Porsche Enthusiasts Club Forum

Hello everyone,
My old 944s has a sticking valve, needs all the belts and water pump changing and just seems to be running rough. I'm not sure I want to spend loads more money on the engine so I'm thinking of saving up for a rover 3.9 v8 to take its place. I know it’s not Porsche but the s engine seems to be incredibly expensive to fix.

Just a few questions if anybody knows the answers?

Has anybody done it or know of a kit? What kind of money for a mechanic to change? and how would it affect insurance and tax. I only use it in the summer and begrudge throwing more money into a tired engine!

Cheers Tony

I take it you've been here?

http://944hybrids.forumotion.com/

Rovers have been used. But there not really all that special. Are u thinking more power and ease or just cheap and reasonable ? Theres a few engine types 2 use, there's been a few rover/944 4 sale on eBay in the past. Could just get a 944 engine that's ready 2 drop in had all the work done, just that the owners given up on the car or been caught out, sills e.c.t

just cheap and reasonable with a nice sound.
Thanks

Hi

Any V8 conversion is going to cost around a couple of grand MINIMUM... a second hand engine would be a LOT cheaper....

All the best Brett

Brett is quite right, however £4000 should get u a brand new chevy as a crate package. There's even 944 v8 book on amazon. V8 would be cheaper long term, been a new and less serviceable item.

sounds tempting would £4000 include fitting? I was hoping 2-3K max

Cheers Tony

Unfortunately not..........
http://www.partsworldperformance.com/ls ... ate_engine

There's a kit in the States to fit it but it's not cheap either..........
http://www.renegadehybrids.com/

Nope LS1 would be closer to 5K ready to install, the older LT could be slightly less but not a lot.
I reckon if you do the hard graft e.g. not shoving it at a garage & giving them a cheque, find a decent Rover V8 you could do the lot for well under £1000. The adapter is very easy especially if you have access to a lathe. Bearing in mind if an 8V 944 needs belts, all the tensioners/idlers & a water pump then that is £450 or so.

I've been looking at another option recently. That is the Jaguar V6 3l http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jaguar_AJ-V6_engine
Not only is it an all alloy narrow angle V6 developing 240BHP but it was actually designed by Porsche & sold on to Ford & Jaguar. These are cheapish, around £300 on Fleabay. Also a camchain so no belts to muck around with! Seemingly bombproof as well, aside from the odd head gasket they do not seem to be prone to anything serious. The Ford version of this engine runs with turbos in the Noble with big BHP.
Two things make it an expensive transplant though: One is that the existing management would replacement by something aftermarket. Second is that both boxes that come in an S-Type with this engine have non-detachable bellhousings which means bu99ering about sorting adapters.
It also has massive tuning potential, the Race car experience cars using this engine at Jonathan Palmers circuits are giving 300BHP with very little work.

Not just the engine, ur have 2 mod cross members, rads and maybe gear boxs some audi gear boxs that arnt 2 far off the bell housing pattern.

http://www.britishamericanengines.co.uk ... efault.asp

These are new engines.

They are bare engines so need ancillaries, some of which ain't cheap. The gearbox is in the back so stays the same, fabricating mounts & a torque tube adapter isn't difficult, drawings are on the V8 site mentioned earlier. Rads can generally be solved by wandering around a scrappy with a tape measure.

Cheaper option than the LS1/7 is the V6 as the v8 has too much power for the drive train & they all break. You will need new halfshafts as a minimum. I managed to shear mine with very little effort & a lot less hp than a V8. V6 gives 300hp supercharged which is plenty. Easier right now to find a good engine in the breakers from a turbo or S2 as so many are rotten! You have to hear it running though. Never trust the breakers!

But the Porsche option still leaves you with a very expensive cam & balance belt option every 3 years.

Hi Jim,
Thats what I was thinking, something less complicated that requires less maintenance is something that appeals.
Had a look online and it seems you can get a 3.9 v8 for about £700 so i guess it depends on how much the install would cost

Cheers Tony

TBH the 3.9 wouldn't b e my choice, I'd go for a warm 3.5. The 3.9 isn't mega reliable unlike the 3.5 & is more for torque than revability.
In the TR7 my mild 3.5 used to be more than quick enough without overstressing the drive line. An engine like this could be for around £300-500.
Cue automotive porn pic!