Is a turbo conversion possible for a 84 944?
05-13-2002, 11:13 AM
#1
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Is a turbo conversion possible for a 84 944?
I have an 84 944 and there isn't that much that I can do to make my car as fast as I want it. Is it possible to put a turbo into a regular 944. If so, how much would it cost and is it a big risk factor?
05-13-2002, 02:14 PM
#2
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hey there.// last I heard from my mechanic the transmittion and the brakes are two thinks that will not take the turbo.. he also mentioned the engine, but he said that as long as you dont mistreat it it should be ok.
05-13-2002, 02:50 PM
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This'un's been kicked around in here repeatedly. The consensus of many wiser & more knowledgable than I is that it's much better & slightly cheaper to just sell the na & buy a Turbo.
Even the earliest Turbos have better suspension & brakes than the base na cars. If you're talking swapping engines to a Turbo engine, you'd need all the above + all the engine control electronics & probably the tranny.
To make anywhere near full use of a turbo add-on to a na engine, you'd need to lower the compression ratio (change the pistons). And sooo many parts just aren't designed for the application... fuel, cooling, engine management, etc. And you've still got the suspension & brake issues...
Unfortunately, this is not just a matter of bolting on a turbo & some plumbing....
In short, it can be done, but it probably ain't worth it. Sell the na, buy a Turbo.
Jim, I sold the na & bought a 968.... <img src="graemlins/bigok.gif" border="0" alt="[thumbsup]" />
Even the earliest Turbos have better suspension & brakes than the base na cars. If you're talking swapping engines to a Turbo engine, you'd need all the above + all the engine control electronics & probably the tranny.
To make anywhere near full use of a turbo add-on to a na engine, you'd need to lower the compression ratio (change the pistons). And sooo many parts just aren't designed for the application... fuel, cooling, engine management, etc. And you've still got the suspension & brake issues...
Unfortunately, this is not just a matter of bolting on a turbo & some plumbing....
In short, it can be done, but it probably ain't worth it. Sell the na, buy a Turbo.
Jim, I sold the na & bought a 968.... <img src="graemlins/bigok.gif" border="0" alt="[thumbsup]" />
05-13-2002, 11:23 PM
#4
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It can certainly be done. Swapping in a 951 powerplant can be done too. Though with the new Supercharger offerings you will save lots of money and time going that route. Good luck.
06-13-2002, 06:10 PM
#7
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This was done successfully by Callaway back in 1983. I would recommend selling your car and purchasing a factory Turbo. Look on Ebay, you can get them cheap there.
Or take a look at converting yours over to supercharging. To install a turbo is VERY time consuming and risky if you don't have the means to match the fuel with the additional air you are pumping in.
Or take a look at converting yours over to supercharging. To install a turbo is VERY time consuming and risky if you don't have the means to match the fuel with the additional air you are pumping in.
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06-13-2002, 07:33 PM
#8
Sell 944, get 944T. Gratification in a matter of hours, with all the extra things changed at the factory to accomodate the turbo. If lucky enjoy enhancements done by previous owner.
Convert 944. Spend several months acquiring necessary parts. spend ??? much time with car in pieces installing parts on 944. Maybe you got everything to make conversion complete. Maybe it all works the first time. Maybe it won't blow up causing return to step one. Will almost undoubtably spend as much as a good 944T would cost, probably more. Will have car of questionable value when done.
Choice is yours.
Convert 944. Spend several months acquiring necessary parts. spend ??? much time with car in pieces installing parts on 944. Maybe you got everything to make conversion complete. Maybe it all works the first time. Maybe it won't blow up causing return to step one. Will almost undoubtably spend as much as a good 944T would cost, probably more. Will have car of questionable value when done.
Choice is yours.
06-15-2002, 07:55 PM
#9
Race Director
Oh, you guys can be so discouraging!
84red944, here's all the info you need to add a turbo to your 944 (includes shopping list):
<a href="http://forums.rennlist.com/cgi-bin/rennforums/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=18&t=000965" target="_blank">Topic: Can you add Turbo to a NON-Turbo 944? </a>
84red944, here's all the info you need to add a turbo to your 944 (includes shopping list):
<a href="http://forums.rennlist.com/cgi-bin/rennforums/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=18&t=000965" target="_blank">Topic: Can you add Turbo to a NON-Turbo 944? </a>
06-17-2002, 06:30 PM
#10
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Trust me, it is not worth the money or time to convert an 84 to turbocharged status. Sell your car for $4000 and pick up a turbo for $7000. You will drop $1000 alone for a turbo, then you have to fab the exhaust and all of the other *hit you will need to make it work....not to even mention fuel mods, intake tubes, wastegates, scavenger pumps, etc., etc., etc.
If you would like you can crawl under my 928 the next time something needs fixed. 6 hours to remove and replace a turbo. If that doesn't change your mind, nothing will!
If you are hooked on your 84, go with a supercharger......you will convert faster and have a better performing car in the long run. The supercharger will give lower intake temps and better throttle response than the turbo.
If you would like you can crawl under my 928 the next time something needs fixed. 6 hours to remove and replace a turbo. If that doesn't change your mind, nothing will!
If you are hooked on your 84, go with a supercharger......you will convert faster and have a better performing car in the long run. The supercharger will give lower intake temps and better throttle response than the turbo.
