m73m95

Yes. When you start this, it will be required of you to post your progress clearly and with many, many pics.

speedtek

Well we put the bellhousing up to the motor and it is going to be one helluva adapter plate. Need to relocate the oil filter. also I threw away the 944 for parts so I can't drop the block in until I strip another 44. Since I need to go to the machine shop tomr. I will take the bell housing to be acid washed, that way it is easier to work with.

I will take some pics tomr.

Funny how when you get things for free your mind just goes NUTS!!!!

Reimu

Sounds pretty cool, can't wait to see more.

The 944 is slow by modern standards... but to be honest it doesn't feel as slow as everyone acts like. A lot of the time you hear about the "944 is dog slow, the turbo is ok but not great". Most of these people have never ridden/driven one, but still.. I don't think it sucks as much as everyone talks like.

speedtek

One of the best cars I have driven on the track was a mildly modded 944 Turbo with NOS. We used a wet system with 80hp shot. the speed off the corners was insane and we were faster than a 930 with 450hp. also at the time we were right up there with the speed of the Group A cars with racing slicks. It was too bad the bottle only lasted 5 laps.

ccaarmerciill

Dr.Ferdinand is tossing in his grave thinking " Why didn't they think of that in 1982! "


edit: nevermind, dead people don't toss, nor think much

bleucamaro

Looks like it could be a fun swap. What are you doing about the oilpan and sump? Are there any other issues that you're running into by mounting a transverse engine longitudinally? Whats the weight of that engine with turbo, intercooler, and piping?

genikz

I really hope you get this working! I daily drive a 1.8T and track an NA 924S (944 drivetrain). The 1.8T is fantastic and should do a 944 proud.

PSUice944

Just to fuel the fire, but if you can get this sorted out pretty solidly, whatever you fab could easily be sold.... think about that car list of the VWAG runners!

If you can get a 1.8T to adapt, the same "set-up" could potentially do the VR6s and even a freakin TDI !

Personally I'd love do do an old VR6 Turbo in a 944 all hopped up...

Drool...

Potomac-Greg

I've thought about this swap quite a bit (especially when I owned a TT roadster and a 944 together). The 1.8 is a great motor, and maybe the VW dna would work with the 944. I also like the idea that the car stays essentially German. One caveat is that the 1.8T might be too tall.

Good luck and keep us updated. If it can be done at reasonable cost, I know a LOT of people who would step up to it.

PS: Yes, you can have a LOT of fun with 150 HP, and I do. I spent two days on track with the Ferrari club, and had a lot of fun logging good lap times - BUT it would have been nice to have another 50 or 75 horsepower. Wheezing down the front straight maxing out at 110 while an F360 Cup Car is closing at another 50 MPH can be pretty scary.

JakeS2

Not sure where the application was done but there has been Audi turbo engines swapped to 944's. I think it was the 5-cyl 2.x turbo engine that they put in.

pjburges

Thats correct, but you'll need a 924 bellhousing to bolt to the old 016 type Audi bellhousing. I would be on the lookout for an adapter to adapt the old 016 Audi bellhousing to whatever they are using now. Then, get a 924 bellhousing and you are set. Minus the electrical mods, engine mounts, cooling mods, and beefing the transmission.....
Also, consider that Audi mounts their engines in front of the strut towers, and this could cause fitment issues when trying to move it back closer to the firewall like our 944's. Keep us posted though!!

V2Rocket

if its from an audi it is longitudinal

V2Rocket

maybe its just me but the 944 sure feeeeels fast. all the noise and when youre sitting 5 inches off the ground (lowered ) things get moving pretty quickly.

if it really does take like 8 seconds to get to 60 in this car i think a TS doing it in 5 might be terrifying.


which is why with my supercharger i aim for 4.5 lol

jtsporsche

i had the same opprotunity to do this swap a long time ago. everybody was like "dude, just get a 951, itll cost to much money, you're stupid, DONT #&@% UP THAT CAR!!!" you know, things like that.

only this guy wanted to trade motors, it was from a jetta

but i say go for it.

Potomac-Greg

I generally agree with that sentiment, but: (1) a 951 is going to be as much as $5,000 more than an equivalent 944, and much harder to find, and (2) as much as I hate to admit it, the 944 is unlikely to ever be a car with sufficient historical value, so hacking one up does not offend me. If someone came up with a clean, turn-key kit to put a 1.8t into the 944, with functioning electronics and A/C, I'd pay $3,000-$4,000 plus the cost of the 1.8t. IMHO, you end up with a 951 but with more modern internals. (Lack of LSD would be a problem.)