic tank, transmission, motor and wiring loom out of. Had the head off, and the bores look fine. Compression checks out OK, but I'll probably get the valve guides re-done.

Next, the two are going to become one, around October this year.

The way I figured, the main advantage of the added sophistication of the 968 engine is the below-the-line torque, something my 924s will really not need. Very few 968 make anywhere near the peak torque or BHP they are meant to, so there is little top end advantage over an S2 3 Liter. Brakers yards are full of 944 S2 parts, when I need them, whereas 968 bits are and always will be expensive.

[924Sman]

Originally Posted by flash968

lol - why not just find a 968? then you could spend the time you would spend building it driving it instead

I was waiting till I saw a post to buy a 968!...lol Took 11 posts. Shoot had he asked to convert an NA to a turbo it would have been at the top! Buy a 951. oooops 968!

Dal

[flash968]

lol - don't get me wrong, i love the idea of a light car with a big motor - i did quite a few V8 conversions into fiats, mgbs, pintos, vegas, and 240Zs (and one silly one in a 944) - just expensive to do, and the payoff isn't that great

maybe i'm just too old now, but the thought of doing something like that, and dealing with the constant headaches of the retrofit, just isn't as attractive as buying a car already done and driving it - i prefer the driving over the building more now, even though it means i have less power than i might

lol - but then again, i am still tinkering and designing new stuff, so maybe i'm not that old yet after all