VaSteve

OK, 3rd try, I think I have found the right forum!

I am looking online at a 1987 944S. What is the difference between that and a regular 944? I have heard they are more expensive to maintain as well. Any advice, ideas?

Thanks

iloveporsches

The main difference is the 16 valve head in the S vs. the 8 valve head in the normal 944. IIRC, the 944 S has around 180HP while the 944 has around 150 HP.

sharky47

188hp to be exact, better low end, better sound. It can be more expensive, but mainly if it is not maintained and breaks - if you take care of it, it won't cost very much more at all. The main thing is replacing the tensionor/pads at the correct intervals.

VaSteve

Tensioner=belt tensioner, right?

The pads???

Thanks!

Techno Duck

There is a chain that connects the two cams together. The chain rides on a tensioner which has plastic pads that wear out over time. I am pretty sure these should be changed every 100k or so. Before the pads were not available without the tensioner which was pretty expensive. Now the pads are available seperatley, some choose to just change the pads to save money.

Mighty Shilling

Timing chain tensioner, and the pads that the chain glides on. if any of those break, your checkbook is in a world of hurt.

Oddjob

There is also a chain tensioner for the drive chain between the two cam shafts.

The cam belt (which has its own tensioner on the front of the block) drives the exhaust cam. There is a chain from the exhaust cam that drives the intake cam. This is a little metal bicycle chain and has its own tensioner under the valve cover. If the chain tensioner pad or the whole tensioner assembly fail, there can be a lot of damage to the cams, the head, and the valves.

EDIT: too slow - the others beat me to it....

sharky47

Here's the deal, the "S" has two camshafts instead of one like the 944 8v. Only one of them is driven by the timing belt, there is a chain between the cams under the valve cover to drive the intake cam. There is an oil-fed tensioner between the cams that keeps that chain taught. The tensioner has plastic pads that the chain runs on, these pads are replaceable (928 part#) and should be regularly. If these pads fail, the chain contacts the sharp metal corners of the tensioner under load and fails. Usually, if this happens, the chain binds on the corner of the tensioner and rips it off the mounts of the head - big time broken stuff!

So - if you keep this part of the engine maintained properly, and change the belt like you do on any other 944, you'll be fine - just don't put it off!

triscadek

...

jonnybgood

In my S there is not much happening until 3k RPM. Most of the hp and torque are made at higher RPMs in the S. In the S2 there is much more lower end torque due to the higher displacement of 3.0L. If you want more horsepower go for the S2. The 1/4 acceleration times of the 8V and 16V are very close. For the extra maintenance expense of 2 cams and 16 valves go for the S2 otherwise there is very little gained over an 8V NA in my opinion.

Mighty Shilling

What Paul said...

AndyK

Pet peeve of mine. Why wouldn't Porsche design the tensioner to have a ramp-like bottom, in case the pad broke. The chain would make noise, but not be ripped appart by a sharp corner!

eohrnberger

I've replaced the top pad a few weeks ago (glad I did, it was cracked).

The bottom pad was worn, but I didn't know of a place where I could get a bottom pad. Had this changed? Is there a source for the bottom pad only?

VaSteve

Cheap, already done track car. That's why!

sharky47

Well, my opinion is if you take care of it like your supposed to, it is no more maintenance than a normal 944.....