Trip

Oops, here's the link:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Porsc...spagenameZWDVW

Jeff N.

Tranny swap in a 944 is pretty simple. You'll save a little by combining the swap with the torsion bar install but not too much.

Common things to the job are removing the exhaust and dropping the halfshafts. After that, not much is really the same. Maybe save an hour or two.

2bridges

T-bar install/setup and 4whl alignment for $800 - good luck finding that deal.

just a good alignment with corner balance is almost half that.

Airflite40

thats a sweet trans if u can afford it. expect it to sell for closer to $1500

eniac

That's not including alignment. Just swapping the parts and a basic alignment so it can be driven to an alignment shop with the right equipment to adjust everything. 12-14 hours labor @ $75/hr.

Trip

So if I bought this transmission and decided I wanted to install it and the suspension myself (my dad would probably help), how long of a project are we talking? I have almost no mechanical expertise, my father took apart and reasembled an entire Austin Healy when he was in college. We have complete metric and standard ratchets and a good jack etc... but no Porsche specific tools.

Jeff N.

Hmm. Based on the experience you describe; two weekends.

Note there really is no good writeup on the torsion bar swap. (That I have found) There's a pages that hint at this and that but no step by step procedure.

If I was in your shoes I'd do the front spring and the tranny by yourself and pay a pro to do the torsion bars. I've been working on cars for years and doing the torsion bar job was not really a lot of fun. Or particularly easy.

Trip

So the transmission + the suspension should take two full weekends including the torsion bars? If I have a shop do the T-bars could I expect to finish in one weekend?

Jeff N.

If you're lucky, you can do the T-bars in a weekend; a long weekend. The other stuff should be an easy weekend.

Here's a quick list of what I had to do to get my T-Bars in:

- determine your target ride height / drop.
- do all the measurements and pre-planning

- pull the rear subframe by disconnecting:

- remove exhaust
- remove halfshafts
- disconnect rear brake lines
- remove rear calipers and rotors (not required but most helpful)
- disconnect parking brake lines
- remove trailing arms
- undo subframe mounting bolts
- lower subframe
- measure carefully
- remove misc subframe bushings
- remove spring plates
- replace spring plate bushings (optional but typically recommended)
- swap t-bars
- attempt to index (attempt #1)
- install bushings, subframe, trailing arms and rotors
- lower car to the ground
- how's your ride height? is it OK? Great! Put car back in the air and install all the other parts
- awww...not right? well then,
- put car back in the air, remove rotors, trailing arms, and subframe
- measure carefully
- remove springplates
- index spring plates (this would be attempt #2)
- install subframe, trailing arms and rotors
- lower car to the ground
- how's your ride height? is it OK? Great! Put car back in the air and install all the other parts
- awww...not right? well then,
- put car back in the air, remove rotors, trailing arms, and subframe

.... you get the idea I think.

Best done as a two man job. If you've done it a couple times and know your index settings - much simpler, otherwise it's some planning and some trial and error.

Trip

Jeff thanks again for your continued help!

Trip

Is there a list somewhere of the tools required to do this job, any tools that cannot be found at the local Kragen?

eniac

You just need a good quality triple-square bit(cheesehead) for the CV joint bolts. Everything else is standard hand tools IIRC.

Trip

That is for both the suspension and transmission swap? Also, I have a haynes manual. Can the manual+clarks garage+rennlist be expected to get me through this or is there a good chance I will have to give up and send it to the shop? Thanks.

Trip

Here is a list of tools needed to do the front suspension according to Clarks Garage:
Metric Socket Set
Metric Wrench Set
Scribe, Paint Pen, or Brightly Colored Nail Polish
Air Impact Wrench
Strut Spring Compressor
Porsche tool 9186 or equivalent (if rebuilding the old strut)
Jack Stands
Floor Jack
I have everything except for the impact wrench and spring compressor. Is it worth going out and buying these tools or would the cost of installation at a shop be roughly the same?

Jeff N.

No need for the air tools. You will need a spring compressor. Typically, someone local has one and you can borrow it.