JohnA944

After finding that my #4 cylinder wall is scored in my 88 NA, I have luckily come across an 87-88 S that a guy wants to sell me for dirt cheap. It was picked up by a guy that buys junk cars and sells them to the scrap yard. The S is completely intact and supposedly was running when it was parked.

Are there any significant differences between the NA and the S? I particularly want the engine and ECU, but it will also probably be a parts car for other things. Also, I haven't really read much about the S model in term of specific maintenance. What can I expect from this engine?

KuHL 951

Be sure and get the air cleaner box and all harness connections. Other than the 16V most everything is is a clean swap. You will definitely feel the added power of the 16V throughout the entire powerband. Be careful removing any valve cover bolts (they snap easily) and check the cam chain tensioner pad. If that pad failed and the chain jumped the head is toast. Did the motor run before?

V2Rocket

2.5L 16v engine, about 188HP and the highest rev limit of any 944.

JohnA944

@ Kuhl - From what I understand, the car was parked when running. The windows were left down, so the interior was subjected to about 3 years of weather. Ironically the car is the same color and interior trim package as my NA. I plan on having my mechanic to go through the engine. At a minimum it will get new belts, wp, rollers, tensioners ect., before i crank it. More than likely i may just refresh the entire engine. Is the gearing the same in the trans? I assume it is...

I havent went completely through the S, maybe ill get lucky and it would have the M030 option.....but thats probably wishful thinking....

dillon410021

I believe the gearing is the same as the turbo

Lemming

No, the 944S has a shorter gearing with a final diff ratio of 3.889. In contrast the turbo is 3.375.

dillon410021

ah, I miss read clarks garage.
http://www.clarks-garage.com/pdf-manual/trans-04.pdf

JohnA944

It looks like the S version is just a little bit taller. 3.8889 (NA) to the S - 3.889 according to that chart. I wonder how that would translate with the 30 extra ponies from the S engine..

Has anyone been successful getting any extra outta that engine, or is it like its 8 valve cousin and hard to extract extra hp?

doabarrelroll

You can fit the S2 intake on it to get a bit extra power (better flow). It just bolts on. That with a 3 bar fpr and a chip should get it above 200 hp.

gtroth

The maintenance differences that come to mind:
1-Chain tensioner - do a search. If there's no reliable records service that right away (same goes for the T belt, btw, but no different than any 944).
2-Exhaust is different - cat back has the pre-muffler resonator, so a few hundred more to replace.
3-Intake - tough to service throttle and TPS, grounds, and ref/speed with the throttle way in the back like that. Best to pull the intake in one large piece when it's time for that.
4-Idle Stabilization valve (ISV) - dynamic (regulated) idle control introduced on the S, can get sitcky and cause bouncing idle and stalls. You guessed it - pull the whole intake manifold to get at that (clean it or replace it).
5-Ignition Control Module (ICM) - ignition final stage power drivers. They are inside the DME for 944, outside separate module for 944S. Better setup on the S since if this blows you replace it, not the DME.
6-Valve cover has a whole different set of seals. But much better setup than on the 944 I think. Yuo'll learn about that when you do (1).
7-more valves to replace if T-belt breaks.

If you pay attention to what you'll learn here after seaching here a bit, I would not hesitate for an instant on an S - I love mine.

pontifex4

+1 on loving the S. I wish I still had mine. I found that a good chip filled in the gap in the powerband between 3-4K RPM, and made it a fantastic, high-revving, drivable motor. Great fuel economy, too!

JohnA944

DOA- thanks for the idea. Didnt ever think that the S2 intake would bolt on.

gtroth - thats about what i was looking for. Just the little things that are different on the car. I have had mine now about 8 years and did most of the work on it. I am gonna swap out the motor to start with, I thought about trying to just refreshen the S interior, but it is so far gone that it would probably cost more with all the electronics that are probably now ruined due to being exposed to weather so....I'll have a hybrid...lol.

gtroth

If you're transplanting the S enginer, you might want to grab the tachometer too (6800 rpm redline).
Also I forgot to mention that there is only one flywheel sensor, speed+reference.
I've read that the ring and pinion are stronger on the S transmission, not sure that's true. If so you might want that tranny on your S engine.
If it's got the '16 Ventiler' side badges, they can go along with the engine to the 944 if you like them.

pontifex4

Grab the brake bias valve when you're there, too: it's the same as a Turbo's.

JohnA944

Ok. Cool will look at that. I was planning on grabbing the entire dash as i dont remember it having any thing wrong with it other than being dirty...no cracks...

I currently have a turbo gauge cluster in mine from a PO, dunno why but it was in it when i bought mine...I think someone was trying to convert that car to turbo then found out how god aweful expensive it would be and abandoned...lol