I Need an Engine

[jamesjedi]

OK, so I need an engine. Why dont I drop in a 968, 951, or S2 engine. I know this topic has been covered with people saying sell the car, buy a 951. I dont really buy that....on the 911 boards do they tell each other that they should not do a 3.6 engine transplant.

If I do all the work myself, what are the drawbacks? I imagine that wiring is a pain, torque tube may need replacing as well as the transmission.

I see some inexpensive 951 engine for sale.

[Techno Duck]

What car are you putting this into? If its a pre '85.5 944 i wouldnt even think about a 951 swap due to the lack of easy mounting for the intercooler. Either way i think the S2 or 968 engine are the best choices (LSx V8 is even better.. ) regardless of model year. The turbo engine is just a bit more work due to the extra exhaust (and alot of it) that needs to be added to the car. Not to mention mounting the intercooler. The late n/a's have all the mounting points for the IC but do not really have the proper ducting to feed it unless you do something custom. If your really set on a more powerful engine, the S2 or 968 motors are the best way to go i think. They are great engines also. I have said on a few occasions i wish i had bought an S2 rather than a 951. The 951 engine is great for serious HP but reliability can be suspect if you dont stay ontop of things. The 3L engines can also be $$ if things go wrong, but the true advantage is they lack the complexity a turbo adds.

[North Coast Cab]

They would all requires some wiring modifications, but nothing crazy.
The Turbo needs some other items to make work, plus a DME, wiring harness, flywheel & clutch.
All of these motors are 15+ years old so unless they are proven will require a fair amount of $$ to get them solidified.

[smokin_944]

I think that an S2 or 968 engine would be fine. If you use one of theses as a transplant, I don't see the problems...A turbo engine is another story because of the points the Duck mentionned. I would probably do a full rebuild prior to install to ensure longevity of said powerplant but that's just me... North Coast is 100% correct in his assessment...

[Dantilla]

I did an engine transplant in my 911. An '87 3.2 into the '73 tub. Bolted right in. Added the Motronic box under the driver's seat, just as a stock '87. I had the entire '87 Carrera to pull parts.

The difference between 911 and 944 engine swaps is simple- Most guys spend a fortune upgrading their 911s, while most newbies here ask about dumping a turbo engine in their beat-up 944 as a way to save money over buying a 951.

Thus, the simple and true answer, it's cheaper to buy a 951.

For those not on a budget, no problem playing with 944 engine swaps.

[jamesjedi]

Thanks for the input. The car in question is an 86NA. I have a line on a very good 2.5 engine that just finished a dyno with 163hp at the crank. That is excellent power for a 2.5 that is normally aspirated. When it costs so much money to do these small HP increases, I find the engine hard to justify unless you are building it for a specific class of racing. I want to have an engine that is reliable and less stressed, with much more power.

Ideally it would be nice to get the weight to horsepower ratio below 10. That may be possible with a 968, but I will not see it with an S2 engine. But the S2 is priced much better.

About the V8 engine, I am a Porschephile, and like the idea of staying with their engines. From what I have read about the Porsche family, I think that without a doubt, if Ferdinand had access to V8, while others are trying to decide about the heritage/purity of non Porsche engines, he would have gone zooming by them in a loud 8 cylinder powered car.

[ernie9944]

If I was gone to do a transplant and was you, I will definitely go with the 968 instead of the S2 or the 951 ,why because although the hp difference is not that much 208-S2 versus 236-968 with the 968 your talking (TORQUE) & plenty of it the motor has a torque plot witch is nearly flat from 1000 rpm to 6,500 rpm meaning no shifting up & down like crasy to get the power it's there all the time making it very easy to drive either just cruising around or at very higth speed.Also you can get another 20 hp out of that motor without breaking the bank or drlling a big hole in your wallet.Also don't forget the weigth to HP ratio since your 944 is a lot leigther than the 968.Of course like mention everything come down to the money sign,good 968 motor are rarely seen below $4K plus add an S2 or 951 tranny to keep up with the power & the most important thing of all the SUSPENSION witch will have to be rework, so for such a transplant let say $10K if you do your own work,this is probably why some of the guys here are giving you the famous lines (sell it & buy a 951/S2 or 968 ) don't forget your car is already 24 yrs old & not getting any younger,a down to earth solution will be to start looking for a very good shape 2.7 N/A & drop it in there,think of all the money save if you look at that scenario & how many nice ugrades you could add to your 86.

[JivenJim]

968 Swap
Two wires on the DME need to be cut and spiced to correct source.Read my old writeup with the help of those I mention.
Please crack your valve cover and at least do the CAM tensioners and replacement new belts as Clarks garage can give instructions.
PM if you can't find something.
Very Sweet upgrade for 6Kish

I Swapped a 968 into a 924S

[jamesjedi]

I have waited long enough for a motor. I have looked for an S2 and 968. I have not found a suitable engine. I have decided to rebuild the one that I have. Thanks to all who helped.

[944 Ecology]

Good idea... Let us know how it works out.

[hoopfol]

i did put a 5 cyl in my 924 and it is runing fine not to maney mods and dit evrything my self