odonnell

Paging all the engine trivia guys...

So far I've noticed some minor differences, but want to make a more complete list. Add whatever you can think of

- Cam pulley bolt is 6-point instead of 12-point

- Water neck goes straight up with no bleeder screw

Whatever fine points are there? I'm also curious if there are any seal/gasket/O-ring differences, so I don't have any suprises if I use an ordinary early NA rebuild kit like this one.

snb13

It seems there was no rhyme or reason with some things. I have an '83 built in February of that year. I have the typical bent water neck with bleeder screw. I parted an '84 a few years ago--same deal. I worked on a friends '84 and it had the straight waterneck with the bleeder in the hose (where the one on your motor should be if they used the right hose.)

So we updated his water neck to the one off my parts car. I don't trust the bleeder in the hose.

Butters944

I have the 6 point cam pulley bolt on my 10/82 built car. Water neck is normal though.

+1 to no rhyme or reason in the 944 factory... So many inconsistencies.

My motor is currently being fully rebuilt on a donor 84(?) block by my dad... Haven't had any issues with parts differences.

V2Rocket

It's possible that the water necks were retrofitted since the old style hose is NLA as far as I know.

I have found very good consistency across the 944 model years in my travels/work.
Although my early 944 has a "late" style engine as factory fitment (late gauge temp sensor, tubular manifolds, turbo-style oil pan with plugged oil drain on driver side), so they probably use up one part supply before changing over.

konakat

I just compiled this by searching the 82-85 parts lookup for "43D", which should find all changes by engine production number. The parts lookup doesn't really help with what changed in most cases, but it at least tells us what to look at.

Balance shaft housing bolts (same thread, just longer)
Crankshaft (I think the early ones were cross-drilled?)
Crankshaft woodruff key (early was a bit longer, probably has to match crankshaft?)
Connecting rods changed in '83 and '84
Air/oil separator and seals
Dipstick
Oil pickup tube
Oil return tube
Water neck and hose

konakat

I noticed that the temp sensor supposedly changed over in '84, so at least that one doesn't seem unusual.

J1NX3D

Porsche had a habit of mixing upgrades for one model year into the last run of the previous model year cars. For example the last 911SC's got minor engine tweaks formally introduced in the 3.2 Carrera. Likewise the last 3.2 Carrera's got G50 variant gearboxes from the 964. The last year 944S2's got 968 style bridge spoilers (Though 968's had built-in high stop lights)

My '86 has an early rad fan set up (also single fan, no air con) with late style fuse box so I've inadvertently bought the wrong relays and fan temp switch before.

odonnell

Interesting, thanks guys. One of the things that makes these cars so much more interesting than bland assembly line sports cars.