944s2 /968

[Gavin944s2]

I miss my lil summer spin so so much..so without due..im on the hunt again . I realise it may take some time to get a lil gem like my last at the right price, but........

Are the engines different between the 968 & 944s2 & if so what way, i was wondering if i could extract a few more bhp from a 944s2 to match the 240bhp in a 968 ?

 

[Cater_Racer]

Gav,

I had a 944s2 in the mid nineties, sold it and bought a 968CS.

I was gobsm**ed how quick the 968 was, it's like a totally overwhelmingly different car.

They are chalk and cheese.

 

[Lowtimer]

The S2 engine and 968 engine are similar but the 968 has variable valve timing (Variocam) and I believe it has a MAF rather than a barn-door airflow meter.

The S2 is lighter than the 968 so there is very little in it in terms of straight line performance. You can squeeze out another 10 or 15 bhp from an S2 by remapping it but If you want a significantly faster 944, then there are two main routes: strip it out to lose weight, or buy a Turbo instead.

 

[bmnelsc]

The 968 engine has (at least) the following differences:
1. vario cam to alter intake valve timing and improve HP and torque.
2. hydraulic timing belt tensioner vs the spring loaded one on the S2
3. piston cooling oil jets in the crank journals (ala 911)

The engine wiring looms are different between the two also - not sure if this related to Mass Air Flow sensor vs the Air Flow Meter (barn door) but according to those who have put 968 engines in 944s there is work to adapt the wiring.

 

[944 man]

968s really dont still perform like they used to. Compared to the one that I had when they were a current car, the two Ive tried over the last couple of years were both relatively lethargic.

 

[Chrishazle]

I've had a 944 2.5 lux, 944 16v S and, for the past 14 years, a 968 - initially a coupe, now a cab, both tip rather than manual. Never driven an S2, but would I go back from a 968 to a 944 16v S or a 2.5 lux - not a cat in hell's chance!

If you're Buckingham way, drop in to BCS on Buckingham High Street and have a try of the red 968 tip coupe thay have for sale - it was mine for 12 1/2 years and is a beauty. With what I know now, I'd replace the standard ECU chip with a Promax one (£105 from K300), the only other thing I'd contemplate is a personal comfort thing - she has 1/2 leather comfort seats, my cab has full leather sports seats - which I prefer but others may not.

 

[JamesO]

Most would probably would benifit from a cylinder head overhaul by now.

The 968 has larger inlet ports, larger valves and higher compression ratio, as well as the variocam from what I remember.
I wonder if anybody has upgraded an S2 engine with a 968 top end, probably not much bang for buck though.

 

[Copperman05]

Not much you can do to a s2 engine beyond a chip, a custom remap may get you the most bang for buck but won't be cheap at £300-400. Standard S2 weighs less than 968CS so real world performance is fairly equally matched. I can't imagine a 968 feeling that different and where it does will probably be down to age and wear, a 944 on kw's for instance will certainly be better than a stock 968 in handling terms.


Edd

 

[Neil Haughey]

One of the criticisms often made of the 968 is that its only 5% better than the S2 but the important thing is IMHE its 5% better in every way conceivable except for a more crashy ride, but even stuff like NVH and refinement is better in the 968. The only things I don't like about the 968 are to do with the build of the cars, its that era when Porsche had no money and bloated the cars with plastic carp and odd bits and pieces all over them. With a half decent exhaust they also sound vastly nicer than the S2, ours has a Cargraphic rear section and has a lovely deep burble low down and a fairly nice roar on cam. This for me is a big thing as the S2 sound track is pretty awful, my race car has a lot more noise but its mostly just that more noise not nicer noise. Still nothing like a good 911 or V8 but decent nonetheless which is a big thing for me as the S2 just doesn't sound like a sports car.

 

[944 man]

Without a doubt a 968 is a superior car, but Im confident that every 968 will need a good deal of specialist remedial work to bring tis engine back to its former glory.

 

[Gavin944s2]

That'll do for me..I'll stick to a nice 44s2 when i can find one. I dont like the look of the 968 anyhow, looks as said 'cheepo' & cost conserving plastic every where( viewed one t'day) cheers guys Gav.

 

[Paul 290T]

Many years ago I remember a conversation I had at Redline Racing, I think with Wayne Schofield. In their experience valve guide wear on S2 and 968's is a problem by 100k miles, losing significant compression and thus power.

 

[scam75]

Don't know about the 16 valve units but my turbo at 116k miles feels much tighter with new guides and new piston rings. Still to dyno it post rebuild but it feels quicker even just running it in.

Stuart

 

[TTM]

I had the head on my S2 rebuilt with new valve guides at 120k miles but I have not felt a difference at all in terms of power. The engine feels smoother and more responsive now, but more powerful, no.

 

[david924s]

From a purely biased base I think the look of the S2 or any 944 is more pleasing than the 968 which I like from the front but from the rear reminds me of a 90s American/Japanese car, I like the old style rear and chunky arches of the 944 and there is a lot more plastic inside and out on a 968, that said I do think a wel sorted 968 outdrives the S2 but in my opinion not enough for me to want one.

 

[Fat Albert]

The 968 feels a much more 'complete' package than the 944, the myriad of little tweaks they did from t'other did really add up to a much more modern feeling car.

I am not sure if my 968 has been re-mapped but it does have the Janspeed sports Exhaust and cat which gives it a good urgent engine note when the Variocam kicks in, without being Chavvy around town. It obviously has a very linear power delivery compared to the Turbo, but it still has enough Torque in 6th to accelerate from 70 up to 1** quicker than most diseasaleurogrotboxes, and if someone does try it in, a flick into 4th usually sorts it...However a well-driven, larger-engined diseasal that is kept on-boost will embaress her a little...

The 968 turns more heads and incites more comversation than the 944, I think mainly duies to the fact that most people don't know what it is (I don't have the 968 or Sport badges on mine) and I do find myself driving it faster everywhere as it is a bit buzzier and revvier, I used to just cruise everywhere at 80 in the Turbo just riding that big, lazy torque wave.

I have done 9,000 miles in the 968 in 6 months and have spent £2,000 on it, but a lot of that is remedial stuff from it having been a Garage Queen and a poorly fitted CamBelt last year

However, I still miss my ol' Turbo both for the Booost and for the character/looks.