Engine Swap Possibilities

[Shaun @ Tru6]

I may be purchasing an 82 928 w/ 5-speed tomorrow. Car has sat for 3 years but was a fully functional car before it was parked. Had all new sycnros and clutch prior to being parked.

What later, higher horsepower, motors easily (relatively) will fit into this car? I'm not expecting the relative ease of putting an 84-89 911 motor into a 69-73, but what are my options for this car?


EDIT: sorry, saw a post like this down below. please ignore.

[rhjames]

Originally Posted by Shaun 84 Targa

EDIT: sorry, saw a post like this down below. please ignore.

not to promote an "ignorance", but you didn't specify a US spec 82 or a Euro (ROW) spec.....there is a big difference, when discussing engine swaps or upgrades.






--Russ

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Russ, for the price, it can only be U.S.

from the post below, it looks like a euro motor will be the best option down the road. I've driven 84 autos and thought they were dog slow. Can't imagine an 82 5 speed will be that much better, though the after I go through the car, the interior will be gutted and anything heavy will be removed, so that will help a little.

[rhjames]

actually, you will find Euro's and US spec cars priced pretty close---not much difference between the two.....

the Euro cars will be about 150 pounds lighter.

big difference is the 4.7L Euro "S" @ 300 hp.

if this is something you're planning on gutting, expect to pay no more than a few hundred, certainly no more than a thousand bucks----







--Russ

[Shaun @ Tru6]

it's one of those cars that everyone tells you not to buy. if Euro, will it have ZZZ in the VIN?

yes, few hundred $. I imagine after doing a compression test, first thing I would do is timing belt and water pump?

[Danglerb]

Swapping in a Euro or Euro hybrid motor is the way for HP, but gutted out no AC etc. removes nearly 400 lbs or so, put some 85/86 US exhaust manifolds and an X or Y pipe and you might not find the 82 so tame.

A 5 spd is NOTHING like driving an AT.

Trust nothing a PO tells you that you can't test, and not running for a few years is typically a LOT more than the PO remembers.

OTOH best of luck and be sure to post picts.

[Danglerb]

Originally Posted by Shaun 84 Targa

it's one of those cars that everyone tells you not to buy. if Euro, will it have ZZZ in the VIN?

yes, few hundred $. I imagine after doing a compression test, first thing I would do is timing belt and water pump?

First first thing, look the car over carefully, remove any rodent living quarters (check under the air filter box) and generally see how deep the water is before jumping in.

Actually FIRST thing to do is drain the fuel tank and flush the lines. I would then squirt some oil in each spark plug hole and let it set over night, then do a compression test. With a dry, cold motor compression test won't mean much anyway.

82 non Euro isn't interference, no harm done if the belt breaks, so no point in diving in that far until you know you want to keep the motor, and/or car. Get it started and let it come fully up to temp a couple times, then change all the fluids and filters.

[rhjames]

Originally Posted by Shaun 84 Targa

it's one of those cars that everyone tells you not to buy. if Euro, will it have ZZZ in the VIN?

yes, few hundred $. I imagine after doing a compression test, first thing I would do is timing belt and water pump?

I do not remember exactly when the Euro vin numbers went to the ZZZ, but 82 seems to stick out as the changeover.....


be very careful of this, as the 80-82 Euro's had two different engines (4.5L 229 hp and 4.7L 300hp), if it's a US, then there's only one....4.5L 220 hp, all of which are non-interference engines, so don't sweat the TB/H2o deal.

get it started and drive it until the belt breaks, unless you don't want to take the risk. (we did this with my Dad's 79, only because we had no history on it--yeah, we were being lazy------).







--Russ

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Thanks Russ, the car was actually a no-go. What were described as minor dents that could easily be pulled out in the passenger rear quarter, in fact went into the B-pillar.

I'm putting an entire rear driver quarter on my 72 Targa, a relatively easy proposition. I can't even imagine doing it on a 928.

The search continues. thank you for your help!