Hotshoe

Is the crossmember really necessary?

I was just going to do a tasteful hood blister ala BMW M3 to allow for additional clearance. I wasn't aware any steering rack issues.

83 944

IIRC from what i hear you need a crossmember if you use the stock oil pan and crossmember.

83 944

also i would love to get that oil pan, with the motor mounts if its cheaper than the crossmember, and where is this QT bellhousing?

MN944S

http://www.quicktimeinc.com/products.html RM-6033

LS1Porch

Not possible, the throttle body at the very front is what hits. You would have a bulge in the very tip of the hood that would have to extend into the header panel.

Believe me, it's all been thought of and tried!

alex

No, it isn't necessary, but I really liked the idea of not having to mess around with a custom pan and hood clearance issues, and as I mentioned, the cost is pretty close. You can either bolt uprights and setback plates to the old one or get something that is purpose built. The steering issue only comes in because the new xmember drops the rack mount a bit, if you stick with the stock xmemeber, it is not an issue(as far as I know). However, I much prefer the design of the of the new tie rods/ends.

Hotshoe

So if I understand correctly the fit issue is only with the stock pan? I have a custom pan from RH that I was going to use unless I went with a dry sump LS7.

xschop

A few people have done the MOROSO 20140 pan as it is the easiest to mod off the shelf and sets the lowest. I also developed a transmission mount that allows the V8 driver's head to set 1/4" away from the firewall so the Throttle body clears the hood alot better and the intake boot clears the hood latch if it is kept. I have a 1.25" X-member drop and still had to angle the throttle body top extrusion. These bodies all have different variances/tolerances in the chassis. I think mine was built during OKTOBER drunk fest.

alex

A couple things....
There are numerous ways to do this, and as long as it works, and will hold up, it may be a matter of preference. Since I am building mine in my garage, the xmember seemed to be the best bet for me- I've read about some modded pans leaking. I am not sure how widespread it is or if it was just a few hacks gluing them together in their garage that was the problem; but for me, the idea of being able to drop the whole engine in without buying or fabbing a custom pan was appealing- if you were to rate my welding, it would be fall between "unacceptable" and "terrible"- this is the oil pan here, I'd rather not find out how bad my welding is while driving the car. As far as I know, even with the custom oil pans, there can still be hood clearance issues, but don't quote me on that. Suffice it to say that the economics and the logistics made the tubular xmember a good idea, in my case at least. Also, the plan (we'll see how it goes) is to drop the entire engine, stock xmember attached, all at once, so there is no extra effort involved. I need to remove some of the turbo plumbing, exhaust system, and make sure there aren't any grounds or other wires attached, and I'll be ready. The goal is to have the turbo engine out by tomorrow. We'll see.

arthropraxis

Are you going to do a conversion? That 5.3 is a good price.

xschop

If anyone decides they want an LS4 in their 944/68, there will be a TT adapter plate to fit a BH with that pattern.

odurandina

we know that running a 944T 5 speed with a n/a variant 5th gear can make up to 175mph ++ of top end, but many of the guys have been researching for some time how to set 968 transmissions up for more top end without breaking the bank.... at one time i was under the assumption that any and all Audi 01e 5th and 6th gearsets were interchangable with the 968. apparently, not so... but the one set from the 2wd european diesel cars are a perfect match and can be used to make extreme top end...


if you choose the 968 transmission, you basically have 2 choices for 5th gear: the stock .912 gear (which is too low), or a .729 5th available from the A4 diesel, being the far better choice, (now installed)... consult w/ Scott Dewitt at Advanced Automotion for correct part sourcing... it causes a significant rpm drop after shifting out of 4th, but really leaves the driver with maximum flexibility on for reducing the rpm on the secondary roads/slower highway speeds, etc....

the .729 5th grear will make about 160 mph @ 6,000 rpm (running a 25.6 inch tire)....


you have 2 choices for 6th gear... either a .600 or .680.... i went with the the .600 6th gear will make 195 mph @ 6,000 rpm, or about 188 mph running a 25 inch tire... and the gearsets will bolt right into the spare 968 box.... the .680 basically makes a perfect top gear for turbo or supercharged 968s.


Scott Dewitt at Advanced Automotion, Corpus Christi, TX has a vast knowledge all the Audi 01e, and 968 boxes, and how to perform these gear retrofits for perfect results. he was an invaluable resource for sourcing my gears.

http://www.advancedautomotion.com/



other extremely knowledgable sources:


Roger at California Motorsports, Lake Havasu, AZ

http://www.californiamotorsports.net/



for 968 trans rebuild parts; JH Motorsports, California....

http://www.jhmotorsports.com/shop/catalog/home.php



Jerry Janzing, All Pro Cars (the GT40 people like the Audi A4 diesel, 944, and 968 transmission);

http://www.allprocars.com/web/



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odurandina

...

it looks like this cooler could have multiple applications for our cars, but trying to determine if the long singlepass, Z06 coolers or nascar style doublepass coolers would make the best fit and leave me the most separation from the ac condenser (for stuck in traffic on the hot days context with the 376. c.i. engine).... with the LS3, the remote oil filter will begin on the driver's side of the block....

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c6-t...oil-lines.html


wondering if this presents any problems for mounting the remote filter in the downward orientation on this side of the bay or if the overflow reservior presents a problem... thinking that i want to lean the Z06 cooler as far over toward the driver's side inlet duct as possible as to have it shroud the radator flow area as little as possible....

also wondering what remote filter kit to get that will mount to a set of stock Z06 lines....

i know Docwyte is running a Mocal 11x8x3 cooler with a 180 thermostat.

but i've been checking on a couple of big, doublepass coolers available for about $300...


http://www.outlawraceparts.com/produ...er-1513-0.html

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Fluid...m=350358809042


i guess if i do go with one of these others, i'll need to figure out how to run a thermostat as well.


any thoughts?




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Lemming

This is what I'm using.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/30-Ro...#ht_4622wt_956

dirtyTurbo

As a college student who enjoys researching parts I can't afford, I'd like to say that is an excellent deal