Fit Turbo Engine Into Which - 924S or 944 Series II?

[944 man]

This is a copy of a topic that I started on Pistonheads a week or so ago. For whatever reason (perhaps because Im not bleating about N1 vs. N2 tyres or OPC warranty nonsense, or depreciation that I didnt expect on a car that I cant really afford...) it received a lot of views but no replies...


Ive bought an M44/51 220bhp 944 Turbo engine. I have two vehicles which it could be fitted into.

The first is a 1986 924S and the second a 1989 2.7l 944. The 944 is a CatC write-off bought from an aquaintance with light rear damage (bumper and dented rear panel). I intend to repair the rear panel, but for the time being Ive fitted an S2 rear bumper in matching Guards Red. The trim is superb and it even has a working clock. The 924S was bought as a replacement for my old track car and has tired trim, which didnt matter of course, as it was coming out. Id bought the 944 with the intention of running it as an everyday car and Ive since bought a pair of electric black leather sports seats and matching vinyl rears.

The reason that Im unsure is because whilst Ive bought the 951 engine to fit into the 924S, itll actually be a good deal easier to fit it into the series two 944 - pretty much plug'n'play in fact. Thatll leave me with a lot of nice unused kit from the 944 though, and a 924S which I cant really use for anything.

I have a Safety Devices cage ready to fit, but itll suit either car, as will the seats and suspension and other bits, so they dont influence me one way or another.

Any comments or opinions are welcome. Theres no such thing as an incorrect opinion, although I may disagree with you... []


Simon

 

[JamesO]

I don't like the '24 looks as much but to me it would make a better home, not building what you can buy/lower starting weight etc. Or use the 2.7 to build a larger capacity engine.

 

[Lowtimer]

Personally, I would put it in the 924, and leave the 944 standard. If you do it to the 944, it will always have a bit of a stigma as being a 'fake turbo', whereas if you put it in the 924 you will hsve one standard car and one amusing hot rod. I would love a 924S converted with a 944T drivetrain and a Carrera GT / GTS bodykit.

 

[Neil Haughey]

If its for a track car which I presume it is, then I reckon you will want the widest track possible. This is obviously easier to achieve on a car with flared out arches from the factory.

 

[pauljmcnulty]

That's sums Pistonheads up pretty well...you only post there if you want to ask one of three things:

1 - "I've been offered a poor trade-in of £7K for my ten-year-old basic-spec Carrera on which I owe £25K in finance, I thought silver would retain the value?"

2 - "My OPC won't fix my blown engine, I've not been there in ten years and have no service history but WTF Porsche, why won't you fix it for free??"

3 - "I'm a troll, so I'd like to ask about residuals on ten-year-old silver cars, or whether I can claim for a blown engine on a car with no history. Failing that, a thread about Hendon Way Motors is alway a laugh until it's deleted".

Twice a year we have the surprise thread that starts: "All PCGB members have beards and their latest event was rubbish, I didn't go but I heard it was rubbish". [8|]

Personally, I'd say this is a case of heart over head. A bigger engine in a 944 Lux shell is a wonderful thing. My heart would say a 924 shell would only be a much better thing again, but then I'm not doing the extra work. How much time do you want to spend on the project, and is it a long-term keeper?

 

[homesea]

I'm with Lowtimer, 924 with Carrera bodykit. Wide track, light weight and looks great.

When youve built it I'll buy it!

 

[Neil Haughey]

Paul sounds like PH has got under your skin.

TBH I do get fed up with the endless threads about values but hey that is what happens when you have a product popular with bankers.

There is an article about the BBR turbo MX5 though at the mo.

 

[944 man]

Ive just bought an MX-5 NB! That was why I was reluctant to buy the engine off Al, when he wasnt able to do the work for me too.

The advantage of the 944 is that the Turbo engine loom will plug in, the badge panel will un-bolt and the whole thing will be far more simple. The downside is that I will end up with a redundant car thats not much use for anything and a lot of expensive and smart bits which dont have a home.

The 924S has always been destined to have 937 wings, and possibly a wide track too. Whilst this will be easier than the 20vT conversion (dead in the water), itll be far harder to achieve as the early cars electics a pretty flakey at best and itll need some dedicated die grinding to locate the intercooler, and some drilling too!

Itll be a bit of a Frankencar when its dome, but all Porsche..

Pass me the bastard file Igor!

 

[colin944]

For me it would have to be 951 engine in 924. Lightweight interior ie two buckets roll cage basice paneling etc. A 2.7 lux is a really nice car that would make a perfect dailly driver.Quick comfortable etc but 924 with turbo engine would be a screamer both on and off track.Also really good wolf in sheeps clothing a proper q car if you like. Carrera gt body kits are good and I would like to build one but everybody is doing it at the mo, a bit like our aircooled bros building early reps out of sc's and 3.2's.But a narrow body car with the go of a 951 would be really fun.

 

[ukmastiff]

Easy choice for me too. Based act purely own my own personal interest.

I dont even get the Piston Heads comment but have probbaly missed a discussion or argument somewhere

944 would always be a 'fake' 944 turbo in my mind , the 924 would de an interesting project car.

