Ben Plaisted

I would just like peoples opinion on this topic, I myself would not do it to my car just because I feel it makes the porsche not a porsche but I know that there are people who disagree, I would like both sides. Also with the swap how would it, or how does it effect the handleling.

ian

I for one think it is a good idea if it is done right. If someone took a stock 944 and just put the 350 in there with no other modifications I would say it is a very bad idea. You would have more wieght in the front and that would throw off the handling, the brakes would match up well and the transmission couldn't take the torque.

To be done right you need to upgrade the suspension with different spring rates and sway bars to dial in the handling, make sure the remaining pieces are in top shape, you should also upgrade to at least 944 Turbo brakes, and transmission (or S2 / 968 parts).

As far as set up it would be based on your goals for the car. For me I think the ideal use of the v8 swap would be for a drivers ed car / aggressive street car. Sure it would not be club race legal, but for drivers school you would have the 951 handling, and the reliabilty of the LT1 under the hood (also the V8 power and torque would be nice).

My ideal v8 swap canidate is a 924S with a blown motor. Add a roll bar / cage, 951 transmssion, S4 brakes, ledas, m030, a tuned LT1, fiberglass hood, 924 GTS flares and body work, fuchs, and some r compounds. Should be nice and balanced with some impressive performance. I do plan on doing this some day, it is just a question of when....

nh3

Art their any other conversion kits out there besides Renegade?

nh3

944Play

If you want a Porsche with a V8, get a 928.... Not trying to be snotty, but there's no need to reinvent the wheel if the factory already did.

MHO.

cheetah chrome

theres a na w/ a 350 tpi motor in it on ebay....looks like the guy did a pretty good job. i think for the same price you could put a wild and reliable 2.8 turbo in the car (assuming it was a turbo to start off) or a high compression 3 liter (for the na's).

944LT1

I agree with Ian....when done properly the 944SBC is a blast. I should know because I did mine!
<a href="http://www.easyfoto.com/gallery/view?p=999&gid=261571&uid=129677" target="_blank">web page</a>
I've put 6000 miles on the car so far without a single problem. (well I did break down once but it turned out I was out of gas! DUH!) The car is fun to drive and handles awesome.
I think the secret to a GOOD conversion is to do it yourself. Labor to pay someone to do it would be too expensive and quality would probably not be up to par.

Douglas_T

I saw here in Indy a guy has the orig. 79 Porsche Renegade 928 with the Chevy 350 V8...I talked to him just to get some info on it and he said the Chevy engine had already been rebuilt? Like, so much for reliability! If it came from the factory with a Porsche engine in it...Its best to KEEP a Porsche engine in it! IMHO.

Der Cupmeister

[quote]928 reliability <hr></blockquote>

Isn't this an oxymoron ?

streckfu's

One of the mechanics at the shop I use (Eurosport in Va Beach) recently did this. I built his own motor (363 stroker) and put in a 944 n/a. He's upgraded everything but the tranny so far. When he dyno'd the car a few weeeks ago, it didn't record above 365 hp because it would spin the tires on the dyno.

This probably wouldn't be my choice of mods, but he built a cheap and fast track only car.

*Michael.*

This picture looks kind of funny, what is the car sitting on??




That is one nice garage 944LT1,

Wachuko

[quote]Originally posted by *Michael*:
<strong>This picture looks kind of funny, what is the car sitting on??




</strong><hr></blockquote>

<img src="graemlins/roflmao.gif" border="0" alt="[hiha]" /> The engine is not letting you see the front supports, but you can see the back supports... for a minute there I tought they had been photoshoped out....

944LT1

It's just the one jack stand and the step ladder holding the car....... <img src="graemlins/oops.gif" border="0" alt="[oops]" />
They are really light without the engine

Andre

"not a porsche anymore" in my opinion.....i dont care. I mean 944s aren't great porsches, even porsche doesn't like them!i mean cmon its not like you are buying these cars to keep them as classics and sell them for big bucks, but if you are then dont do the chevy swap, but if you can afford it and do it right i say go for it. I dont care if its a miata if it kicks your *** on the track its a better car. Most of us dont buy these cars for the "Status" like some of the rich boys that buy the new 911s to get chicks and to show off to their friends. agani i'm not saying every new 911 owner does this, i'm just saying some. That is why i am suprized that a lot of people on 944 forums are against this swap and its mostly not because the engine wieghs over 200 pounds more than the stock 944 engine and not because it'll mess up handling but because it is a CHEVY. Chevy made the engine for a long time, the 350 is a GOOD engine, like the 911 air cooled engine that was developed to be so good for so many years.
just my opinion on the subject

NIkon_Man

Andre Andre Andre <img src="graemlins/c.gif" border="0" alt="[ouch]" />

Please take your Chevette and go home.
Thank You <img src="graemlins/xyxwave.gif" border="0" alt="[bigbye]" />

Joe944

Personally I wouldn't mind dropping in a high compression destroked and bored 327 with a big cam =)