i think it has come to this

[cockerpunk]

im tired of sinking money into a primitive and aging and hard to work on turbo motor.

im thinking v8 swap.

i have registered on 944hyrbids (membership require admin approval thus my posting here), and checked out both texas performance, and renegade for kits. this seems like a fairly straightforward type swap but i have some other questions ...

1. anyone know of a reputable shop in the mid west that does these? im not 100% sold on paying someone else to do it, but it is an option, depending on costs involved. i highly doubt my local shop autoedge here in st paul would like to take it on. maybe. i guess never hurts to ask.

2. id like as much of the rest of the car to work normally once swapped, ie gauges and speedo and stuff. is it fairly straightforward to get those to work with a swap, or is that a silly idea?

as for my plan, im thinking LS2 or LS3, if i was not, id go L33. but L33s are not any more powerful than i have right now, and if im gonna spend 10 grand on a swap, i want a bit more power. i understand you can cam and mod L33s for more power, maybe up to a stock LS2, but thats venturing into the aftermarket, and that kinda defeats the point of putting a v8 in it in the first place: reliability.

[CHICKS]

Just buy a ls1/ls2/ls3 car. It will be cheaper and more comfortable.

2004 Pontiac GTO
2000 Chevy Camaro Z28

[Bradical]

I agree with Chicks, unless you do the swap yourself. An LS Porsche should be a "look what I can do!" trophy so-to-speak, I don't know why somebody would want to pay someone else to do it. Then again, I don't know why someone would even buy one of these cars in the first place and pay someone else to keep them running, but that's just my opinion. Excluding long-term owners who love their cars but are too old to crawl under them anymore, of course. I respect that!

I mean, what other point is there to an LS Porsche other than it being a statement of your mechanical ability? If you don't like the 2.5L then what's left but some sheet metal and a badge?

Sorry, I know this isn't constructive.

[cockerpunk]

its my car. i want to keep my car. either way, i dont need to justify it to you guys.

grandpas hammer, replaced the head twice, and the handle 3 times, but its still grandpas hammer.

[Jfrahm]

Personally I do not think the native LS engined cars are very good or worth the money. To get a good one costs enough to buy a 997 and the cheaper ones make me sad. Unfortunately it also seems like the LS swaps are still kinda iffy rolling project cars, kit cars, etc.

Overlooking, for the moment, the fiddly kit-car issues and smog headaches, are there any unmodified cars on the market (let's say under $30K used) that compare well to an LS swapped 944?

[djnolan]

What about a well maintained S2 or 968?

Or a corvette that is weight balanced similar to a 944.

[sausagehacker]

If you think a V8 swap is the ticket to a worry free car, you're gonna have a bad time. Ask anyone who's built/ordered one about their experience. They're awesome (I've driven two) but the conversion leaves a lot of potential gremlins and bugs unless you two of three available: lots of money, lots of time, or lots of mechanical ability. It's not that it's bad, it's just a way bigger project that it seems until you start working. Just being objective....and know several people personally who have built these cars.

[Jfrahm]

I have a couple 968s and have had two S2s. Great cars and quick, but not fast. With a supercharger you can get to fast, but not LS swap fast and there are downsides.

A C5 is in the price range but they are not nice inside. 370Z is a bit weird and at that level of performance you might as well drive a 928S4 or GT. The 928 is a great option IMO unless you want a targa or full convertible. Not everyone agrees however.

[cockerpunk]

Originally Posted by sausagehacker

If you think a V8 swap is the ticket to a worry free car, you're gonna have a bad time. Ask anyone who's built/ordered one about their experience. They're awesome (I've driven two) but the conversion leaves a lot of potential gremlins and bugs unless you two of three available: lots of money, lots of time, or lots of mechanical ability. It's not that it's bad, it's just a way bigger project that it seems until you start working. Just being objective....and know several people personally who have built these cars.

certainly not worry free, but not the kluge that is a 944 turbo motor with aftermarket parts here and there

[Jfrahm]

Hmm, I'll disagree. There is a lot more engineering and experience on the road in the 944T and tons of peer support for the aftermarket. The swaps are not common and obviously there are issues.

In both cases it comes down to experience, talent, attention to detail and quality of parts in both cases. With the same project manager in the plan I'd expect the same results.

If you find a shop, some sort of hot rod shop I suppose, I suggest finding some customers who have had big builds done by them and see how many comebacks and budget overruns they had. Something like a 6 to 8 swap in a muscle car where they have to mod chassis parts and reroute wiring, etc.

It'd probably be worth having the shop in TX do it as another shop is going to be learning as they go and taking $5K worth of shop time for the education. Your $5K. And then you start over with fixing the shortcomings of the parts and install.

[Bradical]

Originally Posted by cockerpunk

its my car. i want to keep my car. either way, i dont need to justify it to you guys.

grandpas hammer, replaced the head twice, and the handle 3 times, but its still grandpas hammer.

