944 turbo or 85.5 na

Hi folks, I'm going to look at an 86 turbo with a thrown rod (owner thinks), is it worth swapping the sbc from my basically stock 85.5? Are the handling and brakes that much better? At 180k mi. the owner says the trans has been changed,is there any way to tell if it's a turbo trans while in the car? do they all have coolers? My car has lsd and I don't wanna give it up which is another reason for this post,well thats it thanks![img][/img]

I would do it if the interior was good (or better) because I like the Turbo front end much better than the NA front end. I'm not certain that the '86 Turbo's had a cooler available. If you are going to swap out the motor, then just do the torque tube and trans in one shot. Other things to consider are the parts that are left over and your ability to sell them off to fund the project. Does it make sense from the dollars and cents perspective. (also think about the car's down time and your available transportation).

Does the car have any other features like big sway bars and better wheels? Fuchs maybe?

Hey Gene I looked at the car earlier, a real nice interior 16' fuchs, cross drilled front rotors the brakes were red but I think stock turbo, original susp, swapped peg leg trans, I couldn't tell if it was a turbo unit or not. I made an offer which he accepted and I can only hope he holds it for me. The car is so nice I'm gonna try to get the turbo running If not, I'll swap my drive train and hood and store, sell or junk whatever is left! I'll post some pix if I get it cya