jenket944

OK, I bought what I thought was an 88 Turbo S last month, but after looking more closely I have my doubts. Turns out the engine code is 51, which is the regular 88 Turbo, I thought. It doesn't have the option code 220 for the M030 suspension but it does have option code 758 which comes back as 'Special Model 944 Turbo 1988' which I assumed meant Turbo S.

I have records that a PO added the 30mm front and 19mm rear sway bars, so that supports the lack of M030 factory option. It came with all-cloth seats originally but the PO converted to all leather. It has the 16" club sport wheels and the silver rose paint, including the plaid cloth on the doors.

So I'm not sure what I've got on my hands...I'm fairly sure it's a 944 Turbo but beyond that is anybody's guess. Any help deciphering this puzzle would be greatly appreciated.

Darius Juca

hmmm plaid interior and silver rose color was an S designation....the 220 code is the LSD..what type of brake calipers do you have? also make sure you don't have the suspention..what color shocks?..can you tell just by looking the size of the hothousing on the turbo?

Randy_J

If it is a Silberossa car originally with plaid interior and 758 option sticker, it is/was a Turbo S

To be sure, look for a few easy things:

1. easy to spot stuff - rolled fender lips front and back (tight "U" shape instead of the regular "L" shape

2. transmission oil cooler under the car, on the PS of the transaxle inside the RR wheel

http://www.geocities.com/MotorCity/P...Locations.html

look for the M44/52 engine stamping on the block near the firewall on the PS. If you are correct that the engine is a "51" stamping - on the block - (not the tail tag) then unfortunately the motor is probably a replacement for the original.

lots can be found at http://www.geocities.com/MotorCity/Pit/4786/

jenket944

It's got huge brake calipers...appear to be the 928S4 ones. It's definitely got the transmission oil cooler and also has the yellow adjustable konis - nipple covers included up front. The funny thing is the 51 engine code is on the VIN and option sticker, haven't looked on the engine itself. Guess that will be the final piece of the puzzle.

Randy_J

Sounds like it's an '88 "S" for sure. The "51" on the tail tag and VIN does not denote the engine - look for that M44/52 block stamping on the web site I posted above - it is easy.

jenket944

WTF?!! I just looked at the engine block and there it is - plain as day >>> M44/51 !!!

What is this thing? A non-TurboS engine in a TurboS car? I think the PO has some 'splanin to do!

Okay...the paint code is LM3Z - Silver Rose Metallic, check.
The transmission code is AOR - according to the site this is the 'S' tranny.

The site says these are the 'S' standard option codes:
M030 Sport chassis
M490 Hi-fi sound package
M220 Limited slip differential
M526 Cloth door panels
M288 Headlight washers
M593 Antilock Brack System
M418 Protective side mouldings
M650 Removeable/tilting sunroof
M425 Rear window wiper
M685 Split rear seat
M437 8-way power seat, left
M990 Cloth seats
M438 8-way power seat, right
M454 Cruise control

I have 593, 650, 685, 691, 758, and 990 listed on my sticker. As far as the other stuff, It has everything listed above (8 way pwr seats, cruise, etc.), but I can't verify that the M030 stuff came with it since the PO has a receipt for adding the sway bars later, but that's a moot point because it has them on there now.

The engine code REALLY confuses me. Looks like either an engine swap was done, there's a misprint on the engine block stamping (unlikely), or I've got one rare "TurboS" on my hands.

jenket944

But you know...it probably wasn't an engine swap because the engine code on the block matches the one on the option sticker. It pulls stronger than other turbos (non-S) that I've driven...so MAYBE it's a genuine 'S' with the wrong engine code. I'm so confused...not even sure I want to know the truth. I could drive this thing assuming it's an 'S' and have loads of fun...never the wiser.

Maybe I'll just throw the largest SFR Turbo that will fit on this thing...then I'll know for sure I've got a larger than stock turbo. Heh heh heh...

Luis de Prat

How about some pics?

Randy_J

Brian, sounds like you have all the right stuff on that car to make it a 88 TurboS except that "M44/51" on the block. I just looked at my factory reference WKD 945021 and it definitely states the engines are M44/52 - mostly changes to the head, valves, DME, KLR, and knock sensor. If you can get to the turbo, the K26/8 data plate should read 2670 GGA 8.11

The tail tag "51" for engine type is not the definitive - it's the block stamp M44/52.

If you can PCNA at their 1/800# they can pretty much tell you what came on the car out of the factory, and maybe this will clear things up.

FWIW, on my 88 Turbo S - the tail tag is virtually BLANK other than the VIN, and Color - not even a notation of the 758 option code for an "S". It does have the engine type as "51" and the correct AOR tranny. The block is a M44/52 however.

I found that it was not uncommon to have blank tail tags for the option list - perhaps bodyshells in white sitting at the factory waiting for the build?

jenket944

Hmmm, all very interesting. I'll have to give PCNA a call and see if they can clear this up. I'm going to try and get a look at the turbo housing and see what's there. The only thing I can figure is that this was a car that came from the factory with the 'S' option but not an 'S' engine....doesn't explain why it has an 'S' tranny, though.

Oddly enough, the VIN code has the 52 code, designating it as a Turbo S....but that M44/51 code on the block is hard to overlook.

Red1

I would think it would definitely be worth a call to PCNA.

FSAEracer03

That block code is weird alright. Sounds like everything else checks out for your car being a TS, except that code. I'm wondering if some early original M44/52 engines used M44/51 stamped blocks. You can't really just look at the hotside of the turbo and find out because it's nearly impossible to see! I'd call up PCNA and relay your VIN over to them. If nothing else, you could PM me your VIN and I could check for you on monday.

Legoland951

I do not believe the VIN will tell you if its a 52. Normally, the 6th and 7th character denotes what kind of a car it is. 94 is a 944, 92 is a 924, 95 is a 951 but if the next number is a 2 or 1, its coincidental and does not indicate it is a 51 or 52 engine code as far as I know.

Danno

Hmmm, the block is stamped at the rear just behind the oil-air separator. Don't know if you read it off there or some other place.

The engines should actually be the same. The only differences is the K26/8 turbo and the DME. I have yet to be able to see or measure any differences in the valves, seats or ports between a 951 and 951S head. Read off the DME part# and I can tell you which one it is.

Randy_J

Just looked at the WKD 495 021 factory service manual that states the following Scope of Mods for M 44/52:

The engine is based on the 162kW (217 HP) standard engine of 944 Turbo cars. The engine is equipped with a turbine end modified turbocharger, a DME control unit with different fuel and ignition curve families as well as a knock and charge pressure (KLR) control unit modified in charge pressure behavior. The charge pressure is 70 mbar higher in full load range (1.82 bar absolute pressure).

Exhaust Valves 951.105.416.07 are natrium cooled, as also in 944 Turbo cars. The shaft diameter is increased conically by 1/100th mm in the area of the valve guide...

More food for thought….