I gave some serious thought to buying the 924 that had the 968 running gear and could have done. If it had a comfie road going interior I even may have done. A 924 with 944 turbo running gear and some tasteful bodywork mods would be cracking in my opinion. If only I had the workshop and inclination to do something so interesting. Good luck.


Mas

 

[MarkK]

I think if you can fit it in the 924 it would be a hoot,ultimate q car and ego smasher!??
I would keep the 924 badge aswell so they know what blew them in the weeds

 

[simkin911]

ORIGINAL: ukmastiff

I gave some serious thought to buying the 924 that had the 968 running gear and could have done. If it had a comfie road going interior I even may have done. A 924 with 944 turbo running gear and some tasteful bodywork mods would be cracking in my opinion. If only I had the workshop and inclination to do something so interesting. Good luck.


Mas

I really liked that 924 with the 968 gear. The 944 lux you have is a cat c - whilst it may be very nice - it will always have a questionable resale value. If you were potentially trying to build an expensive turbo conversion, I'd say using a cat C lux wasn't the most appropriate starting point. However, I get the impression you aint trying to do this.

I must admit - and I'm not being cheeky - the potential current value of the 924s and the 944 lux (cat C) would probably have me deciding to drop it into the 944 as it'll be much easier from your comments. However, if you were committed to turning the 924s into a CGT replica and spending the ££££s to make it look A1 then this would be good (and popular on this forum).

I suppose the point I am making is that you aren't damaging (I think) the 944 Lux from a financial perspective by the engine swap. However, the 924s is the home for it if you want the CGT look - which I would be very interested to see your thread on this if you went down that route.

Good luck with it.

 

[bertelli_1]

951 in 924 would be pretty cool but it depends if you are willing to do the extra work. The issues you will come up against include -
fuel lines, opposites side of the engine bay in a 924.
oil cooler - front bodywork will need hacking about.
heater - completely different (cable vs vacuum operation).
wiring - apart from splicing into the body loom (quite straightforward) the looms are on the opposite side of the bulkhead & theres no room under the dash there for 2 ecus.
servo - I think the servo/mc is different, may be a clearance issue?
cooling - 924 has a shallower radiator, bodywork needed to fit a 944 rad.
Plus a few others.........

I'm can't remember if the turbo gearbox fits a 924 shell. I have cut out the welded crossmember on a 924 shell, replaced the metal fuel tank with a plastic one & fitted a 944 bolt in crossmember & gearbox.

 

[sulzeruk]

It would be the 924 for me everytime with the turbo running gear. I suppose it would be too hard to get all the turbo parts to bolt in. Wiring shouldn't also be too much of a problem as it already has a 2.5 powerplant in it. As long as you have thje respective wiring looms, should be easy enough to marry them up. At least the turbo and KLR are part of a separate loom so all you are looking for are 12 to 14 connections.
Alasdair

 

[TTM]

ORIGINAL: colin944
For me it would have to be 951 engine in 924. Lightweight interior ie two buckets roll cage basice paneling etc. A 2.7 lux is a really nice car that would make a perfect dailly driver.Quick comfortable etc but 924 with turbo engine would be a screamer both on and off track.Also really good wolf in sheeps clothing a proper q car if you like. Carrera gt body kits are good [...] But a narrow body car with the go of a 951 would be really fun.

Exactly what I was going to say.

It may sound easier to use the 944 shell at first, but installing a turbo engine already represents a certain amount of hassle, so why not go all the way and drop it into the 924.
Since it's an S I can't imagine it featuring that many annoying details over a 944 anyway - are fuel lines really on the other side?

 

[Mike_Pollock]

Early 944s the lines are on the left - oval dash cars they are on the right and early car - late engine they wont reach BUT you only nee to swap the fuel rail - assuming n/a and turbo FPRs are the same, otherwise you will need to swap them too...... all of which assumes the 924S is the same as an early 944 (which I believe it is)

Edit - Gearbox will fit but would need to use the twin mounts from the 924 or cut out and replace the cross member as Bertelli says - I have one here if required!

I think there would be a considerable amount of extra work putting it into the 924 shell, but I would love to see it in a standard looking 924S[]

 

[TTM]

Well I thought fuel lines on the 924 S were on the right because they have the same FPR and fuel damper layout as on the later dash cars, but I just found this picture and yes, fuel lines are on the left.

 

[Neil Haughey]

ORIGINAL: MarkK

I think if you can fit it in the 924 it would be a hoot,ultimate q car and ego smasher!??
I would keep the 924 badge aswell so they know what blew them in the weeds

[] Brilliant, thanks for cheering me up this morning Mark. Have to admit there is a perversely fun logic to the idea of keeping the car looking like a bog standard 924S.

 

[Diver944]

Whilst dropping it into the 944 would be easier, it's still a big job whichever car you choose so I say drop it into the 924S as originally planned, and make it into a GTS rep track car with cage [8D]

 

[Mike_Pollock]

ORIGINAL: TTM

Well I thought fuel lines on the 924 S were on the right because they have the same FPR and fuel damper layout as on the later dash cars, but I just found this picture and yes, fuel lines are on the left.

Thats now confused me [:-]

I thought the FPR / damper arrangement was the same as the early 944s but your pic shows a combination!