V8 conversion
- Thread starter blease
- Start date
i dont really care what the car will be "worth" .. it only cost me £690 and is already (correspondingly) rough
i've been offered the 4 litre out of a friends chimaera for next to nothing (couple of beers) and just like playing with things .. like putting 120bhp full race zx6r engines in zxr400's and .. stuff.
I often though about doing this to my 924, but due to the hassle (and expense) of swapping all the running gear over to 944 items in order to have adequate brakes/suspension/gearbox .. it didnt happen, and then along came a cheap 944 ..
i know i'll only be looking at a touch over 200bhp with the 4 litre tvr engine.. but it'll scratch an itch and a 300+ bhp lump can always be found/built further down the line (ideally a big-bore/short-stroke 3.5 litre 8000rpm screamer)
I dont want an american engine.. because they are either heavy (very) or expensive.. whilst rover engines are lighter than the 944 4pot, available cheaply, and tunable.
i've been offered the 4 litre out of a friends chimaera for next to nothing (couple of beers) and just like playing with things .. like putting 120bhp full race zx6r engines in zxr400's and .. stuff.
I often though about doing this to my 924, but due to the hassle (and expense) of swapping all the running gear over to 944 items in order to have adequate brakes/suspension/gearbox .. it didnt happen, and then along came a cheap 944 ..
i know i'll only be looking at a touch over 200bhp with the 4 litre tvr engine.. but it'll scratch an itch and a 300+ bhp lump can always be found/built further down the line (ideally a big-bore/short-stroke 3.5 litre 8000rpm screamer)
I dont want an american engine.. because they are either heavy (very) or expensive.. whilst rover engines are lighter than the 944 4pot, available cheaply, and tunable.
I agree with John but also understand your reasoning so I'm not going to comment either way on the worth of the transplant, and I haven't done it so I can't offer advice.
What I can tell you however is that as I understand it the Chevy LS1 weighs just under 4kg more than the Rover unit, which given it's 5.7 or 6.0 litre vs. 3.5 or 4.0 litre seems worthwhile to me. It's also just as tunable, and it's a lot less necessary to tune it as it will make 350bhp+ in cooking form, which is pretty much where the Buick is all used up, isn't it?
Of course cost is an issue and if you can get the Trevor engine for next to nothing that's a strong argument in its favour.
What I can tell you however is that as I understand it the Chevy LS1 weighs just under 4kg more than the Rover unit, which given it's 5.7 or 6.0 litre vs. 3.5 or 4.0 litre seems worthwhile to me. It's also just as tunable, and it's a lot less necessary to tune it as it will make 350bhp+ in cooking form, which is pretty much where the Buick is all used up, isn't it?
Of course cost is an issue and if you can get the Trevor engine for next to nothing that's a strong argument in its favour.
pauljmcnulty
Active member
There is a member with a Rover V8 in his 944, it was amazing to see the extent he'd gone to to adapt almost every part of the car to fit the engine. [&:]
I spoke to him last week, looking for a clutch part that involved the 944 technical advisor, the 924 advisor and possibly a few Lotus bits. Point is, the work involved will cost a whole load more time and money than following the proven tuning paths for a Turbo. And end up with no benefit other than a better engine sound.
I spoke to him last week, looking for a clutch part that involved the 944 technical advisor, the 924 advisor and possibly a few Lotus bits. Point is, the work involved will cost a whole load more time and money than following the proven tuning paths for a Turbo. And end up with no benefit other than a better engine sound.
LOL, cheers Fen,
the LS1 is also bulkier and sits both higher and further forward in the chassis so weight distribution is compromised.. and you'll be VERY lucky to get away without cutting holes in the bonnet
as for power , yes it makes 350ish bhp.. but I can build a rover V8 that'll make similar for about the same cost as buying in a crated LS1 .. besides there's gearbox issues..
the torque of an LS1 will destroy the 944 box, the rover is far less likely to as the bottom end torque is much lower as the engine is in a higher state of tune.. and the rover should work ok with the 944 gearbox ratio's where an LS1 conversion really involves shelling out as much as the car cost on a rebuilt 951 box with an LSD... which will still break eventually.
then there's brakes ... you cant have a servo with an LS1 as there's nowhere to put it once the engine is accommodated..
my minds made up on the conversion i want to do.. im not even 100% sure it'll happen (about 70% probably) just looking for advice from folks who've been down this path before.
I accept that "abusing" a porsche in this way is likely be seen in a poor light, originality has its place and im all for it (was/am in the classic car restoration/prep trade and have an alfa gtv6 and a commer PB im restoring to concours) but try to bear in mind im starting with a dog-eared, accident damaged and poorly repaired example that wouldn't ever be A1.
the LS1 is also bulkier and sits both higher and further forward in the chassis so weight distribution is compromised.. and you'll be VERY lucky to get away without cutting holes in the bonnet
as for power , yes it makes 350ish bhp.. but I can build a rover V8 that'll make similar for about the same cost as buying in a crated LS1 .. besides there's gearbox issues..
the torque of an LS1 will destroy the 944 box, the rover is far less likely to as the bottom end torque is much lower as the engine is in a higher state of tune.. and the rover should work ok with the 944 gearbox ratio's where an LS1 conversion really involves shelling out as much as the car cost on a rebuilt 951 box with an LSD... which will still break eventually.
then there's brakes ... you cant have a servo with an LS1 as there's nowhere to put it once the engine is accommodated..
my minds made up on the conversion i want to do.. im not even 100% sure it'll happen (about 70% probably) just looking for advice from folks who've been down this path before.
