Curious about V8 conversion
 

I don't want this to turn into a flame war about its wrong to do it. I am in the beginning process of thinking about converting my trusty 924S. I can't justify the 2,500 to rebuild the motor. The car is by no means a looker. It looks okay, but could use a little body work and a decent respray. I have been thinking about a v8 conversion for the simple fact it could be a fun project. I have never ever done anything like this in my life. I'm about to graduate college and think this would be fun to do on the weekends. So I was looking for some info like how long did it take to complete, and what engine choice did you use. Stock gauges, things like that. Do you have A/C, power brakes, power steering? Stuff like that.

talk to username TonyG. He has a modded LS1 swapped into his 951. ive seen it in person and it looks like it belongs in there. and it is ridiculously fast and sounds excellent

to quote him, "i did this maybe 4 years ago and right afterwards i wondered why i didnt do it sooner" and "this is the engine it should have had from the factory"

Good Day!

There are a bunch of us currently working on converting our cars right now. Some of us are using the 5.3l Chevy LS-based motor, one I know is swapping in a big LS6, and others are using the older small block Chevy and LT1 motors. We're doing most of the R&D ourselves rather than going the "kit" route, for various reasons.

I actually have some of the conversion parts available for sale, if you want to go the SBC/LT1 route - bellhousing, clutch release bearing, adapter plates to attach the bellhousing to the Porsche Torque Tube. Check out our forum and the various options at http://944hybrids.forumotion.com/forum.htm.

The conversions are pretty straightfoward and retain all the stock gauges and conveniences - AC, PS, etc. All depends what you want to do. I started mine in January, and I've got a couple more months to go. Of course, I only work on it a few hours a week. Costs can vary as well, depending on the motor you choose and how good you are at scrounging for parts.

Feel free to contact me directly if you have any questions. This has been a great project and I've learned quite a lot.

Ross.

If I did this I would need a kit type deal basically whatever would be required to drop it in. I understand the A/C and the brakes can't be a drop in kit, but I could maybe try to get that to work with the research that has been done like the hydroboost brakes. Do you make motor mounts for the LT1? I have been looking at the 5.3l LS motor just because its really cheap compared to a 5.7 which I would like to have just 300 hp for a while becuase this is a 924S so rubber is limited.

I have been interested in this subject for some time. Nice to see it come up again.

There seems to be some junkyard dogs, and some really nice conversions that cost $15k-$25k. If $10k is too much you might not be looking at the right project. It's probably one of those things where if everything works the way you want it to it can be done for $5k but it never does and the price doubles. Car projects, heh.

I would not not try this swap on a car you expected to use anytime soon (like 3-6 months) and a Turbo/S2/968 chassis would be a better starting point also IMO. Turbos with engine issues are not hard to come by and you can sell off the turbo engine parts that are still good to recoup some costs.

Issues I am aware of:

Radiator/cooling
Ground clearance
Power brakes
Smog testing
Insuring for anywhere near the value
DE/Track events/Autox classification

On an NA you also have the transmission that is not quite up to the power of the 8v motor.

Since I have a 968 I could probably meet my HP goals with just a $4300 swipe of my credit card now that there is a reasonably priced SC kit, so I am still thinking...

-Joel.

Is that the vortec? If so, how is the height on that, will it fit or does it need a different oil pan or hood scoop?

the LS4 is a 300HP 5.3 all aluminum designed for use in the monte carlo SS, impala SS and pontiac grand prix gxp (FWD, its actually a little bit shorter than a normal LS)

V8 swap
 

I still can't believe how much work room I have in the hood. The Chevy V8 is easier to work on than 5 of the 944's I've owned over the years....here's The 5.3l Truck motor with the Corvette LS1 intake. I will have less than $2500 in the swap parts including the Engine and Lexus Big Brakes. Like JJ said a few of us are making parts. I am developing a dual master setup as we speek because the valve cover on the driver's side doesn't allow for the vacuum booster. Check us out at the URL JJ put up. Nothing but talent over there... The LS/4.8/5.3/6.0 engines need at least 3/4" X-member drop for the stock hood to close
Bump steer kit has been worked out and Headers are the last code to crack....almost there...
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Just out of curiosity, I wonder if anyone has looked at marine engines (crate). They still crank out small block Chebby's in Mexico destined for use in boats, using port fuel injection and fairly "hot" cams. I wonder if these would be less expensive that automotive crate engines. In the fine state of MD, a 21 year old car registered as "classic" does not need to undergo emissions inspections.

Did you fab up your own mounts and stuff or did you buy them from somebody?

sweet, so you are using the truck engine, that was my plan as well. Looking good!

