David Floyd

Well said and I agree with you

Matt H

I am about 99% sure that both of those VW engines would be too tall to bolt in the 944/951, it would require a different hood.

For that matter a 1.8T in a 924 would be a great daily driver. Great chassis, light, nimble and the 1.8T might be the best match of engine and turbo ever created.
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hacker-pschorr

I guess I didn't realize the 1.8T was so tall, interesting. Is it because you would probably have to mount the motor straight up vs the angle a 944 motor is at?

How about a 500hp Audi 20V 5-cyl engine in a 944. That would be awesome! There is a guy on the east coast who dropped an Audi 32V A8 motor into a 1990 Audi Coupe Quattro. I wonder if that engine would fit in the 944?

Then there is the ultra rare Porsche built Audi 4-cyl turbo used in the Coupe Quattro RS.

If I win the lottery, I'm going to buld an army of Audi / VW powered 944's.

Matt H

The 1.8 is one of the tallest engines I have seen. It MIGHT fit, but I doubt it, never really measured. The way it mounts to the frame would be the first obstacle to getting it to fit.

If you look at the Mk1 conversion that someone put a 2.5NA in, you will notice there is a TON of room between the engine and hood.
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Operator

By replying to this statement I am assuming that everyone agrees that it is a "taboo", and I believe everyone does, even if most of the people who have replied so far have no problems with the conversion.

Now to answer your question; I think it's pretty simple. When people do the engine bore, rods, pistons, turbo, brakes, shocks, etc type of mods they are imaging what Porsche may have done had they had the chance to build a one-off improved version of their said Porsche. Now, I think we can all agree that Porsche will never manufacture a factory model with a Chevy engine (I'm imagining all the people on some distant Mercedes board that said Mercedes would never manufacture a factory model with a Chrysler engine but... I digress).

So anyway, isn't it simple enough? It's "taboo" because it's entirely and profoundly creative and unique. It doesn't come anywhere close to reality in terms of what Porsche would ever do to one of their factory models. So it is a "bastardization", if you look at it that way.

Now in terms of the technical skill, and creative effort needed to pull off these mods, thats an entirely different issue. But if you're asking why these 2 types of mods are looked upon differently by "enthusiasts" then I think the answer is clear.

BTW I'm proud of you Tom, you made a post without degrading the 944 in any way. What's going on?

Matt H

Careful, 928s had a variant of a Ford 302
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Tom R.

Simon,
by "taboo" i was referring to the consensus of this board.

As to your thought that porsche would never build a car with a chevy motor, both porsche and mercedes built many cars with chevy transmissions, and i read somewhere that porsche bought a bunch of chevys when the designed the 928 V8, of which we half the better half.

I never bash the 944, i merely point out that is is not the be all and end all of automobiles ever produced.

Zero10

Honestly, as long as the swap is done well, and is a nice professional job, I think they're wonderful.
When the motor in my 951 finally eats itself and gives up for good, I plan to drop in an aluminum small block 350, or maybe a LS1. I see no point in spending $20,000 building up a 3.0+L turbo I4, then I could drop in a V8 with the same power, for $10k less. Plus, the V8 will not have the timing belt issues, and will have a much better torque curve.
Sorry, but as soon as you do any work to the engine in your car, boring, aftermarket pistons, etc. It's no longer a porsche motor in my books either. So, why not go all the way. You know, go big or go home

Legoland951

A 944 is by definition a bastard/hybrid Porsche.

Operator

It is quite one thing when Porsche takes a Chevy V8 and models their own V8 after it. Don't the Japanese do this with just about everything they used to produce? But it is another to say that Porsche would become a customer of GM's to source it's next power-plant. I just don't think this will ever happen.

About the transmissions, I had never heard of that, can you tell me a little more about it?

Tom R.

others on this board will disagree and will hail you if you built a 20k I4, but flame you if you dropped a chevy in the car. thats why i asked the question. what is the difference.

simon,
the turbo hydramatic was used in a lot of german cars in the 70s 80s. porsche also designed the harley motor i believe, and there is a lot more part swapping between the brands than you would believe.

the original motor in the 924 was i believe a chrysler 4. i think it was the same motor that was in the pacer and the dodge omni. which means the 924 was a bastard to begin with. thanks lego.

tifosiman

Here's something to think about.

In the late 80's Porsche was actually testing 2 different 6cyl powerplants from 2 OTHER manufacturers for the 944 series cars.

Props go out to the Rennlister who can tell me the two companies.

Taking that into consideration, would opinions here be different as to what Porsche would or would not do?

Matt H

Porsche designed the jugs for the Harley engines, that is the extent of the relationship AFAIK. Jug design makes a ton of sense. Go to the best Aircooled car manufacturer to get ideas for a bike, perfectly reasonable.

If Porsche could have manufactured some of the Honda reliability into the 951 I would be okay with that.
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Tom R.

i read an autoweek article about the time the boxster came out and porsche was almost bankrupt that said something about porsche making more money from R&D for other companies than from making cars.

if porsche put honda reliability in a 951 this thread wouldnt exist because everyone nobody would need to replace anything.

tifo,
i guess nissans V6 as one and probably something from alfa or renault.

tifosiman

NOPE!