svochuck

Anyone wanting to sell there 88 944 ? I want the 88 for the short 5th gear and higher power. I live in Denver but will fly out to drive yours back.

please send details to svochuck@aol.com

thanks
chuck
#67 944-spec

Kurt R

How about a 924s? More aerodynamic.

M758

Chuck the 924S (both 87 and 88) had the short 5th. Only the 88 (924S and 944) had the high compression pistons.

Based on all our many 944 spec races the short 5th is needed at any track where you would use 5th. The 88 motors however have not proven to be must haves. In fact I have an 88 motor in my garage. I ran it in my 944 for a few races and noticed no differece in HP. Sadly it spun a bearing so it went to the build stand and my trusty 84 block/87 head motor when back in my race car. I feel I am at NO disadvantage with that motor compared to any 88 motor. However my 88 motor is NOT for sale as it is my spare just incase.

Bottomline.... GET the short 5th! Don't worry about the 88 pistons.

Legoland951

As far as I know, the 88 944 has the high compression piston but both the 87 and 88 924S have higher compression pistons and all 3 also have short 5ths. I am not sure why the high compression motors are not faster but the 88 *should* be faster if built properly since I have not seen a slower car from higher dyno numbers unless these lower compression motors have something done to increase their HP.

jenket944

What about the '89 NA, does it have the shorter 5th gear? I'm looking to sell mine or possibly race it someday down the road.

Legoland951

Can't use an 89 for spec because of the 2.7 engine.

leonc944

Bzzzt, wrong, the 87 924S has the lower compression engine.

So, to recap, the 87 944 and the 87 924S use the same engine, a lower compression M44.07 in the USA.

The 88 944 and the 88 924S use the higher compression M44.08 in the US.

All the 944 NA USA cars up to 87 used the taller 5th gear and the 87-88 924S/944 and the 89 944 had the short 5th gear.

You could (and should) look it up for yourself.

cjeckert

hmm my august 87 924S actually has the higher comp. pistons and its the origonal motor for the car, might have just been a fluke tho or because it was right before they started the 88 run.

jenket944

Damn, guess there's no reason in keeping the '89 for racing. It's served okay as my autocrosser for the past few years but I'm ready to move on. Besides, I have the Turbo S to keep me plenty busy.

cjeckert

well you could always sell the 2.7 and pick up a well sorted 2.5 and bank a little bit o $$

M758

The 87 924S has the same motor as an 87 944. Low Comp pistons. Only 88 model year has the 10.2:1 Pistons.
Why now power gain? Not sure I don't feel over matched in my 9.5:1 motor. Heck I have that 10.2:1 motor collecting dust. It will probably go in in one day, but I am in no rush.

M758

Are you sure? Have you looked at the pistons? 88 model year has the 10.2 pistons. What are the letters in your vin? HNxxxxx or JNxxxxx

TD in DC

The short fifth is an advantage and desireable. I cannot imagine having the taller fifth and finding much use for it.

josephsc

I have a question on this because I have indeed looked it up in the factory manual. Specifically: how do we know that the 1987 924S had the short 5th?

What I remember from the factory workshop manual for the 944 (which I don't have with me) is that ROW transmissions have short 5th, and there is a footnote that says all (inc US spec) 1988 944 carried ROW transmission. I don't have a workshop manual for 924S, but does it say somewhere in there or elsewhere that 1987 924S also carried ROW transmission or something?

M758

It does because all 924S's have the .829 5th.

I know because I am running an 87 924S tranny in my 944 spec car now.

The only way you don't have the short 5th is if the tranny was swapped before you bought the car.