I accept that "abusing" a porsche in this way is likely be seen in a poor light, originality has its place and im all for it (was/am in the classic car restoration/prep trade and have an alfa gtv6 and a commer PB im restoring to concours) but try to bear in mind im starting with a dog-eared, accident damaged and poorly repaired example that wouldn't ever be A1.
mik_ok
New member
4.0 Chimp engine was 240-odd bhp as std (?) Recognised TVR brag factor built in means prob more like 220bhp... which leaves you wondering what it offers over a Turbot or S2 (other than the obvious aural pleasure).
Mate had his 4.0 taken out to 4.5 and a reliable 300+ bhp which sounds much more worthwhile, but I think the engine parts and labour cost the thick end of £5k.
Mate had his 4.0 taken out to 4.5 and a reliable 300+ bhp which sounds much more worthwhile, but I think the engine parts and labour cost the thick end of £5k.
sawood12
New member
Surely you can get more than 350bhp out of a Rover v8 can't you? I thought the 6R4's were getting a load more than that with 2 cylinders lopped off.
Apparently pretty much all Audi engines use the same mounting hole patterns so should bold upto a 944 torque tube. So why not an engine from the Audi stable? Apparently there are a few kicking about due to the Aluminium Audi A8's being difficult and V. expensive to repair after they've been pranged meaning alot are written off. A work collegue, who also likes to mess around with cars, is transplanting a 4.2ltr V8 out of a German A8 into an Audi 80 - just for a laugh.
Apparently pretty much all Audi engines use the same mounting hole patterns so should bold upto a 944 torque tube. So why not an engine from the Audi stable? Apparently there are a few kicking about due to the Aluminium Audi A8's being difficult and V. expensive to repair after they've been pranged meaning alot are written off. A work collegue, who also likes to mess around with cars, is transplanting a 4.2ltr V8 out of a German A8 into an Audi 80 - just for a laugh.
yeh 4 litre was rated at 240 we ran an early one for a few years, and it was fun but not blistering .. on a rolling road you'll be lucky to see 160bhp @ the wheels .. the TVR brag factor is really quite large. The engines are bog stock straight from rover.. no tuning/porting at all, and most of a disco loom/ecu/mapping wrapped up behind the carpet in the passenger footwell .. lol ..
it'll get a hot cam and lifters before its installed anyway .. which should see a real 200 ish
The lad im getting the engine from is replacing it with a 4.6 which should be looking slightly north of 280 @ the wheels, and I can get the components at trade (and claim back the vat) then build it myself.. so the cost isnt really off-putting
my preference would be a short stroke screamer over a bigger engine anyway* .. its a sportscar not a rangerover
*and its kinder on the drivetrain
An S2 isn't forced and not far short of 220.
Not wishing to contradict the 944 Ubermeister I believe the guy with the V8 944 bought it already converted. It was dirt cheap and all he wanted was the Ofenhauser manifold for his Triumph - i.e. it was that cheap he was going to take off the manifold and throw the rest of the car away.
However, he liked the car and it has stayed. I wonder if he would have liked a standard S2 better. [:-]
There is a funny thing about doing jobs cheap. 9 times out of 10 they don't end up cheap at all. They often cost as much for a compromised solution as spending the same, or less, on a proper job.
Get a Westfield SEight kit, slap the V8 in that and sell it. It will be a better solution and could even turn you a penny or two.
look ..
not being funny or anything .. but please, I started this thread to ask a specific question about something I want to do because
A) I think it would be cool ..
B) I've been offered an engine
C) I've got the kit/space/time/experience/contacts to carry it out
if i wanted a 951/S2/westfield/chevy, i'd buy one and enjoy it. But i dont, I want to take a ropey early 944 and put a v8 in it. I've got my other projects on the go which serve other purposes.. racebike/zxr600rr/R6/alfa/commer and my scooby estate for everyday use.
as for devaluing the car, all in it'll have cost me about 2 grand.. (really, i've done my maths and everything) which pales into insignificance compared to the annual depreciation on a new(ish) car. And i dont see folk being told not to buy recent 911's because they'll lose a couple of grand in the longterm []
all im asking is if anyone can help..
specifically.. on two points ..
1) which bellhousing/clutch ? and why ? (i've seen conversions using both a rover clutch/bellhousing mated to the TT with an adapter, and using 944 items with an adapter to the block)
2) are there any tubular headers off the shelf that will clear the steering column/struts without too much modification ?
not being funny or anything .. but please, I started this thread to ask a specific question about something I want to do because
A) I think it would be cool ..
B) I've been offered an engine
C) I've got the kit/space/time/experience/contacts to carry it out
if i wanted a 951/S2/westfield/chevy, i'd buy one and enjoy it. But i dont, I want to take a ropey early 944 and put a v8 in it. I've got my other projects on the go which serve other purposes.. racebike/zxr600rr/R6/alfa/commer and my scooby estate for everyday use.
as for devaluing the car, all in it'll have cost me about 2 grand.. (really, i've done my maths and everything) which pales into insignificance compared to the annual depreciation on a new(ish) car. And i dont see folk being told not to buy recent 911's because they'll lose a couple of grand in the longterm [
]all im asking is if anyone can help..
specifically.. on two points ..
1) which bellhousing/clutch ? and why ? (i've seen conversions using both a rover clutch/bellhousing mated to the TT with an adapter, and using 944 items with an adapter to the block)
2) are there any tubular headers off the shelf that will clear the steering column/struts without too much modification ?
Diver944
Active member
The simple answer is no - none of us have done it so we really can't offer any help apart from advice and our musings.
I do know there was a thread about one for sale from a V8 dealer within the last 6 months so if you do a search on V8, conversion or Rover in this forum you should find it. I would contact that dealer as it looked like they were involved in the build.
I do know there was a thread about one for sale from a V8 dealer within the last 6 months so if you do a search on V8, conversion or Rover in this forum you should find it. I would contact that dealer as it looked like they were involved in the build.
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