Before buying my 928S, I calculated cost/value and considered what I might do in case the engine threw a belt and trashed my investment. I've built street rods and figured that an alternative would be to just throw in a hot small-block, 400hp Chevy and be on with it in a great looking (and even higher performance car). A good Chevy engine wouldn't cost a lot more than it would cost to buy and replace 32 bent valves (as if that might be the only damage). In the meantime, I'm hoping that the questionable 928-Chevy adapter kits improve in quality.

Anyone with experience with this? Most hybrids I've heard of have issues.

Harvey
In any case, the 928 Engine is absolutely wonderful! (as long as it runs)

 

Harvey -

I have never gotten the point of owning a Porsche and swapping in a
Chevy engine....period. Sounds like your really paranoid about the engine
for some reason. Yes, there are a few things to watch out for, but if those are kept up to date the 928 engine is one stout piece and full of power, but you sound like you have already given up on it for some reason. Sorry, but swap the engine to a Chevy and you no longer have a Porsche.....plain and simple. If you want a faster car with a souped up engine, sell the 928 to someone that will respect it for what it is, and go out and get a used Vette or Camaro to mess around with. If you want to keep the 928, make sure the engine is in good shape with no issues and maybe go the supercharger route.......or a stroker motor. Just my .02......

 

Have to agree with Mike....

Spend half the money you are saving for the conversion on regular maintenance of the 928 engine, and you'll never have to worry about it.

 

I agree with the others. That being said, 928-to-Chevy conversions have been done. I've seen one in person that had an LT1 engine, and it's a very fast car.

 

I'm sure you could pick up a spare engine on eBay or out of a yard for a lot less than doing a conversion. Since you are resigned to something happening, why not get a jump on it, and have one waiting? Pick one up when you see a deal.

 

Paranoid? Yes. I've spent several thousands in preventative maintenance and updates on the near-pristine 928 in the first year and the timing belt appears to be wanting to creep off the cam gears... A new belt was installed 3,000 miles ago on this low milage car by one of the best 928 mechanics in the business...plus new water pump, all new rollers, etc. To have the belt migrate to the edge makes me nervous and shakes my confidence. If the belt were to go, I'd not make this investment twice. If the 928 has an Achilles heel, it sounds like it's the t-belt. As Walt K says, all 928 owners have a limit....I'm hopeful that my belt has stabilized near the edge of the cam gear. I've made a serious committment to this car but even the best of relationships can be strained. I never had these concerns or expenses with any Chevy engine I had....and the Chevy performance isn't shabby. I know of one 928 owner who's reluctant to tell people he has a Chevy engine because of prejudices. With his RMB setup, most can't tell the difference unless the hood is lifted.

H2
I don't like the Corvette body style or handling...I think the 928 beats is hands down.

 

Hughett,
As much as I love my 928 and find it's drive train exotic and intriguing, if I scattered its goodies, I'd give a serious look at SB Chevy power, like available from http://www.renegadehybrids.com/928.htm . After all, even though my 928 looks and rides like it's new, it's resale value is only $8-9K at most. Its value to me is the pleasure I receive while driving it. I could go on loving it with 400 bastard horsepower under the good. However, if its street value was >$30K I'd probably feel differently and pay to keep it pure.

 

Harvey,

Well you opened up that can of worms again so I'll toss my thoughts in as well.
It sounds as if you are really frustrated with the belt situation right now, it might be time to put her away for the winter and have another look after X-mas, or maybe have someone else take a look and see if they can find why it's creeping.
That being said, if the engine should happen to fail from this or some other problem, by all means swap in something else.
There is at least one DIY chevy swap out on the web that pretty much covers what components and modifications are needed, so if you are leery of the kits, you might want to build mounts and such yourself or have them done local.
I don't think that there really is any value to lose in a 928 by swapping in a Chevy (or something else) engine; if condition is good and the conversion is done right it won't be worth any less than with the orig. engine; maybe more.
It's the very spirit of the American auto-hobbiest and of hot-rodding to do such a swap, it's you car, so I say do whatever you want and have fun with it.

 

Harvey -

If the cam belt is doing something weird as you suggest......there is something wrong plain and simple......no matter who says there isn't.

My first 928 was an '87 with 111k miles on the clock......and I drove it up to 150k miles......bunch of leaks, bad motor mounts, etc......but still would tear up just about anything out there......that was with a timing belt with 40k miles on it.

If your not ready for the FULL 928 ownership, motor and all,.....then why bother with any of it. Chevy motor prejudice???.......no, I just know that
these motors just don't blow up if they are maintained properly by
the book.

I have seen way to many people that are too cheap or don't take the time to do it right.......call it a piece of crap.......bash on it.......and give up.

Don't be fooled by the "value" thing either........a bastard 928 is worth about 50% less then the original.......check out Ebay every once in a while and you will see.......either they don't sell.......or for a fraction of what an
original example sells for.

 

Harvey,

There was a thread regarding timing belt behavior like yours, some time back. I believe it had to do with the idler pulleys being worn, but don't quote me. It would be in your best interest to pull it down & straighten it out.

 

I saw an add in a magaizine for import cars and they kevlar timing belts for them( japanese cars) I wonder if they could be persuaded to make some 928 ones. there websit is www.rbmotors.com i was thinking about calling them and asking them.

 

I'm a big fan of this topic.

The 928 is beautiful.
It handles great.

But the engine is heavy, and it is all geared towards the top end horsepower.
And it is also a lot more expensive to hot-rod.

If you want a Porsche, that will last, and be a classic, then by all means, keep it stock.
There will be donor cars, fires, theft recoveries, junkers, etc...
There will be ways to keep a Porsche engine under the hood.

But I really can understand the desire to get the powerplant to be something that
can be cheaply rebuilt, cheaply hot-rodded, and easily troubleshooted...

Think about that one...

How much easier it is to troubleshoot an American engine, and how much
cheaper they are to get work done on them...

I think it is a perfectly viable option.

It may not be a Porsche, but it will still look beautiful, and still probably handle better
than most Vettes out there. I would take a Hybrid 928 over almost any Corvette...

Don't think of a 928 hybrid as a Corvette.
It is still a 928.
It just has a different engine, pushing the same car around...

I prefer to keep with the Porsche powerplant, and make it faster, more TQ, etc...
But I have no problem with people who decide to drop an LT-1 in there...

 

The "it is a cheaper engine" rationalization is just that and nearly everone who converts upgrades that $1,000 chevy into something far more expensive and powerful . It really costs far more than most people ever imagine by the time it is completed . The end result is a hybrid with a much smaller potential market if you ever try to sell . Some have however sold for a lot of money . You also then have a car which no one will work on so it needs to be easier to fix .............

 

If you have a stock LT1, I think many repair shops would work on it.

It doesn't really address the other issues of the 928,
with regards to electrical issues, suspension, transmission, etc...

I guess what we're talking about, with regards to "hot-rodding", is that you can get
forged pistons, crank, superchargers, intakes, headers, cams, etc, all for WAY less
than the 928 equivalent parts. Dollar for dollar, you will get to the same horsepower
levels on a Chevy engine, for far less time, money, and effort...

So *if* you have the horsepower bug, and you have to do a rebuild, or replace the 928 engine,
and you still have the bug to build a 1000 horsepower engine, you can do it with a chevy far cheaper than with a 928... I'm not saying it is cheap, but it is cheaper than with a 928...

 

I agree with bcdavis.

If my high mileage engine ever went, I'd definitely consider hybrid options.