Dropping the crossmember 3/4" might be a dealbreaker for me. I hate scraping and bashing stuff and I would not want to run the stiff springs needed to keep from bottoming out on the whoops around here.

Looks like it'd be good for a track car though.
-Joel.

V8 kit
 

I fabbed up a Cradle mount because I want to be able to drop the Xmember for access to the oil pan without using an engine lift and I am building custom control arms and other things. But I also designed a set of left and right uprights that mount to the Xmember. They fit an SBC/LT1 and an LS/4.8/5.3/6.0 engines with an extended engine plate.....
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The C5 bellhousing is the way to go because ANY Chevy V8 can be installed

So could someone buy those mounts to work with an LSx motor for my car. Any idea what they run? I'm very interested now looks very simple.

I dropped mine a total of 1" and here's what I did to bring it back from the bottom out zone. I still don't see why people want to drop the car, It sits low enough for my taste already.....
With the Truck motor and a Cam and heads = 425 hp all for less than $2k

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C5 Bellhousing to 944 Torque Tube adapter plate incorporates the C5 Hydraulic Throwout Bearing. The only difference between installing a SBC/LT1 or the LS/4.8/5.3/6.0 engines is the thickness of the pilot bearing adapter. You can literally switch the bushing out and swap in any Chevy v8 engine you want...
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There is actually more room in the rear area to work on it than the 4 cylinder.....
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And the front area has a ton as well....
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Famous last words. :icon107:

So you lower the crossmember about an inch to make up for the higher height of the engine? I just lowered my car an inch all the way around so would that mean that my car would scrape on everything then. I think this is perfect for my little 924S.

I am also in the process of doing this very swap, but with a LS1 out of a 99 Vette. I am not a fan of the sub 10k swaps being classified as Junkyard Dogs. My install will have Just as clean, if not cleaner than 90% of current installs, and current inverstment is about $5K still need headers, engine sensors, coils, clutch disk etc so probably another 1K... and thats for my entire car, not Just the swap.

Mark

If you lowered your car, then you have a bump steer problem if you didn't install a bump steer kit....I'm not sure about 924S, but I also just finished designing a "NUKE-PROOF" Bump steer kit that uses 5/8" Teflon Heim joints and inexpensive Toyota inner tie rods.....1/2 to 3/4" Xmember drop is needed depending on car( They are all Porsche hand built and tolerances vary)
Puts the 944/911 Bump steer kit to shame....You have to drill and REAM your spindles to 0.625" (5/8")
Adjusts bump steer 3/8" up to 1.125".....
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Inexpensive Toyota tie rod fits the 944 Rack perfectly and even has the catch boot machined in the right spot from factory......
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..............POPP

Actually, the motor mounts are exceptionally easy to fab, and are very simple.

If you're interested in a 5.3l, try to find the L33 High Output variant - all alloy block with 310hp and 325tq from factory. Also has LS6 heads. Swap out the intake manifold for one from an LS1, LS2 or LS6, fit a Z06 cam and springs, and you've got yourself a nice setup.

:roflmao: I've been called worse!

Come check out the Dawghaus where we're making it all happen ---> http://944hybrids.forumotion.com/

What I said was "There seems to be some junkyard dogs, and some really nice conversions that cost $15k-$25k." Naturally there will be some in the middle as well.

Anyway if your time is free, you are a good scrounge, and you can weld and fab you could probably build really nice conversion for under $10k but as they say in the weight loss commercials, "results not typical." Those people could also probably cut the front off the car and put on a tube chassis if they felt like it.

-Joel.

Yeah, im a member over there... I am one of those Lowlife's that bought XS's parts on the "Old" board... I saw your recent discovery and you had me goin nuts at work when i saw i could modify a set of 200 headers...

Mark

I hear ya, it seems to be a preconcieved notion that you HAVE to spend $20K to get a good swap car. LOL... Actually my time runs $110 an hour... :roflmao: Im a Porsche tech... :icon501::icon501::icon501: So i may piss of an enthusiest or 3 :icon107::icon107:

Mark

Lowlife?
 

No, you are just well informed. The plate I designed was actually mic'd and dial indicated from 4 different C5 torque tubes and the RH plate was off concentrically and burning pilot bearings and torque tube shafts and TT bearings.....
POPP
and PORH

I have a quick general question for those with a good LSx engine swap.

I have a 951 and what I like most about it is highway passing ability. 60-90+ is just such a sweet spot for the car.

The V8 swaps are great for low end, obviously, but I'm wondering how they feel at higher speeds on the highway? And you've still got the HP to get up at 160+ mph, right?

