944S/968 engine swap picture

Ross T · 09-30-2002, 09:27 PM

Here is my 968 engine istalled in my 87 944S. I love it!

Rollins · 09-30-2002, 09:38 PM

beautiful! How's the performance? just like a 968? if you don't mind my asking, what was the total cost for this project?

Ross T · 09-30-2002, 09:48 PM

I do not know how it compares to the 968. I have tried to find one to drive for comparison purposes. to no avail.

I must say I love the performance, but as of now my suspension is not quite up to par...I'm workin' on that though.

I am not a racer so I do not have any lap time, or 1/4 mile type comparisons. Just seat of the pants fun.

The engine was a lower mileage factory rebuild, or so I was told. Total cost for parts and labor with new clutch, new radiator and hoses as well as a few hundred in other part was .....7K

I know I coud have purchased a turbo for that money, But I just love THIS car. I love the rare factory yellow color. Besides, I was curious to see how it would feel.

1.2gees · 1.2gees's Garage

I would've bought a turbo in good shape after selling your current car. I'm not going to give you the whole speech though because I think what you've done although not very cost effective is still a pretty good thing. What was the whole reason behind the engine swap, did you just want more power?

Nice touch painting the engine cover to match your car, do you have any exterior pics?

More power to ya!
Ahmet

AFJuvat · 10-01-2002, 02:23 AM

Now you just have to change that uglier than sin coolant tank.....

Z-man · Z-man's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by Ross T
snip I am not a racer so I do not have any lap time, or 1/4 mile type comparisons. Just seat of the pants fun.
...

Maybe it's time to let your car stretch it's legs at a PCA DE event!

Nice job! I can't imagine the engineering it took to match everything up (like the flywheel, clutch, ...etc) since they are all so different 944S vs. 968.
-Z.

overkill · 10-01-2002, 05:48 AM

There you go! LOL, ZOLTAN recruiting again, HA HA HA! Keep it up ZOLT

OH, yeah dude your $hit brown coolant tank MUST go

Bob's944 · Bob's944's Garage

You should make a custom emblem in the back... dubbing the car a 944S4 to warn of what's special inside. Looks awsome... I would love to drive it when your done modifying the suspension. Are you going to do anything with the brakes also? It would be cool to keep it all factory by getting junk 951 that isn't running, but complete, and swapping over the suspension, front brakes and wheels. The whole cost thing scares me like everyone else. By the time you're done, you could probably have 2 cars for what you'll spend , enough for a nice 951 ... and still have the pale yellow 944.

Ross T · 10-01-2002, 09:57 AM

Hey! c'mon now, I special ordered that coolant resiviour in "Horse teeth" brown..it was a costly option.

here is a picture of the whole car.

By the way anyonehave a nice fresh looking collant tank for sale? What might I expect to pay for one?

Blackfoot · Blackfoot's Garage

nice looking car. perhaps the "wolfrpi bumper mod" would be of interest. that's where the bumper is pushed in almost flush. and nice job with the engine conversion!

kgain968 · 10-01-2002, 06:52 PM

Quote:

Hey! c'mon now, I special ordered that coolant resiviour in "Horse teeth" brown..it was a costly option

LOL! that was funny! Also I assume the variocam is functional? You should maybe get it dynoed?

ae1969 · 10-01-2002, 07:05 PM

That looks great.....

love the engine detail..... That thing looks stock.

I am not going to say anything about the coolant tank.....ok I am ....but you already sank 7K into this car .... the least you could do is get rid of that god awful eye sore of a tank

You should really make a list of all the things you did and what it took to finish this conversion....

I am impressed, it has been awhile since I have seen a 944 that made me drop my jaw.... but that engine sitting in there sure as heck did!

Great

CJFusco · CJFusco's Garage

I am so envious right now. Who'da thunkit that 944s look so good in yellow?

Ross T · 10-01-2002, 08:18 PM

Ok!,..OK! I'll find nice looking coolant tank.

I have only had the car back for about two weeks. I allready painted the engine cover and the lower runner parts..you know the rough bumpy painted stuff.. I did it with a roller!! Looks better than the old stone chips.
I replaced my "stone guards" as well.

I will get it dyno-ed soon. I think these engines should put about 200-205 to the wheels. I will post my results when I have it done.

I have actually had people who are familiar with the 944 series tell me that I am mistaken about the "factory" yellow color and that it was never an option.

At first I though the yellow was a little too loud for my tastes. I quickly got used to it and now am quite fond of the color and the fact that it is uncommon.

Ross T · 10-01-2002, 08:35 PM

I know roughly what was involved in the engine swap. My mechanic (Rusty Pliers) of "Dewey Cheatham & Howe" did the work.
....Seriously I did not do the install. I wish I could explain all that it took but I only know gereraly what was done.

I did use the 944S clutch, clutch housing, and torque tube. It also has my "S" transmission still installed.

I would like to upgrade the brakes as well. Is there anything between the expensive "Big Red" and my current brakes that would offer better stopping power? Are the turbo brakes an upgrade?
I also would like to get an MSD ignition and coil. I also would like to find out more about the .233 RW horsepower someone here says they are getting in thier 968. and see if I can get the same.

Thanks for the comment on the car and install..I hope the lemon yellow color does not live up to it's namesake

Z-man · Z-man's Garage

Ross: maybe it's time to give the folks at Excellence Magazine a call: seems they love doing stories about cars like yours. There was a story on a 944S to 944S2 conversion last year: your car would make for a great follow up article!

BTW: I love the 'pastel' yellow of your car. There's a guy in my PCA region (NNJR) who has a 944 n/a with that exact same color. When I get my 'track only' 944, I'm hoping it will be in that color: it screams "Empty Canvas" to me. (I see a tasteful red/yellow checkered flag graphics, maybe a lightning bolt with "Z-man" above the driver's door...)

Enjoy the car!
-Z.

Z-man · Z-man's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by overkill
There you go! LOL, ZOLTAN recruiting again, HA HA HA! Keep it up ZOLT ...

Yep: you know it: every chance I get! The way I figure, if I can get one more person on the track, that's one person who will drive better on the streets and NOT HIT ME! Also: it's one more 'victim' for me on the track! hehe

overkill · 10-02-2002, 05:51 AM

LOL!

overkill · 10-02-2002, 05:54 AM

Hey, that 968 engine is going to put out a bit more than 200 - 205hp. Your "S" engine was 2.5 16V and did 188hp and now you have a 3.0 16V with vario-cam. If your vario-cam is working you should be getting 240-250? Is that right?

CJFusco · CJFusco's Garage

About the brakes question: Excellence just did a how-to article about upgrading the brakes on a 944. They used 928S4 brakes up front and 968 brakes in the rear... they said stopping power was tremendous, and is probably the best set-up one can realistically have on a 944.