Visual difference between 944S and S2???

[Eric P]

Let's say a guy in competition has a '44 with no marking on the back. He says it is "just an S" but I'm suspicious it is an S2. How would I know the difference by looking at it (not just body as parts may have been changed)? What would I look for in the engine compartment or maybe interior, or underside?

Thx!

[Tervuren]

A S2, and Turbo, both have the same bodywork. A S, has the regular 944 bodywork, with seperate front bumper, etc.

Look at the steering wheel, a S2 should have airbags, a S won't. Easy way without looking under the hood.

If it has phonedials, the S2 came with the later style 928 wheels, so if phonedials, odds are, its an S.

[jgp0rsche]

944S engine bay:


944 S2 engine bay:



As you can see, the intake manifolds are different and the air boxes are in different places. On the S, the intake manifold's inlet is backwards compared to the S2's. The S2 air box is under the header panel

[Eric P]

jpg, THANK YOU! That should help me clear it up.

[bleucamaro]

The S2's also came with Turbo 4-pot Brembo brakes.

[Usmellgass2?]

easy visual? Watch them cross the finish line, The S2 will be the one in front

[gtroth]

...my S has an airbag.

[Schumi]

I want an S now just so I can get that snazzy 16 Ventiler -script airbox. I have been meaning to ask, are S's much harder to find parts/work on than the 8v cars?

[Techno Duck]

The S engine shares alot of parts with the S2 and the later 8v engines. The best way to explain it is the 2.5L 16v S engine is sort of mutation of the 8v engine as it goes to the 3.0L S2 16v engine.

The 16v engine has the same maitenence issues such as the timing belt and whatnot as the regular 8v.. but you also must address the cam chain tensioner. I wont get into the debate of when to change the pad or the entire tensioner... but the pad does wear out and should be replaced roughly every 100k miles. The debate on whether its safe to just change the pad or the entire tensioner is where the argument will come in. Other than that..you just have 8 more valves to worry about if you blow a belt.. . Also finding a 16v head in the event you do blow a belt... good luck with that . But there is not much else to worry about over a regular 8v engine.

I can tell you that the difference in the 16v S engine over the 8v engine is not very evident until you get over 4k rpms. The 8v cars really seem to run out of breath past 4500k while the 16v pulls nicely all the way to the redline. As a friend of mine put it.. you really need to rev the **** out of it to take advantage of it. But then again.. 188hp over 150 is a huge difference!

[91S2]

Forgive me if I'm wrong but isn't the rear on an S2 different from an S?

[91S2]

Originally posted by Schumi
I want an S now just so I can get that snazzy 16 Ventiler -script airbox. I have been meaning to ask, are S's much harder to find parts/work on than the 8v cars?

Hey, easy... It's not that "snazzy"

[Techno Duck]

The only difference is the addition of the rear valance and on '91+ S2 models the rear bridge spoiler.

91S2, what area of LI are you on? Im in Oyster Bay.

[gtroth]

Originally posted by Schumi
... are S's much harder to find parts/work on than the 8v cars?

Throttle location makes it a real pain to service it (for reseal, TPS...). That position also makes it difficult to clean the grounds at the back of the engine and service the ref/speed sensor (one sensor on the S). Best to remove the intake manifold and do those all at once IMO.

S also adds the ISV over the 8VNA (no throttle screw - dynamic idle control). Also adds the "pre-muffler" to the catback (maybe the 2.7-8VNA's have that too...).

Different pressure plate, uprated trans too I think (over the 8VNA).

[91S2]

I'm in Massapequa, Techno... I heard there's been some good car nights on Tuesdays in Oyster Bay. Is that still going on?