Education needed

Hi all -- new guy here.

Ive owned a 944 for at least 6 years but 5 of those its been in storage. I finally got the chance to have it shipped to my location and it will be arriving in a few day. I had been active on other boards back then, and had read about a few people converting thier 944's but their was scarce little info and I put it into the "someday" bin. I was very pleased to see this site ( and a few others) that not only has the wealth of info --but it seems active experienced posters in this subject.

So Ive decided that my conversion will be in the "soon" bin but I need an education first.

Ive almost decided on a SBC conversion but it seems that those (gen 1) engines are about the same price as a lt1-- the difference being the efi expense. So Im up in the air about that still and it will boil down to which I get a good deal on first. Do I have this correct?


Just as a general question I was wanting to know about the torque/hp relationship. The 944 can be a very light car compared to others so to go overboard and swap a 383 stroker in seems like overkill to me --while having a 350 with the powerband stronger in the midrange seems like the ticket to a strong street car. Am I in left field?


I see a few cars that use the corvettes engine/TT / transaxle. While I know that it cant be a straight drop in --bolt up kinda thing -- it would seem to me that this is the easiest route as far as everything being compatible. Do I have this correct?


I'm sure there will be other questions...... but thank you for reading and Im glad to have a great source of info that isnt biased.

Welcome. I would suggest that you consider this =>>> 944 V8 Manual <<<=

-Paul

i have a sbc 327 inside of mine and im coming along every well

948 wrote:Welcome. I would suggest that you consider this =>>> 944 V8 Manual <<<=
-Paul

"+1" as seen on other forums...

Also available here...
944v8s

with even MORE support here...
944hybrids

taget wrote:...but I need an education first.

Welcome!
Very wise post, by the way.

taget wrote:Ive almost decided on a SBC conversion...

Requires a custom hood / scoop, but not a huge deal. Also, the LT1 intake can be retrofitted to the early SBC. This will get you the hood clearance back, without the "full-Monty" LT1 engine...http://sethirdgen.org/LT1.htm

taget wrote:Just as a general question I was wanting to know about the torque/hp relationship. The 944 can be a very light car compared to others so to go overboard and swap a 383 stroker in seems like overkill to me --while having a 350 with the powerband stronger in the midrange seems like the ticket to a strong street car.

The SBC / LT1 / and LS series engines, with the right cam and heads, can be built with a torque / HP curve similar to the 951, without the shocking torque spike of the turbo. A destroked SBC, with an LT1 intake, L98 PCM and injection harness, and a modified hood, would be a great start. v8carreragts is building one now. High HP, moderate TQ = SICK track car...

taget wrote:I see a few cars that use the corvettes engine/TT / transaxle. While I know that it cant be a straight drop in --bolt up kinda thing -- it would seem to me that this is the easiest route as far as everything being compatible.

The T56 and GM AOD have been transplanted, as well as the Viper IRS. C5 TT and transaxle haven't been as of now. You can be #1...

Others may have suggestions that vary, and some setups go more smoothly than others.
Good luck, we're always willing to help, without being entirely biased...

C5 TT and transaxle haven't been as of now. You can be #1...

Actually this is incorrect. There is a 944 with this transplanted. I will need to look for the info. There is also one with a turbocharged AUDI 5 cyl, Supra trans and rear diff. And there is one with a 996TT motor as well. 9 have a couple of pictures of this one somewhere, I may also have some of the one with the Vette parts as well.

I've seen the one with the vette transaxle...it ain't pretty. They really had to hack it up back there...

It might be worth all the effort if they were a bulletproof transmission, but they're not. A friend of mine really messed his up drag racing a mildly modified '01 Z06. You can get them built by the company that does the transzilla, but if you're spending that kind of money why not just buy a corvette??

Excellent replies and almost before I stopped typing!


Along the lines of an education--




Since the torque/hp curve of a v8 installed into a 944 can be slanted a bit higher ( less low end more mid ) would ITB's be more realistic for the street? When I was a young'un I was always told that they were pretty to look at but didnt really do the job -- course that was before EFI was widespread. Have things changed?

Im trying to get a shopping list together and was looking at the megasquirt system as a possible alternative to a good old fashoined carb. Just something about being in total control of the efi map.....

Injection is really the way to go, especially for the street. You will have quicker start-up, crisper throttle response, and better economy. FI is generally far superior to carbs an all respects....except cost. I had though about Megasquirt as well but came across these guys:

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This is what I will be using. Its pretty simple and low cost, uses a factory ECM and has a self learning capability.

Your thoughts on the torque curve are not necessarily correct however. The v8 will have more torque from idle. There will be more at the low end as well. It doesn't matter how you build the engine. Mine is a 302 .(loosely based on a Camaro DZ) Even if I compare the torque curve to a real 924 Carrera GTS (which exceeds any 951) the low end torque is higher. I built mine this way specifically to limit low end torque and increase the top end RPM's. But if you use a 350 or a 5.4 LS you will far exceed the torque of any original engine.