Upgrading/converting my '84 944

[Ez-Bone]

Hi all!

I just got a 1984 944 about a year ago and soon found out about the 968.
I want the engine but do not like the style of it honestly, it looks too much like a 911/928 in the front. I was wanting to know a few things

Plan A: To convert my 84 to late specs regardless of price, 968 turbo charged engine, late offsets, etc

1a. Would a 968 engine drop right into an early 944 or have the body/mounts changed since then that would require modification?

2a. Would a 130amp alternator be too much power for the engine and/or fuses? (Found a Bosch 130amp alt on eBay and was rather suspicious of it, though Porsche stock alternators for the later models had 115amp to my knowledge)

3a. What exactly would I need (to do) for converting the rear suspension to the late offsets aluminum? And would I be able to use coilovers then? I was told the early trailing arms could not take coilover setups.

4a. Just out of curiosity, How complicated is it to get an H6 in a 944? has it been done? (something both my brother and I have been curious about as he has an H6 just sitting around, so idea of 'hey, would it fit in my car!?' popped to mind)

5a. This question pretty much doesn't have to be answered but... I've seen some people with 968 rears yet a 944 front. What does that conversion consist of? earlier 944s cutting out the back and mounting a 968 rear on it or taking a 968, ripping off the front and replacing it with a 944 look? I was curious cause I do like that 968 rear and wanted to know if I could possibly fit it to a 944.


Plan B: if I can't get the things done to my 84 like I want, and have to upgrade to a 951 then these challenging questions come to mind

1b. As the first one, would a 968 engine fit in in it?

2b. Personally, I prefer the early dash models as they look more sporty to me than the late models, what would I have to do to get the early style dash in a 951?

3b. (should have asked this in Plan A) can either the 951 or 968 engines be twin charged? or would that be overdoing it? (my power goal is mid to upper 400s)

4b. lastly, this is kind of two questions in one. For the 951/944 engines, what is a good 'prostreet' or Road-&-Track clutch for it? Same thing for the 968. I want something that's not so much just a replacement but like entry level to being track spec.


That about sums up the questions I have for now, will post more as they come to mind!
Thanks to everyone in advance!

[Dantilla]

The least expensive way to accomplish what you want is to sell the '84 and buy a nice 944S2. Same 3.0 liter as the 968 (minus the Variocam), with 951 styling.

Of course, if you want to keep the NA bumper and early dash, this won't work.

[Ez-Bone]

Originally Posted by Dantilla

The least expensive way to accomplish what you want is to sell the '84 and buy a nice 944S2. Same 3.0 liter as the 968 (minus the Variocam), with 951 styling.

Of course, if you want to keep the NA bumper and early dash, this won't work.

Hmm, that is a thought but aren't the S2s über rare? And I just want to keep the early dash, not the bumper, makes the car look dated.

I've been told I can't but I'm positive there is a way to swap the dash styles, just seems no one has done it yet or whatnot.

[Dantilla]

The S2 is not as rare as the 968. I had one for quite a while. I sold it to a friend, so I still see it on autocross day.

I'm not sure what it would take to put an early dash in a late car. The dash change in mid-1985 was at the same time as several changes to the 944 line. The late cars have a vastly improved electrical system, so it will not be a simple "plug & play" job.

[Catamax944]

Originally Posted by Ez-Bone

Hmm, that is a thought but aren't the S2s über rare?

Not really

Take a look FS: '89 Porsche 944S2, ready for HPDE, $9500 OBO