Sorry for the ignorance, I've never even been in a fast V8 like a Corvette. The phrase "running out of steam" is sort of the impression I've gotten about torque-y V8s, though I'm sure it's way off base.

If you haven't driven one, the best way to describe it is, there isn't a spot that isn't sweet. A 100 MPH roll on will leave your tummy in the spare tire well.

DVC your car is one of the most beautiful 944's I have ever seen. I wish I could have a car that clean.

+1

There's no need to downshift to pass cars, which is nice.

Plus flooring it in any gear makes my wife scream. Not that I enjoy that sort of thing... It's always an accident, honey... :roflmao:

^^^LOL!!!!

lets just say that i'm 19 and i'm almost done with the 1st stage of mine...that is getting the engine in and running, getting the guages hooked up, getting wiring mostly sorted out...getting the thing on the road for some light break in time.

stage two is going to be upgrading everything else that isn't up to snuff any more...most likely rebuilding/replacing the transmission, upgrading brakes, probably going with wider wheels and tires. all of that fun stuff

Ethan

How will 205's stand up to 300 hp? I can't wait. I think I have a lead on a LS1 for $300 complete.

they wont. lol. not unless you carefully roll on the throttle everywhere you go

but get that motor dont even think twice, not even 1.5x

PM me if you decide to pass! :D

sbc information?
 

i have an 86' 944 shell and was going to put a rebuilt 944 motor into it but after the issues i have had with my 87' 944 im thinking a different motor sounds good. everywhere i have looked for information on it all i get is stuff about the LS swaps. that would be nice but i guess i figured just a plain older SBC would be easier to install, to work on, and cheaper on the pocket book.

im just looking for some good solid clear information about the SBC swap, and availability of parts for doing it. i dont really have the availability to fabricate my own parts so any information is greatly appropriated!!!

i have heard and seen some posts of guys using truck motors for doing the swap. didnt know if that was the vortec motors or what.

not trying to be a cheep a** or anything, but i have just alot of time and money into the body of the car and would really like to get it running in the next year.

i'm getting 1 more set of front wheels so i can scrub my worn fronts to the bone out the ass end
[after my V8 and LSD tranny is in]. :cheers:

Look into LM7 engines. It's basically an LS series engine, however it's out of a truck or SUV. You can get a complete pull for ~$800 (engine, harness, etc.) I know a guy locally who went to a junk yard and got essentially a complete engine (minus the heads, which was fine because he had some from a previous build) for $200. he swapped it in, put his heads on, and it's running great so far. The LM7 has an irom block, so getting 1000+ HP won't be a problem ;) I'd worry about everything else holding up, though

Thank you for the information. so parts for the LS swap, would work just fine on that motor? I think i can find one of those fairly easy. Maybe ill stumble upon a cheap LS1 while im searchin.

just a loose effort to compare;

i'm at 171 k on this engine now.... i don't wrench much [i do the tune ups, oil, brakes, tranny oil, body mods, etc]... not much more.

if i do the maintenance that's required now, to go between 171 k~220 k miles—when all is said and done, my 968 engine will have presented about $32 K in maintenance and repairs [mix of do it myself/premium/discount techs/shops for two-owner car] to go about 220 k miles and again, be ready for the next infusion of cash..... i should actually do the head gasket and the rod bearings too, so that number can go higher. it's a semi-exotic, overworked engine, just like the 944T....

you can deal with the 3.0 variocam, including accessories, timing system, cams, pads, chains, motor mounts, gaskets, oil cooler lines, pickup tubes, rod bearings, etc... or buy one, sell the motor and swap in a nice LSx the first day you buy the car..... but do the latter, and you'll come out ahead.

by 4 cylinder standards [barf], it's a nice engine. i sorta like the growling behemoth when she's running 80 mph at 3,200 rpm down the highway..... but when the cellphone rings or i put on a movie or the stereo, it's also the most effing noisy, overgrown angry lawnmower/vibradore in history.... starts with a thud, then shakes itself, accessory parts, you, and your passengers nearly to death [even came with an 800 pound exhaust in an effort to tame it]....

the original owner and myself could have spent the same $$$ enjoying a far smoother, more powerful engine requiring only a few sets of valve springs, the odd ac pump, oil changes and tune ups.... for the guys who wrench and drive just a few thousand miles a year, the 968 engine is fine—and it can take a lot of punishment... but if you drive more, like i do [94 k miles in 57 months], the 968 engine is an expensive platform.



just my 0.02

xschop, do you still make your "bump steer" kit?

I think i have a set of those laying around for sale. PM me if interested.

Engine
 

I'm trying to engine swap my 1984 na 944 any chevy/gm 5.3 will do ? Thanks In advance