Alternative Engines for the 944 (other than a Chevy V8)
 

Have there been any meaniful attempts or completed 944 projects with alternative engines other than an Chevy LS?

Yes, have heard about the guy working on the 3800 V6 conversion.

How about a reliable 4 cyl in plentiful supply that would somewhat cheaply be converted to get ride of the 2.5l - A Miata engine, Honda, Toyota?

Just curious?

Why get rid of the 2.5L 4cyl for a smaller 4cyl? The only 4cyl enginer swap I'd consider would be a S2000, but the cost/performance/effort probably doesn't make sense.

Rover V8 conversions are floating around mostly in Europe.

Well for one the Miata engine cant even move it's own car.. As far as 4 cylinders I wouldn't change from original. But that my opinion and we all know what that means LOL But seriously I have never heard of any swaps but the chevy 8.

I'd wait a few years and get the 2.0l twin turbo, direct injected BMW. It's a slant 4 too and looks like it will fit perfectly.

Economical, fast, light, reliable.

http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/...s/c164724a.jpg

Rover v8's are JUNK. Head gasket failures, dropping sleeves/cylinder liners and bad HP. They are complete crap. I say this and my current driver is a 4.0L LR Disco 2. Big time junk.

My preference and effort is the 20v 4 cyl VW/Audi engine with a built engine and big turbo (BAT) Should be running by spring. Check my other threads if you want to watch. Will be making two of every custom part and sending to a mechanical engineer shop for jigs and duplicates.

+1

anything with torque, lots of it, from 1000rpm on up.
the purists would decry such a thing as a "truck motor" but id rather be able to pull off a stoplight easily than have to wait 4000rpm for anything to happen (*cough*944S*)

that basically means a bigger engine, or a similar size with variable timing.

the GM atlas engines are sweet. i would like to see someone try the 2.9L i-4 they make, stock its about 175/180 hp/tq, with a tq curve you could eat off of...dirt cheap, solidly built, low maintenance...hell, maybe ill do it.

honda, toyota...maytag, amana...same thing.

Word.

I guess for the money, time, PIA factor, and unknown fabrication issues, I would just build what I have......some good head work, free flow exhaust, cam change, chip change, and you're over 200 HP.

Why not just swap a 968 motor? Direct fit, 240bhp.

Not unless you're starting on a 16v car, or you've got several times the value of the 944 in the bank to mess with the 8v.

The 968 has the same problem, somewhat alleviated, as the 944S - no guts below 2/3 max RPM.

For the cost of a 968 motor, I could buy an LS1, rebuild it and add some power.
For the cost of a 944S2 motor, I could buy a good used LS1.

Though the LS1 is still up there in motor cost, so if you can get a practical option for cheaper....why not.

If it were that easy we would all do it ;) You're maybe at 160hp with all that work if you are lucky.

Yep, for a base na you are looking at probably $10k all in for the LS swap, plus expect you'll be paying much more regularly at the pump for that V8.

The cost of the 968 motor can buy you an LS1 but there is alot more to an LSx (or any engine swap) than just buying the motor.

A 968 motor is direct fit.. no need to figure out power brakes or adapt the LS based power steering pump to the Porsche rack. Not to mention all the other parts you would need for the LS swap; oil pan, engine mounts, headers, bell housing adapter..etc.

Im not saying dont do an engine swap (see my other thread :)), but look at the big picture.

20's putting around town, 25 highway on LSx swapped cars... pretty comparable to a 944T, best i ever saw was just under 30 between NY and Ohio on my way to 944 Fest (with turbo motor). Swap out for the n/a 5th gear and you can probably do even better.

