Engine swap/upgrade options.
 

After driving my car now for a few months in starting to lust for more power. I'm hoping to get a new engine, more specifically a 3.0L 16v (how much would that be valued at). I'm just curious as to if that will still fit properly. If like to eventually work my way up to 250ish hp and a lot more torque than whatever I'm getting now.

Is getting a bigger engine the best idea or is upgrading the best way to go? I want a new engine because my OPRV is stuck shut right now and I've been quoted around $1200 cad to get it fixed (parts and labour). I tried doing it myself but the thing wouldn't budge. I figured a new engine would just be the better idea. (Even the 2.5 out of the 944 for the higher compression)

I've heard of the LS swap that a lot of people do but I want to keep the stock weight distribution and keep it as euro as possible.

I guess in short, what is the best way to make my way to 250hp and a lot of torque?

LS1 swap would be your best bet.

951S swap would be the most straight forward for 250HP.

The 3.0 would be my choice if you want to stick with a porsche engine.

An LSX would be cheaper and provide more power, BUT:

-It's not porsche.

-It's complicated to do right (are there any "kits" that include the necessary items minus the engine to do the conversion?)

Also, if emissions are tested in your area either option will be an issue. How are California people handling this when swapping engines?

I don't want to do an LS swap. It throws off the weight distribution, and like you said, it's not Porsche. If I wanted American I'd have taken my uncles 51 Pontiac chief rather than my 924. Emissions aren't tested here as far as I know so that's not an issue. As far as the 951 swap goes, is it as simple as dropping it in, or do you have to change mounting/harness/lines etc? And what kind of turbo comes on the 951? Is there a better aftermarket one for roughly the same price I could put on an N/A 3.0? And are all the 3.0s 16valve?

FWIW, an ls swap is about 50lbs LIGHTER than a 951 swap. Don't buy into that "unbalanced" bs.

If I had a 924 NA, I think an S2 3.0 swap would be cool... or an S 2.5 dohc swap. 968 if you could afford it. A high revving big four would be fun!

And yes, all stock 3.0 engines are 16v. The only other different engine is the 2.7 8v available only in the '89 MY 944.

You'll need way more than that. You need the engine (including the injectors, intake, turbo, etc), crossover pipe/exhaust, DME, KLR, transmission (your NA trans won't last long), engine wiring harness, intercooler/pipes, AFM, air box, J boot, radiator, brake booster/starter heat shields (there may be others that I'm forgetting), and all sorts of other little things.

The easiest thing to do would be sell your car and get a Turbo/S2/968 or deal with what you have.

But if I were to acquire a 951 parts car (if I could find one that is "restoreable" for a similar price I'd just use it) I could just transfer it all over correct? And which trans would be a good one to look out for. I've got the QK which if I'm correct is the lowest quality one? Would the 5z/7V be a solid replacement?

But if I were to acquire a 951 parts car (if I could find one that is "restoreable" for a similar price I'd just use it) I could just transfer it all over correct? And which trans would be a good one to look out for. I've got the QK which if I'm correct is the lowest quality one? Would the 5z/7V be a solid replacement?

If you found a parts car then everything should transfer over. I'd look for the AOR transmission. They're expensive and rare, but you'll be glad you got one.

I have now come across a 1985.5 944 in much better exterior shape than my 1987 924 and has a solid engine. Only problem is, it's an Auto and the trans is irreparable. How easy is it to swap over my entire clutch and transmission etc over to that car? Would I need extra parts to do this? The car is cheap enough to rationalize buying it (cheaper than fixing all the things wrong with my car that are already fixed in the 944) and I have until next spring to do the work on it. Is it do-able?

From what I've read you need a different ecu from the auto but would the one from my 924s work in the 944? Also, are all the hydrolic line ports there to attach the clutch to?

getting the turbo engine nice and correct into a 924S is two or three times the work than using an S2 engine - you have to cut and reweld the complete front section! Did that stuff more than one time.. just have a look at the galery at my homepage: www.944er-teile.de

I loved my 924S with 968 engine race car. Getting 224 rwph and 220 torque was fairly easy with a chip and exhaust. If you are planning on using that power, you will need bigger brakes (968/951).

Skip the first 55 seconds

https://vimeo.com/4942882

Has anyone done a Honda K series swap into a 924?