bp944

iTrader: (4)

I'm wondering which conversion to do. I love small imports with the monster LS1's. I have been looking into the 944 conversion. There's a few kits sold for it and its pretty slick. But it has been said that the transmission can't take more than 450hp which I'd like to think I'd surpass. I'd rather not do much fabricating since this is my first real project. Any suggestions would be awesome.

bmxmon

iTrader: (5)

I would imagine with 450hp some chassis modifications would be necessary, requiring some fab work.

IMO the most fun swap would be into a Miata. Those things are nuts!

Quick Sh0t xMLx

I really like the FC RX7s. They look pretty sweet and are among the cheapest cars to swap LS based motors in.

arthropraxis

I am doing a 944. The turbo trans is the one you want. Some of the people are running 450 HP without trans issues. Someone is making a tubular cross member to work with the F-body motor mounts and oil pan. So you would only have to change out the cross member, use a C5 bell housing and a custom adapter, fab a stand alone wiring harness and you are ready to roll. If you decide to go that way let me know and I can get you in touch with the right people.
The FD looks good also check out www.grannysspeedshop.com

Nashty

iTrader: (7)

Is a solid axle 944 not doable? Seems like a way around the whole expense of the turbo tranny and the other power limitations.

99MUSTANG5.3L

I'd go RX-7,RX-8,Miata. If not there's always the Mustang.

bp944

iTrader: (4)

A solid axle would be good for drag racing but I'd like to road race it. I totally understand the 944 conversion and have the book and all. I just never thought about the conversion. Who sells the crossmember most of the ones I've found are really expensive. Do you know of anyone with a used or cheap conversion for the 944. Most of them are around 2200.

chuckd71

iTrader: (23)

Let us know what you find and stick with the porsche. The thing about swapping an ls into a miata is after all that work you end up having to drive a miata around.

928vette

I am just completing a Porsche 928 conversion. I believe that there is a bit more room to work in a 928 than in a 944. I had enough room to mount the LS1 fuse/relay box under the hood, so all I had to do was run a very few wires and I was up and running. To be honest, I've had more issues/trouble with the original Porsche electronics (having nothing to do with the swap) than I had hooking up the LS1 wiring.

My choice was to put a modern engine into an older automobile in which the suspension was built for performance, and for that, the Porsche is hard to beat.

garys 68

iTrader: (1)

You'll want a turbo car for 2 reasons. The trans is stronger, and the turbo cars came with a 3.2X diff ratio. NA cars have a 3.9X ratio.
An early model 5th gear can also be swapped into it for a better OD ratio.
See:
http://www.renegadehybrids.com/
http://www.944v8s.com/944LSBasicKit.html
http://www.944hybrids.com/LSLTparts.html

bp944

iTrader: (4)

I've been on all of those forums and post all the time. But I've never heard about the diff ratio. That diff would make a lot of difference.

vandal699

iTrader: (7)

I am getting ready to do one and want to do a 5.3/4l60e/solid axle. Havent looked into the axle at all yet. I have a complete take out engine and trans. I also hear there may not even be enough trans tunnel clearance for an engine mounted trans. My customer is dead set on keeping his '82 928 but wants a driver not something that'll sit in my shop being worked on all the time. If I could find a way to make the stock rear work with the 60e that would be **** but I dont think its going to happen. The thought did cross my mind to run both transmisions in series such as a gear vendors-ish set up.