I remember there was a guy fitting an Audi 5-cylinder to the 944 though i dont know if he ever finished that car.

index

and

20v 5cyl turbo 944 project - Rennlist Discussion Forums

The 968 motor is very much indeed "alleviated" over the 944S. With the 944S, I recall having to decide whether or not to leave the AC on if I wanted to pass or pull out spiritedly. The 968 has no such issues. Underpowered compared to today, yes, but definitely more powerful than the 944S and much more driveable in all circumstances.

lol - and set up like yours, with about 300 lb/ft of torque, and over 300 hp, added to the fact that it was actually designed to work in the car, it starts to make a whole lot more sense than other swaps.

I'm a big fan of doing an audi 20V swap - I've been on the lookout for a 931 bellhousing for a while.

How about this:

http://historicspacecraft.com/Photos..._2007_RK_4.jpg

I'm not sure what kinda engine mounts you'd use but it'd sure go fast!

True, with the supercharger it goes like stink. Even in stock form though, it was miles better than my 944S.

did you post that just for me :D

Ha! Indeed I was thinking of you...

So, Porsche engine swaps really are rocket science! LOL..

I don't think the 944 is intended for an SUV V6 or other such engines or it would have been done.

Vortec 4.3 would be a beast too now that mention it

Anyone ever fit a large electric motor?

Check rennlist there was a thread going about a guys electric conversion last week

Electric 944 - Page 2 - Rennlist Discussion Forums
Nice :)

I also found a video of the test drive.. goes like hell :D

Electric Porsche 944 - YouTube @ ~3:00

Find a 924 turbo bellhousing and you could swap in an Audi V8 or an Audi 20V 5-cylinder turbo.

One guy on the LeMons forums was building a 944 with an Audi V8. Used a Volvo diesel bellhousing which is more common apparently. Only issue was the hood needed a couple of inches of clearance at the front.

There have been a few AAN swaps in Europe and they seem to be pretty ballsy.

Maybe a year or two ago I saw one advertised on CL from Spokane, WA where the guy had done an electric conversion. It looked nice and I'm sure it was nice - for an electric converted 944 - but he wanted crazy money for it. Like over $20,000 - which is less than he had invested.

No clue what happened to it. I find it hard to believe he ever found anyone who wanted to spend that kind of money... $20,000 for a curiosity?

I started a thread here on it, but can't remember what it was called.

Around 3:30... that 944 moves lol!

I put a stroked ford modular DOHC 4.6 liter v8 in mine.

How much clearance do you have on either side? Howd you do the steering shaft?

A turbo'd 2v would be a monster in a 944.

Not much room. Maybe an inch or so on each side. I went to manual steering and the steering shaft shoots just between the 3 and 4 exhaust ports about an inch from the head.

It's a snug fit but looks petty cool in there. If I weren't on my phone I would post you some pictures. I could email you some if you are interested.

I dug a bit for info on these and it seems the turbo 924 bell housing is different than the VAG pattern. I compared photos and confirmed ... sad but seems to be true that they are different.

Yes, it uses the Audi I5 pattern. So only engines with the Audi I5 pattern would work. So the Audi I5 and the early Audi V8.

To use a more common VW pattern, you'd have to build your own bellhousing adapter using a donor housing cut from a VW transaxle (to keep the input shaft center and provide a flat surface to mount it to the Torque Tube)

Here's some interesting links:

924Board.org :: View topic - Straight six engine in a 924 <--Audi inline 6

924Board.org :: View topic - 1.8T 924 <-- 1.8 Turbo

924Board.org :: View topic - 1977.5 Audi AAN Project <-- 20V DOHC Inline 5

924Board.org :: View topic - 1991 Audi 200 Quattro 5cyl 20v turbo transplant <--Another 20V I5 swap

924Board.org :: View topic - Porsche 924S20VT - Update! <--yup. 20V I5

924Board.org :: View topic - VW/Audi 1.8 Turbo Motor <--more discussions on other VW engine swaps

924Board.org :: View topic - Audi engines that doesn´t fit 924 bellhousing <--discusses Audi bellhousing and engine differences

Oh and then there is this:

Adapter Plate, VR6 to Audi Quattro Trans - 034Motorsport | Performance Parts for Audi, Porsche, and Volkswagen