Doing a little more homework so to speak . Looking to see what differences there are between a 944 NA , 944 16V and the 944 turbo blocks . Some of the vw and audi engines have oil squirters on the bottom of the cylinders that spray oil on the bottom side of the pistons to aid in cooling . Anything like that on the 944 blocks ? This would be on 86` and up blocks . I know the timing belt tensioner setup change in 87` . Just trying to get as much worked out as I can for when I start hording parts . This will be later down the road , maybe start over the winter . Thanks for any input you can share .

 

87-88 944, 944S, and 951 blocks are 100% identical in every single way.
The only difference is the number stamped on the side...

1982-1986 944/951 blocks are all functionally identical as well. There were a few small changes in the 82-84 years but nothing significant.

 

'82 and '83 blocks have thinner cylinder walls - this makes them less idea for dry sleeving or overboring.

Early blocks also have an extra block for the balance shaft bearing carrier - on the later blocks it's integral to the balance shaft cover.

There are also difference in the OPRV bore between early and late blocks - early blocks have a steel sleeve pressed into the bore.

 

Slight mixup here... the early blocks were the ones with the bearing carriers integral to the covers - the 85.5+ motors had a bearing "cap" and the upper cover had a provision for an oil pickoff (for 951 application).

Early blocks also had different sized port diameters on the AOS - unsure what year the change happened, but the bottom port on early AOSs is smaller than the later ones, so the block is different to accommodate.

 

Are you sure? I have an '88 block apart right now, and it has the balance shaft bearings integral to the cover...

You are correct that the covers are different left and right for the turbo oil feed.

Another block difference is bore for the rear balance shaft end caps - they are different sizes for the early and late engines - making the bores slightly different sizes.

 

This is a late block, maybe pre-87 though? http://www.pelicanparts.com/techarti...mall/pic07.jpg

Is it possible that the 85.5-86 balance shaft covers were different than 87+? I know there were other changes to the block. On my early blocks (82 and 83) they're also integral to the covers, the upper bearing shell for the rear bearing seats into the actual cover.

 

Maybe I'm wrong... I'll double check when I get home. I know this block I'm working on is an '88 auto, but it's possible it's from a 924S...

I see balance shaft bearings are different part numbers for '83-'86 and '87+, but the balance shafts themselves are different part numbers for '83-'84 and '85+.

 

My '86 951 engine had the separate BS bearing caps, my '87 951 engine has the integrated bearing cap.

My '83 NA engine has the separate BS bearing caps, but my '84 NA engine has the integrated caps. So I'm not sure if it's all 100% consistent, but I think it's safe to say from 87 or 88 they were all with the integrated bearing caps.

 

968 block has piston oil squirters. I don't believe any of the 944 blocks have them. The 968 squirters can be retrofitted to a 944 block.