V8 944?

[944tango]

Anyone dropped a GM lightweight V8 in a 944?

apparently the exact same weight and fits !

400BHP! obvious need to change drive train!

i see a lot of the Yanks do it, does anyone know if there is an easy to get V8 in the UK and anyone in the UK that provides the needed adaptors etc..

 

[barks944]

You can import the adapters from the states.... Theres a few places you can get a crate engine from in the uk, should be able to get one from a wreked car I would have throught. Promax want about 20k to build one with an LS2, thats using there own car rather than taking a customers and fitting it with a V8. They were saying that they would limit the rate of change of torque to protect the drive train, this can be done in the ECU I think by controlling the electronic throttle. I have been very tempted to give this a go, I think it would make an awesome car....

 

[944Turbo]

As far as I know no one has done it in a RHD car yet, I am giving it very serious consideration but haven't started yet! there are a few (well probably 2 ) 944 Turbos with 400BHP without transmission issues but the turbo gearbox is a little stronger and usually equipped with a cooler.
Tony

 

[sawood12]

Yep, the attraction of a turn-key v8 package ala Promax would be good for people like me who don't have the time and patients to modify/develop a turbo. But at £20k (which probably doesn't include uprating of the suspension to KW and uprating brakes) - which is also what your outlay would be to get a decent 400bhp-ish turbo, is getting awfully close (within £2k) of a decent 996 turbo!

 

[944Turbo]

IIRC the Promax V8 package definitely included big brakes and pretty sure suspension, and a rust free shell. I was considering it, but as I already have a car with lots of bits such as big brakes new cv's, castor mounts suspension etc. which needs an engine rebuild the complete car was of less interest to me as I would still have to do work to mine to sell it.

A well worn off the shelf 996TT or a 944 with a spanking new lower maintenance engine/ new brakes, suspension etc. which for a short time at least will be unique and at least partly bespoke to your requirements - interesting choice for those with £20k who fancy something different.

Tony

 

[sawood12]

Don't believe the myth that low £20k's will buy you a worn 996 Turbo. There are two work colleagues who have bought 996TT's recently - one is a yr2001 60k miler, manual for £24k and the other a 2000 80k miler Tip for £22k, both with full OPC histories, only one or two previous owners and in immaculate condition. And though there is no such thing as a cheap Porsche they are not as expensive to service as you might think! Cost as much as an Audi TT to service at a specialist.

Agree that the 944 would be a very interesting and unique motor though - like you say, an interesting choice to make and would require lots of test drives!

 

[333pg333]

I wish I was more tempted by the V8 thing. Clearly it has a lot of advantages and could be made into quite a stormer...but even watching / listening to people like Tony G's car on the track just doesn't sound right to me. I wish it did. Would have saved me a lot of time and money and I know many others with a lot invested in their modified 944 turbos that say the same thing. I really wish I wanted a V8 conversion...but I just don't. []

 

[peanut]

dare I say it what about getting a budget second car ?

You can get a tidy 928 v8 for 2-3K then you'll have all the brakes and suspension sorted without any mods.[]

 

[Diver944]

I would have thought the terms 'budget second car' and 'tidy 928' would be mutually exclusive No such thing as a cheap Porsche etc etc

I just really want someone to do a 944 LS2 conversion in the UK (and not invlove me spending the money to do it [] )

 

[zcacogp]

ORIGINAL: Diver944
I just really want someone to do a 944 LS2 conversion in the UK (and not invlove me spending the money to do it [] )

Exactly my thoughts!

(Although if I don't change the timing belt on my S2 soon then I may end up doing one out of necessity ... [] )


Oli.

 

[peanut]

ORIGINAL: Diver944

I would have thought the terms 'budget second car' and 'tidy 928' would be mutually exclusive No such thing as a cheap Porsche etc etc

I just really want someone to do a 944 LS2 conversion in the UK (and not invlove me spending the money to do it [] )

form an orderly queue here behind me []

Actually I had a really nice 79 928 that had a replacement engine and all wings and complete respray . I bought it for £2.5k and sold it for 2k
Needed lots of minor stuff doing electrical stuff etc

 

[AndrewS]

ORIGINAL: 944tango

Anyone dropped a GM lightweight V8 in a 944?

apparently the exact same weight and fits !

