944 with GM 5.3 / 4l60e / ford 8.8 rear end combo

I started this project 2 years ago and have since finished it and put 3000 miles on it. Drove it to a VW show in Ocean City last year ( H2O, I'm a VW tech ). I'll just post some pictures so you can get the general idea of what is going on, but essentially its a 944 with a 100k mile 5.3 and 4l60e transmission, I cut the floor out and rebuild the floor so I could fit all the factory interior over it and still fit the transmission.. Completely removed the porsche rear suspension and trans. assembly and installed an adjustable 4 link suspension with a Ford 8.8 read end ( 327's with LSD ). I used painless performance harness and HPTuners software. But the engine is completely stock other than the intake manifold and oil pan. Everything is homeade with a Lincoln 180T.

This one is just with the engine balanced in place.
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First startup is always exciting... I think you can click this to get to the video?
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Ended up having to buy this holley low pro oil pain because the truck pan was about an inch off the ground, this pan gave me about 3 or 4 inches.
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This was before I had finalized everything, I wanted to see if everything would hold up, go or blow!
you can see I did in fact blow a coolant line that I neglected tightening... woops... click for video

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So let me know what you think and if you have any questions just ask! Thanks for looking.

I just ordered a bunch of turbo parts too (T76 .96 A/R ) so I will probably be adding to this.

And by the way I made actual spacers for the subframe, I didnt leave the sockets in there lol

Props. Did you leave the factory radiator in place?

Thanks and yes, the factory radiator is just enough to cool this engine, I never had overheating problems.

Diddo... 180 T-stat or 160?

whatever comes factory, I left all of that alone. I would guess 180? Its funny I actually read your posts to help with a few problems I was having, it was very helpful.

160 cools better in traffic and keeps the fans from kicking in so often. Now go out and find a vette to embarass.

haha been there already, and an M5! Thanks for the tip, I did notice my fans were running quite often, led to my assumption that this radiator is JUST big enough haha

The T-stat is the limiting factor with the 5.3 and NA radiator. Add a cup of methanol and watch the temps drop another 10*

Props. Not many sporting an auto here, if you would/could fit a t567890 or whatever it's called, you might get some more Internet love. Anyway congrats on making something work with some serious changes.

yeah, I would like a T56 and its really all set up for it ( clutch pedal is still there ). I went with the automatic strictly for the cost, I got that transmission for 100 bucks. Im into the car total for less than 6000$ including the cost of the car. Just bought a new house and we all know how that goes...

New guy here looking to possibly do something close to what you have here.

Not new to turning a wrench, welding, etc, but never have done much actual fab work (cutting the tunnel and 8.8 install). For someone that is relatively new to it, would you recommend shying away from it or is it fairly straight forward? I'm really starting to like the chassis for a swap candidate, but I really don't want to dig that far into something and be stuck paying someone to finish my work.

Any updates btw?

ceramlclst wrote:yeah, I would like a T56 and its really all set up for it ( clutch pedal is still there ). I went with the automatic strictly for the cost, I got that transmission for 100 bucks. Im into the car total for less than 6000$ including the cost of the car. Just bought a new house and we all know how that goes...

Any plans to offer up drawings or dimensions for the Ford 8.8 rear end conversion parts. I sucked at welding in high school (38 years ago) so I would definitely want a pro to do this part.

Congratulations on your build! Have you weighed it yet? I'd like to know what your total weight and of course front/rear percents are.

nice work.. hw does the handling compare now since the balance is off

Handling is not nearly as good as stock obviously. I wasn't too concerned with handling when I put it together. Last year I rigged up a T76 .96 A/R turbo, with some sticky tires on the back. I'll post some pics up in the next couple days. Running 10 psi with yellow valve springs. FAST!!  

Bringing this back from the dead. Did you by chance have any drawings ever done up for the rear end swap? or the trans tunnel?

This is legitness

Some kind of drawings or diagrams would be sweet.