Hi, as this is my first post please forgive me if its in the wrong section. I hope to soon aquire a 1985.5 944. It comes with a stock 2.5l N/A engine but I want to swap in something with more power. So my question to you guys is: What kind of engines will swap in without too much headache? I know there is a 2.5 turbo and I was thinking about that, and also a 2.7 (Is there a turbo model of the 2.7?) Theres also rebuilding the engine It already has for turbo application. Anything else I'm missing? Im lost, this will be my first porsche and I'm used to working on hondas.

Thanks for your help!

 

Ohh no. How deep are your pockets?

 

Not very deep at all, currently paying for college. I took it for a test drive and the thing runs fine and all it's just not very fast haha (I'm pretty sure my 2.0 honda prelude is quicker). Its an 85.5 N/A in rather rough shape so I'm getting it for $2500 which sounds like a pretty awesome deal to me for a porsche. Anyhow I won't have a whole lot of bucks after the purchase.

Woulden't a 2.5 turbo motor swap right in?

 

Someone got bored and created a dupe account..... LOL

 

why do you say that? I assure you I'm not trying to joke around, I'm just rather clueless about this car.

 

Don't buy it!! Your not ready for the expense. If you do,work on suspension,driving skills, last thing will be more power. These are NOT drag cars. Check for PCA auto cross events in your area and you will be very happy with the preformance of you car..

 

Expenses. could someone detail this for me a little bit? Are these things super expensive to fix up? I thought this was sort of the poor mans porsche? Anyhow, mostly I was just planning on doing bodywork and getting her looking nice before any engine work. In regards to me thinking of it as a drag car, not at all, I'm interested in making an interstate screamer. I have heavy driving experience with FWD cars, but this will be my first RWD. Assuming I buy it that is, these posts about expense are scaring me.

 

My advice is spend more on a better car. Yes it can get costly to fix a 944 if certain things break, the clutch and timing belt being two of the largest.

 

It can make you a poor man

 

I paid $2k for what looked like a clean 924S about 6 years ago. In the first year I invested $10k in paint and engine work through local shops. The car became a great daily driver. From a financial point of view, my money would have been better spent on a newer, safer, more reliable, better performing Japanese car that was less expense to repair.

Regardless of the cost, that was a fun car to drive. I ended up selling it when a new baby was born to get something more safety oriented. (BMW 740iL which was another financial black hole.)

I kept my 951 as weekend toy.

Unless you have a passion for these cars and deep pockets, you are better off spending your money elsewhere.

 

Everything about these cars has two themes:
1. Headache
2. Expensive

If you are used to working on Hondas, I'd suggest you either stay away, or recalibrate your expectations.

 

It just had the timing belt replaced, theres 105k on the motor, seems to run fine. It also has brand new tires and brakes all around. It would need a new rear skirt, front skirt and possibly a hood, not sure the headlights fenders and hood all need to be shimmed around before they will line up properly, I believe the car was in an accident at some point. the passenger door will need to be patched where some idiot tried to do some bondo work. I have alot of connections automotive wise where I live and can do all the body work/ paint myself. As for the engine, how about just a rebuild? That wouldn't be too bad if I did all my own work would it? How much does a rebuild kit for a 2.5 N/A cost? Alot of people up here are just suggesting I put a chevy 350 or something in it but that would throw off the perfect weight distribution and it would then be a chevy . Anyways I'm reconsidering the whole purchase, I absolutely love the looks of these cars, but I am pretty broke. So damn, not sure what I'm going to do, I guess my dream of having a porsche when I'm 20 might just be too good to be true.

 

Pictures of this car would help.

And if it runs well then leave the engine alone. When was the clutch last done?

Putting a V8 in a 944 has been done many, many times, but it will still cost money and a lot of work.

Oh and how much power are you expecting to make?

 

If you want the V8 you should start with the turbo. The N/A will not hold up well without more additional expensive modifications.

 

If it does not come with a history of receipts, run away.