400BHP! obvious need to change drive train!

i see a lot of the Yanks do it, does anyone know if there is an easy to get V8 in the UK and anyone in the UK that provides the needed adaptors etc..

We have already fitted a V8 LS2 into a 944 Turbo test chassis (2009) using some components from Renegade (some had to be remanufactured for RHD). Hence, the concept (for fitting was proven).

Becuase it is a very challenging job to install into a customer car, we decided the best thing (to be able to warrant the complete package) would be to provide a turn key 944 Turbo ('88 250 car or later) with new KW suspension, thoroughly checked and prepared bodywork and a new warranted LS2 engine (can use LS1 or LS3). Engine management would be programmed to ensure longevity of the transmission, but power would be in excess of 425bhp. The whole car would then be sold as a turn key package with an asking price of £19,995 (12 months, unlimited mileage warranty). NOTE: non of the above constitutes anything other than informational guidelines and any policy would be subject to agreement with the customer.

The advantage of doing it this way is to enable the necessary quality control over the whole car. The challenge of fitting to a customer car can introduce all manner of problems if the wiring loom is toast, gearbox worn, bodywork poor etc.

There is also the possibilty (in the future) for the supply of a UK supplied LS engine package for 944/968 models that will be specifically for RHD cars. For that to be a reality (and make commercial sense) we need to supply a car first.

I have a shell waiting for an LS engine (924 GT Carrera rep) - but there is always so little time to work on sideline projects. Hence, I am still on the lookout for a really cheap 250 Turbo for this very reason (made a cheeky offer for this one - but no luck yet). So if anybody has a 250 Turbo (even with buzzed engine) - I'm interested (up to £1,500).

Regards,
Andrew

 

[bennyboy]

Rest assured Andrew, if my numbers come up, one of your LS3 944's will share garage space with an F355...

 

[AndrewS]

Hi Ben,

The LS3 is the best engine to use also (same as Camaro & later VXR8). Good luck with your numbers! []

Regards,
Andrew

 

[sawood12]

Andrew, £20k for effectively a re-built 944 with KW and an LS2 engine sounds like a hell of alot of car for the money. I think many on here who modify their 944 turbo's would be very surprised if they sat down with a pen and paper and a calculator and really totted up what they've spent on their cars including purchase price would be very shocked at how close to that figure they will be and how much all the other toys on their wish list would add upto.

 

[Diver944]

I know I'm well over that amount with my purchase and build costs so the figure of £20k for a supplied car, built and warranted by a known dealer with a good rep is an absolute bargain. I'll be doing Bennyboys numbers too []

 

[944Turbo]

ORIGINAL: AndrewS

Hi Ben,

The LS3 is the best engine to use also (same as Camaro & later VXR8). Good luck with your numbers! []

Regards,
Andrew

whats the advantage of an LS3 over an LS2? just the capacity increase?

 

[Suffolk944]

ORIGINAL: sawood12

Andrew, £20k for effectively a re-built 944 with KW and an LS2 engine sounds like a hell of alot of car for the money. I think many on here who modify their 944 turbo's would be very surprised if they sat down with a pen and paper and a calculator and really totted up what they've spent on their cars including purchase price would be very shocked at how close to that figure they will be and how much all the other toys on their wish list would add upto.

True, though at least with upgrades you can spend the money bit by bit as it becomes available rather than finding £20K all at once ! Not dissing the concept though as such a car will no doubt be quite a machine !

 

[Lizard]

On the subject of v8 944s- I wrote this ages ago, was way back in 2003!

Anyway was an interesting car, no idea what happend to it as I lost contact with the owner, is it still around?

http://www.pistonheads.com/doc.asp?c=105&i=7895

or prob better is this= same article but with forum banter afterwards-

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&f=48&t=77388&mid=18247&i=0&nmt=RE: Porsche 944 V8&mid=18247

The v8BMW im waffeling on about on the forum is I had at the time an e36 bmw with the 4.0 v8 out of an e39 4.0, & thats a cracking engine only 300 odd bhp tho.

 

[944Turbo]

I remember reading it! wonder where that car is now,
Tony