Kevin Michael

I just had to listen to someone else dreaming about their LS(x) conversions for their 928's. To each his own, but when someone with an s4 or up talks this stuff I can barely take it. No there is nothing wrong with a GM engine. The reason these (dream projects) are for sale near or after completion IMO is this. It does not run any better and even worse powerwise in certain rpm bands. They gain little or nothing and then have to sell it for half what it's worth to someone else with the dream.
Now an LS7 or a 502? You will gain all over the place, but 20g's better be in your total budget, so be ready. And finally, everybody likes the looks of the 928, but some can't get a Corvette out of their minds so they start to hack up their 928's. Just buy a Vette, and leave these cars to Porsche fans. Reminds me of kit car guys who spend 80 grand building a fiero into a Diablo, when they could have had a real Diablo for less. Any way agree or flame, I'm just getting this off my chest.

61tony

2nd

IcemanG17

Too funny...but SO true....

I was offered a smoking deal on a 24k mile LS6 V8 with T56 transmission & briefly thought about dropping it into the widow...... It will probably cost me the same to repair the engine after the rod bearing failure as it would have for the LS6 conversion and I end up with a 928 engine with 50 less HP....but ya know what.......I don't care.....

H2

If it means considerably more performance...an engine swap is not a problem w/me as long as I don't compromise functionality. I had a friend who had a 1937 Packard with a V8 Studebaker engine in it....no, it wasn't the same as stock...but for what he paid for it, he had one heck of a bargain car for daily driving.

H2

linderpat

I'm with you Kev. Furthermore, I wouldn't put a chevy small block in a Mustang either, or a Ford engine in a chevy, and so on.

Abby Normal

The SBC would be lighter too. You're right, the conversion would cost every bit as much as the rebuild, especially if you went with a trick SBC and dsid the conversion right.

I actually wonder if a 928 Racer with a SBC would be easier to sell since both SCCA and NASA have classes for those type of conversions. And the fact the 928 gets little respect in the PCA racing world, somewhat supports the theory.

Daniel Dudley

I hear that you never have to change the oil once you convert to a chevy motor. I think that is part of the appeal.

Rocketman928

I agree 100%. A transplant needs to make sense - not just raw Hp
The Porsche engine will last for ever if cared for. The sound and power delivery is where it should be for this car.
$4500 buys a good engine if you've blown yours, $3-5000 buys some form of forced induction. If you sell the car - take it off for the next car or sell it.

Pic below is a transplant that makes sense - Toyota 1.8 liter + 5 spd into a MG Midget - car is always worth very little, the 1600 cc motor is 60 hp and fragile. The Toyota 1.8l is 100lbs lighter, infinately more durable and with the 4-2-1 custom stainless exhaust, and 4 carbs from a Yamaha motorcycle...... 100+ Hp.

Cost of motor, 5 spd and carbs.... $200
Got $500 for the old MG motor and tranny!

928worldwide

That's awesome! Especially the 4 carbs. How does it sound?

Kev ,
It's the LS7 with a lightweight 928 (plastic windows, metal cut from everywhere, the light wheels, and a fuel cell with carbon fiber seats that is the killer setup....) But you're right about spending 930 money on a project with unknown time to build, and possible unhappy result. I'd like to see it done though, even a twin turbo ls7... could you imagine that!? Or a hefty cam and heads in a 502 with a blower....My dad has a boat with this setup and it's 600hp with efi....But she's a heavy motor compared to ls7... and the light valve train in the 7 is what's appealing, have you driven the z06? It revs like a Ferrari.

FBIII

Boy, I hope Carroll Shelby isn't listening..........

linderpat

well now, there are exceptions

cold_beer839

I personally don't mind the conversion, but would never do it to my own 928's. I prefer the original power train, regardless of power level. To me, it would no longer be a Porsche if the motor was switched out for another brand. And then resell value is gone too.

It takes all kinds to make the car world go round.

Kevin Michael

Also at Hershey I was talking to a fellow who couldn't be convinced that my 500+ WHP 928 has embarrassed many Vettes , both old and new. He stated he's interested in the engine swap. Go figure.

Ragnar Joensen

All due respect for Mr. Shellby and all the other magicians.

I just dont see the point in replacing the 928 engine. If the engine is blown, the problem doesnt lie with the engine anyway. More the use (or abuse) of the engine.

I've even seen a 928 with a BMW engine. In my mind it is comparable with catching a seagull. It can be quite a challenge to catch it, but once you've caught it, what can you do with it ?

Diddley squat !

How about the Corvette steering racks - are they any good ? (or is it Wal-Mart shopping cart standard)

There might be a point in looking at upgrading the steering rack in the 928. But then again, it just needs some looking after, just a bit more looking than the engine.


Ragnar

hacker-pschorr

If most 928's out there were in good shape I would agree with you. For every half assed engine swap, there are at least 20 sharks with original engines that should be dropped off a cliff.

If someone like Malibu is going to spend the time and money to do a good conversion, more power to him. Those of you who think an "average" LS motor will not improve the overall performance of an otherwise stock 928, you are in dream land. A bone stock LS2 with out any tuning should put down 350+rwhp. Very few people who go through with the swap leave the engine stock.

Last Wednesday I was helping a friend with a C5 ZO6 on they dyno. The engine is bone stock (this includes the intake snout and exhaust manifolds), straight pipes after the manifolds. With a conservative tune on a 50/50 mix of race gas it put down 385rwhp SAE on the same dyno Shane's 86.5 and Jim Roberts GT was tuned on.

How much does it cost to build a 928 stroker to reach these power levels? Boost? Forget it, 800+hp isn't out of the question for an LS motor.


I find it very funny how many 928 owners who rip on the Chevy conversions do not have stock engines in their car.
How many of you purchased a 928 just because of the engine? I doubt many hands are going up. Yes I love the 928 motor and all of it's quirks, I also have no problem with any good conversion.

I would rather see a nice 928 "saved" with a Chevy engine than parted out.


Dropping a different motor into a 928 has nothing to do with some desire to really own a Corvette. How silly.