odonnell

I'm sure I'm not the first one to bring this up, but for whatever reason it's been on my mind all morning. I know I can't afford to throw money at a LS swap, and at the same time... I have a worrying oil pressure issue with the 2.5

The ideal engine for a 'budget' swap into a NA 944 would be something reliable, efficient, doesn't require a ton of driveline modification, and preserves the spirit of the car.

Go ahead and flame if you want, but a Honda 3.5 could be a great swap option. It's higher output than the 2.5, but won't require a 951 trans/clutch or bigger brakes. The fact that they're common, cheap, efficient, and reliable also give it credence.

I've never done an engine swap, so I could be way off on this. I know some parts like the bellhousing, mounts, and headers would have to be custom.

I used the search function as well as Google but couldn't find anything concrete about 944 Honda swaps. Anyone on here have any knowledge on it?

xschop

Go with an inline 5 or 6. The advantage is an untouched vacuum booster and exhaust hookup would be easy on pass. side only and they fit. A Volvo 2.9 would be ideal as I have an adapter for it.

Shawn Stanford

The LS swap is a known quantity, so why don't you start there: see if you can find anything about swapping the LS into the source for the Honda motor. That should give you some idea of what you'll need to do to get the Honda motor into a 944.

Shawn Stanford

Wow, talk about an abundant and cheap motor!

V2Rocket

Atlas I-4...2.9L, 185HP/TQ and a tabletop-torque curve...

xschop

2.9 is an inline 6 and they come turboed from factory. Ton at the breakers too. If you go V6 Toyota's more reliable. If you want a V12 I have that adapter too lol

Arominus

You lose any price advantage you might have had once you start asking "has anyone done this?". Why? because it means you need to have things fabbed.

The LS swap can be done cheapish. Get a 4.8 or 5.3 out of a wrecked truck (less than 1k usually) and go from there. The R&D has been done.

odonnell

Good points, thanks guys. My budget for a swap is around $1k all in, otherwise I'll have to part out the '83 if I have a severe engine failure

xschop

I forgot to mention the 3.8 GM v6 would be worth the trouble . And it has been done a few times too.

Arominus

Take that 1k and do the things you need to do to keep it alive. IE: rod bearings, pre-emptive oil cooler seal replacement, OPRV o-ring replacement, Water pump if you haven't done it/don't know when it was done. Do that and you should be fine for quite a while.

If your motor grenades, replacement 2.5's can be had fairly cheap. Certainly cheaper than a motor swap. For reference i sold my 2.5 from the 924s pretty cheap (way less than 1k)

FrenchToast

This.

Exactly what I was going to type. 1k won't get you an engine swap. Maybe if you own a machine shop. Regardless, it would still require much more than 1k worth of time.

If you really want an engine swap, I'm afraid you'll need much more than 1k. Closer to ten times that, if you want to do it right and you're the first one. Mainly due to the as mentioned required fabrication. For any engine that wasn't produced to fit in that engine bay, there is going to be fabrication necessary, down to plumbing, mounts, etc., let alone a bell housing adapter.

Happy Thanksgiving!

admiralkhole

Out of the Century? Damn...I already have an 8, but I've been wanting a 12 in my life. Is it easy to get an engine/harness/ ecu over here? Sounds like my next project!

SH, you should do the Volvo swap, or maybe an Audi 5cyl 20vt
I can make you mounts, exhaust, whatever...

xschop

I've already designed the adapter for the v12 to drop right in. Dinsdale is working onMegasquirt. When he has it sorted, It will get rid of the 2 ECU's and pull out an extra 125 horses.

Van

If you only have a grand, get two used 944 engines and put each one in until it blows up.

86 951 Driver

What V12?