06-17-2002, 06:45 PM
#11
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The cheapest and easiest way to convert a 944 NA to turbo status is to install a 944 turbo engine in it. However, you have to fab some brackets as the early 944 body is slightly different than the 85.5+ body.
06-22-2002, 01:53 PM
#12
Race Director
[quote]Originally posted by John Kuhn2:
<strong>If you are hooked on your 84, go with a supercharger......you will convert faster and have a better performing car in the long run. The supercharger will give lower intake temps and better throttle response than the turbo.</strong><hr></blockquote>
Whoa!!! Way wrong. Way way wrong. Boost for boost the turbocharger compressor discharge temps will be way cooler than the supercharger compressor discharge temps. The difference can be as much as 100 degrees F!! The reason for this is turbos are significantly more efficient than superchargers. There is not a supercharger around that is as efficient as a properly sized turbo. The closest are centrifugal SCs, but they basically use the compressor section from a turbo. Also centrifugal SCs lag as well
<strong>If you are hooked on your 84, go with a supercharger......you will convert faster and have a better performing car in the long run. The supercharger will give lower intake temps and better throttle response than the turbo.</strong><hr></blockquote>
Whoa!!! Way wrong. Way way wrong. Boost for boost the turbocharger compressor discharge temps will be way cooler than the supercharger compressor discharge temps. The difference can be as much as 100 degrees F!! The reason for this is turbos are significantly more efficient than superchargers. There is not a supercharger around that is as efficient as a properly sized turbo. The closest are centrifugal SCs, but they basically use the compressor section from a turbo. Also centrifugal SCs lag as well
06-22-2002, 10:01 PM
#13
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Okay, here is the skinny. The turbo job is as expensive as you make it. If you can source all the parts for cheap and do the work yourself, it will be pretty cheap. If you have a lot of money invested in mods already(brakes/suspension/body) and you don't want to start on another car, then it may well be worth your time. You have an 84 NA, and your compression should be 9.7:1
The motor will need a rebuild before you can turbo it. There are two ways to do it really, you can lower the compression and run 10-15lbs of boost, or go by the modern approach of keeping your stock compression and running 10lbs or less of boost. The low boost approach would be the easiest, and produce very good offboost performance.
I would recommend pulling the NA motor, selling it on Ebay or something, and getting a 951 motor. They only cost $2-$3K...
The motor will need a rebuild before you can turbo it. There are two ways to do it really, you can lower the compression and run 10-15lbs of boost, or go by the modern approach of keeping your stock compression and running 10lbs or less of boost. The low boost approach would be the easiest, and produce very good offboost performance.
I would recommend pulling the NA motor, selling it on Ebay or something, and getting a 951 motor. They only cost $2-$3K...
06-23-2002, 02:31 AM
#14
Race Director
I've seen 951 engines in need of rebuilding going for less than $2k. Add about $700 for a rebuild kit (rings, seals, bearings, etc.) and you've got a brand new 951 engine!
06-23-2002, 10:39 AM
#15
Race Director
[quote]Originally posted by CBass:
<strong>Okay, here is the skinny. The turbo job is as expensive as you make it. If you can source all the parts for cheap and do the work yourself, it will be pretty cheap. If you have a lot of money invested in mods already(brakes/suspension/body) and you don't want to start on another car, then it may well be worth your time. You have an 84 NA, and your compression should be 9.7:1
The motor will need a rebuild before you can turbo it. There are two ways to do it really, you can lower the compression and run 10-15lbs of boost, or go by the modern approach of keeping your stock compression and running 10lbs or less of boost. The low boost approach would be the easiest, and produce very good offboost performance.</strong><hr></blockquote>
Actually, with modern turbo tuning, I'm not so sure you would even need to rebuild, although I'm still somewhat new to the 944. If I were going to do this, I would install an Aquamist system. This system is the best on the market with great atomization. I have several friends who are using it with turbos added to NA engines and they put down some unbelievable numbers with great driveability.
Also, as for the boost, remember that a properly sized turbo will outperform an SC set-up. You could run low boost and make more hp than a SC set-up. Also, with a good low boost turbo set-up the lag should be virtually non-existant *and* it will make more power sooner than a SC.
<strong>Okay, here is the skinny. The turbo job is as expensive as you make it. If you can source all the parts for cheap and do the work yourself, it will be pretty cheap. If you have a lot of money invested in mods already(brakes/suspension/body) and you don't want to start on another car, then it may well be worth your time. You have an 84 NA, and your compression should be 9.7:1
The motor will need a rebuild before you can turbo it. There are two ways to do it really, you can lower the compression and run 10-15lbs of boost, or go by the modern approach of keeping your stock compression and running 10lbs or less of boost. The low boost approach would be the easiest, and produce very good offboost performance.</strong><hr></blockquote>
Actually, with modern turbo tuning, I'm not so sure you would even need to rebuild, although I'm still somewhat new to the 944. If I were going to do this, I would install an Aquamist system. This system is the best on the market with great atomization. I have several friends who are using it with turbos added to NA engines and they put down some unbelievable numbers with great driveability.
Also, as for the boost, remember that a properly sized turbo will outperform an SC set-up. You could run low boost and make more hp than a SC set-up. Also, with a good low boost turbo set-up the lag should be virtually non-existant *and* it will make more power sooner than a SC.