wolfgang116

First, I'd like to thank the members of this forum for countless moments of insight and help for the trials I've endured with my trusty 944, affectionately known as Wolfgang. I've owned this '84 for 3.5 years now, touching almost every bolt, driving it 1,600 miles on our honeymoon... my wife and I are in this thing for the long haul.

That being said, after the recent purchase of an Audi URS6, I feel the need for a bit more power, but I'd like to keep the heart of the Porsche true to the 944, so I started my hunt. I've found a perfect donor '86 951 (rear ended)... good engine, early offset phone dials, complete brakes and suspension... the whole nine yards.

I'd like to transplant the engine from the '86 951 to the '84 944 (and whatever brake/suspension goodies that are upgrades for me).

How much of a headache am I walking into? Questions I know I have to solve; intercooler placement, 951 DME talking to early 944 interior/electronics, clutch master/slave cylinder differences(?), ability to swap my LSD unit to turbo trans, swap 951 brakes to 944 (lines, caliper, rotor). What am I missing? What other troubles will I inevitably face? I'm hoping this thread can become a good discussion board to help those in the future. If this has already been answered extensively, shoot me the feed. All I keep finding are articles discouraging the prospect, but for the deal I've found, I think it's time to make it happen.

Any input and response is much appreciated. If you're going to tell me "don't do it, just buy a proper 951", please refrain. If I'm able to do the swap, I'll be looking to sell (for cheap) the parts from my 944 I replace (cookie cutters, engine, transmission, suspension, brakes, etc.).

Thanks!

Jacob

odonnell

Sweet! There was a guy who swapped a 951 motor into a 924S and documented everything he had to do. I think the thread was on 924board or something. It would be pretty much the same process on an early 944.

V2Rocket

- you will have to cut the front badge panel off your car and modify the front structure of the chassis to fit a 951 intercooler. you can fit a different (generic) intercooler with a little less work but still cutting/drilling required.
- 944/951 computers don't talk to the interior at all - but you will need to replace the entire 944 engine harness with the 951 parts.
- clutch master/slave are the same parts NA vs turbo.
- dont know about LSD
- you can swap the entire complete 951 suspension/brake assemblies to your 944, be the easiest way to get 951 brakes fitted.



see this guy's pretty thorough documentation of doing what you want to do - a 924S is basically the same car as an early 944.

http://www.924board.org/viewtopic.php?t=36902

black944 turbo

I have seen the 924 referenced above on several occasions and can tell you it is very well done!! I also have to say it is very quick. I would say go for it, if you have the parts car.

wolfgang116

Yes, multiple people have pointed me his way! Beautiful build... kept me up late last night scrolling through 16 pages of well documented swap. Thanks!

Thanks for the response! To clarify a couple items...
• Will look up alternate intercooler choices (donor car might be missing it).
• When I said "talk to interior", I was referring to things like Tach, MPG, Oil press, Coolant temp, etc. But, that 924s swap seems to have much of it mapped out. Now just to think about relocating the DME boxes to the passenger floor area, but concerned about battery box leaks (has happened before, I fixed it, but now it's a concern for me).
• Sounds like the '84 is getting the '86 suspension/brake goodies! Hopefully this guy forgot to mention it has the sport option... haha.

Thanks for the encouragement! Will keep you guys posted.