Auto trans possibility and general swap questions

spacecowboy067 wrote:
Hello! So I'm starting to restore the interior and exterior of my 85.5 auto, and plan to LS swap this summer. I've got an engine (4. now I just need a trans and thought I'd ask what I need to drop in a 5 speed or even a 928 auto, or if the original auto can be rebuilt stronger with a bigger converter or something. Reverse is gone so the trans definitely needs rebuilt or pulled regardless.

Do I need a new rear end?

Rip everything out of the back if going manual?

Will a 928 trans bolt up to 944 3spd rear just fine?

I read on Rennlist the diff in an auto is almost as beefy as a turbo's but not sure what that means for me swapping stuff...

Sorry if it's too many questions i just want to know what all a trans swap entails from the bell housing to the tailpipe. Thanks for your time

stu wright wrote:

spacecowboy067 wrote:
Hello! So I'm starting to restore the interior and exterior of my 85.5 auto, and plan to LS swap this summer. I've got an engine (4. now I just need a trans and thought I'd ask what I need to drop in a 5 speed or even a 928 auto, or if the original auto can be rebuilt stronger with a bigger converter or something. Reverse is gone so the trans definitely needs rebuilt or pulled regardless.

Do I need a new rear end?

Rip everything out of the back if going manual?

Will a 928 trans bolt up to 944 3spd rear just fine?

I read on Rennlist the diff in an auto is almost as beefy as a turbo's but not sure what that means for me swapping stuff...

Sorry if it's too many questions i just want to know what all a trans swap entails from the bell housing to the tailpipe. Thanks for your time

The auto swap will work but it has a few things different than a manual . First the shaft in the torque tube will need to move forward to go all the way into the pilot bushing on engine . And yes you must mount a clutch and presure plate up on the engine as well as a 98 99 corvette 2 piece manual bell housing to mate engine . On auto 944s in the back is where torque converter is located and it has its own flywheel which is not a very beefy piece and will eventualy fail . Ive replaced 3 of them on mine and finnaly I welded a stainless circle on one to keep it from breaking . The manual is the way to go in my opinion but you will need a donor for the transaxle torque tube shifter clutch pedal console and shifter to convert to manual . Im currently switching mine to a manual .You need to get ahold of a conversion manual to help you understand it a little more as well as asking questions on here as there are some very knowledgeable people on here . Good luck .

spacecowboy067 wrote:

stu wright wrote:

spacecowboy067 wrote:
Hello! So I'm starting to restore the interior and exterior of my 85.5 auto, and plan to LS swap this summer. I've got an engine (4. now I just need a trans and thought I'd ask what I need to drop in a 5 speed or even a 928 auto, or if the original auto can be rebuilt stronger with a bigger converter or something. Reverse is gone so the trans definitely needs rebuilt or pulled regardless.

Do I need a new rear end?

Rip everything out of the back if going manual?

Will a 928 trans bolt up to 944 3spd rear just fine?

I read on Rennlist the diff in an auto is almost as beefy as a turbo's but not sure what that means for me swapping stuff...

Sorry if it's too many questions i just want to know what all a trans swap entails from the bell housing to the tailpipe. Thanks for your time

The auto swap will work but it has a few things different than a manual . First the shaft in the torque tube will need to move forward to go all the way into the pilot bushing on engine . And yes you must mount a clutch and presure plate up on the engine as well as a 98 99 corvette 2 piece manual bell housing to mate engine . On auto 944s in the back is where torque converter is located and it has its own flywheel which is not a very beefy piece and will eventualy fail . Ive replaced 3 of them on mine and finnaly I welded a stainless circle on one to keep it from breaking . The manual is the way to go in my opinion but you will need a donor for the transaxle torque tube shifter clutch pedal console and shifter to convert to manual . Im currently switching mine to a manual .You need to get ahold of a conversion manual to help you understand it a little more as well as asking questions on here as there are some very knowledgeable people on here . Good luck .

I just bought a whole car I paid 2500 for a ragged out 87 . Not sure what year yours is but mine is an 86 and 85.5 and up has different electronics as in relation to speedometer 85.5 and up are electronic speedo and has a different pickup on transaxle for speedo than 85 and earlier so keep that in mind . For now im just using a n/a manual and later Ill switch to a turbo LSD manual I bought a whole car to make sure I have every thing and when Im done with donor I have an wrecked 06 Impala SS with a front wheel drive 5.3 V8 Im going to make a rear engine 944 out of my donor car and If you look on facebook market place there are quite a few ragged out 944s that would make good donors . Ive had my converted 944 over 20 years and its been through many changes and currently I run a old school small block chevy cause when I started my swap thats what everyone was doing they hadnt started doing the LS swaps yet .

Thanks that's very helpful! I was definitely thinking of going manual but this might seal the deal. There's a dead  manual 944 for sale near me too so might just be perfect timing to buy a donor here.

MotoRider42HC wrote:I have a Manual transaxle core available if you decide not to use the auto:
[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

I also have a hundred+ videos showing my 4+ year swap:
[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

Good luck with your swap!!!

stu wright wrote:

spacecowboy067 wrote:

stu wright wrote:

spacecowboy067 wrote:
Hello! So I'm starting to restore the interior and exterior of my 85.5 auto, and plan to LS swap this summer. I've got an engine (4. now I just need a trans and thought I'd ask what I need to drop in a 5 speed or even a 928 auto, or if the original auto can be rebuilt stronger with a bigger converter or something. Reverse is gone so the trans definitely needs rebuilt or pulled regardless.

Do I need a new rear end?

Rip everything out of the back if going manual?

Will a 928 trans bolt up to 944 3spd rear just fine?

I read on Rennlist the diff in an auto is almost as beefy as a turbo's but not sure what that means for me swapping stuff...

Sorry if it's too many questions i just want to know what all a trans swap entails from the bell housing to the tailpipe. Thanks for your time

The auto swap will work but it has a few things different than a manual . First the shaft in the torque tube will need to move forward to go all the way into the pilot bushing on engine . And yes you must mount a clutch and presure plate up on the engine as well as a 98 99 corvette 2 piece manual bell housing to mate engine . On auto 944s in the back is where torque converter is located and it has its own flywheel which is not a very beefy piece and will eventualy fail . Ive replaced 3 of them on mine and finnaly I welded a stainless circle on one to keep it from breaking . The manual is the way to go in my opinion but you will need a donor for the transaxle torque tube shifter clutch pedal console and shifter to convert to manual . Im currently switching mine to a manual .You need to get ahold of a conversion manual to help you understand it a little more as well as asking questions on here as there are some very knowledgeable people on here . Good luck .

I just bought a whole car I paid 2500 for a ragged out 87 . Not sure what year yours is but mine is an 86 and 85.5 and up has different electronics as in relation to speedometer 85.5 and up are electronic speedo and has a different pickup on transaxle for speedo than 85 and earlier so keep that in mind . For now im just using a n/a manual and later Ill switch to a turbo LSD manual I bought a whole car to make sure I have every thing and when Im done with donor I have an wrecked  06 Impala SS with a front wheel drive 5.3 V8 Im going to make a rear engine 944 out of my donor car and If you look on facebook market place there are quite a few ragged out 944s that would make good donors . Ive had my converted 944 over 20 years and its been through many changes and currently I run a old school small block chevy cause when I started my swap thats what everyone was doing they hadnt started doing the LS swaps yet .

Thanks that's very helpful! I was definitely thinking of going manual but this might seal the deal. There's a dead  manual 944 for sale near me too so might just be perfect timing to buy a donor here.