That's awesome. I am 100% on you doing your thing, I am trying to talk you into doing it yourself! Are you kidding? If you are anywhere close to me I would volunteer my time!

I'll be in white bear lake in December... Eh? Eh?

[cockerpunk]

Originally Posted by Bradical

That's awesome. I am 100% on you doing your thing, I am trying to talk you into doing it yourself! Are you kidding? If you are anywhere close to me I would volunteer my time!

I'll be in white bear lake in December... Eh? Eh?

no kidding, i live about 5 miles away in maplewood. drop me a line, ill show you wants going on.

right now im putting in an LSD transaxle. probably wont get started on the full swap until this winter. probably be pulling the motor around then.

[Bradical]

Originally Posted by cockerpunk

no kidding, i live about 5 miles away in maplewood. drop me a line, ill show you wants going on.

right now im putting in an LSD transaxle. probably wont get started on the full swap until this winter. probably be pulling the motor around then.

I am scheduled to be out there for a week on business... If it happens I am DEFINITELY going to have to take you up on that!

[arominus]

2GR V6 swap your MR2 after your done Thats another motor swap monster and i actually think its easier than the LSx swap in the 951.

[v2rocket_aka944]

iron block 6.0 with l92 heads...
LS2/LS6 cams are cheap and good, or go with the LS3 or the ZR1 cam for more power...keep it simple.

[mikepellegrini]

Foolish me, I've always thought the 951 engine was dead simple to work on. Very easy to build and maintain.

What was I thinking?

[cockerpunk]

Originally Posted by arominus

2GR V6 swap your MR2 after your done Thats another motor swap monster and i actually think its easier than the LSx swap in the 951.

my mr2 is already 2zz swapped

Originally Posted by mikepellegrini

Foolish me, I've always thought the 951 engine was dead simple to work on. Very easy to build and maintain.

What was I thinking?

lol

[dp951]

Originally Posted by cockerpunk

im tired of sinking money into a primitive and aging and hard to work on turbo motor.

im thinking v8 swap.

i have registered on 944hyrbids (membership require admin approval thus my posting here), and checked out both texas performance, and renegade for kits. this seems like a fairly straightforward type swap but i have some other questions ...

1. anyone know of a reputable shop in the mid west that does these? im not 100% sold on paying someone else to do it, but it is an option, depending on costs involved. i highly doubt my local shop autoedge here in st paul would like to take it on. maybe. i guess never hurts to ask.

2. id like as much of the rest of the car to work normally once swapped, ie gauges and speedo and stuff. is it fairly straightforward to get those to work with a swap, or is that a silly idea?

as for my plan, im thinking LS2 or LS3, if i was not, id go L33. but L33s are not any more powerful than i have right now, and if im gonna spend 10 grand on a swap, i want a bit more power. i understand you can cam and mod L33s for more power, maybe up to a stock LS2, but thats venturing into the aftermarket, and that kinda defeats the point of putting a v8 in it in the first place: reliability.

The v8 are fun builds and they do provide the torque feel but to me the driving experience is totally different than the turbo cars I ve built a few and the main issue i have with the v8 swaps is the gear ratios, and they way the v8 swaps make power..
A well sorted turbo to me is allot more fun . Key word in any build no matter the car is WELL SORTED.
The problem that i seen often is the guy working on the car not the car itself..

Then again thats just my opinion ALL P CARS ARE GOOD no matter what moves them .
DP951
Promotion

BEST ADVISE IS TO DRIVE A 944 / 968 V8 ..to see if you like the feel.. Ive built them and owned both and i still prefer the turbo cars all day long ..NEXT project will be the v8 turbo to see if that changes my mind . feel free to pm me

[jcommin]

Originally Posted by cockerpunk

im tired of sinking money into a primitive and aging and hard to work on turbo motor.

im thinking v8 swap.

i have registered on 944hyrbids (membership require admin approval thus my posting here), and checked out both texas performance, and renegade for kits. this seems like a fairly straightforward type swap but i have some other questions ...

1. anyone know of a reputable shop in the mid west that does these? im not 100% sold on paying someone else to do it, but it is an option, depending on costs involved. i highly doubt my local shop autoedge here in st paul would like to take it on. maybe. i guess never hurts to ask.

2. id like as much of the rest of the car to work normally once swapped, ie gauges and speedo and stuff. is it fairly straightforward to get those to work with a swap, or is that a silly idea?

as for my plan, im thinking LS2 or LS3, if i was not, id go L33. but L33s are not any more powerful than i have right now, and if im gonna spend 10 grand on a swap, i want a bit more power. i understand you can cam and mod L33s for more power, maybe up to a stock LS2, but thats venturing into the aftermarket, and that kinda defeats the point of putting a v8 in it in the first place: reliability.

Follow Techno Duck's post. I have the utmost respect for Jon. The reason: I would do it exactly as he did. If my N/A ever blows up, I'm going the LS swap. I'm not giving up the car. Full knowing there are better things to do with money, its personal with me.