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Nov. 6, 2009 8:50 p.m. dean1484 Dork

Will it fit? Has it been done? I was listening to the add about the boxster motor in the subi today, for the billionth time, and it got me thinking just in the other direction.

On another note I can get my hands on a EVO motor (the 400Hp turbo monster) for a reasonable price that includes computer wiring harness and all to make it run in another car. I was thinking it would also make a fun 944 project motor in either an S2 or a 951.

But I am really interested in the subi motor in the 944 just, well, because.. . . . . Dam it I have to stop thinking.
Nov. 6, 2009 8:53 p.m. MrJoshua UltraDork

Its Wiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiide!
Nov. 6, 2009 9:04 p.m. RexSeven Dork

I'm not sure the 4G63T can be used in the 944. The Evo has a transverse engine/tranny layout. The only 4G63T-powered RWD car I can think of is the overseas-markets Starion. I don't know if the USDM version (with the 2.6L 4G54 engine) uses the same tranny as the 4G63T version. If not, good luck importing the trannies from one of those, never mind making sure it mates to and survives the power of the Evo engine.

Any Mitsu experts care to point out if and where I'm wrong?
Nov. 6, 2009 10:00 p.m. mad_machine PowerDork

944 uses a rear transaxle. All you need to do is fab up a bellhousing.

the subi engine is Very wide, You would lose your turning radius
Nov. 6, 2009 10:05 p.m. pres589 Reader

I would try and find an inline engine again for a 944. The Mitsu stuff would work, there's Volvo options, people on this forum have talked of Saab RWD swaps. All kinds of stuff available, at least in theory, and since the trans is in the back... if you can get access to some of the right tools and bits, could have something made up to get it all together.
Nov. 6, 2009 10:12 p.m. RexSeven Dork

mad_machine wrote:

944 uses a rear transaxle. All you need to do is fab up a bellhousing.

pres589 wrote:

and since the trans is in the back... if you can get access to some of the right tools and bits, could have something made up to get it all together.

Didn't know that. Thanks.
Nov. 6, 2009 10:18 p.m. pres589 Reader

I've never worked on one so I don't know what the setup is really like to deal with from a grassroots engineering stand point. And I'm not sure how easy it is to fab a bellhousing for anything... seems like it could be a major pain without a slab of aluminum, a CNC multi-axis mill, and a lot of engineering time. Or maybe it's a lot more simple and I'm just stuck on the idea of making my own custom billet bellhousing...
Nov. 6, 2009 10:25 p.m. admc58 New Reader

The rear suspension crossmember and trailing arms sit just where you would be trying to set the engine if you went mid mounted but there is not enough width down low for the subi motor in the front.

Nice out of the box thinking but the lid probably won't go back on...:)
Nov. 6, 2009 10:49 p.m. JohnCh New Reader

Someone has put a 911 engine in a 944, so perhaps this isn't as impossible as it seems.
Nov. 6, 2009 11:15 p.m. skruffy Dork

An LS1 will fit in there. No reason to do anything else really...
Nov. 7, 2009 2:06 a.m. mad_machine PowerDork

JohnCh wrote:

Someone has put a 911 engine in a 944, so perhaps this isn't as impossible as it seems.

I always thought a front engined aircooled car would be cool. Done right you could fab up some ram air cooling scoops
Nov. 7, 2009 8:30 a.m. 924guy Dork

Im guessing the boxer subi will physically fit, however im also guessing there will be issues with the steering shaft in the 944, and maybe the brake booster/mc , and ofcourse the engine mount set up will take some re-engineering...

a rover 4.3 ltr v8 is much better choice
Nov. 7, 2009 8:35 a.m. dean1484 Dork

LSx is, well, we all know it can be done and that makes it boring. Very fun to drive and it is a combo that I would like to have some day but I was just thinking outside the box. I really like the 911 motor in the 944.

Just add ducting from the nose and that looks like a relatively easy thing to make work. I was thinking that the hood should be louvered but maybe the air flow over the motor and out the bottom is enough.

That makes me think that a WRX motor may not be all that bad.

As for getting the bell housings to work. All you have to do is mill up a piece of aluminum that will bolt to 944 bell housing and mill the 944 bellhousing to maintain the proper spacing... . . . Or just get a bell housing that fits the motor that you want to use and then cut the appropriate length section of the back of the 944 housing and weld the two together. I think this would be the best option as it would ensure that the starter for the motor going in would work and you would still have a proper bolt pattern to the torque tube. About the only thing that I don't have a Handel on would be the clutch. The 944's have the same spline as a pinto (I use a pinto spline tool on the 944's all the time) so I am sure that there have to be clutch disk options out there.

Hmmmmmm This really does not seem all that hard. A friend of mine has a 944 tub at his place I think I am going to have to take some measurements and see how much space we really have.
Nov. 7, 2009 8:59 a.m. wheelsmithy New Reader

RexSeven wrote:

I'm not sure the 4G63T can be used in the 944. The Evo has a transverse engine/tranny layout. The only 4G63T-powered RWD car I can think of is the overseas-markets Starion. I don't know if the USDM version (with the 2.6L 4G54 engine) uses the same tranny as the 4G63T version. If not, good luck importing the trannies from one of those, never mind making sure it mates to and survives the power of the Evo engine.

Any Mitsu experts care to point out if and where I'm wrong?
Nov. 7, 2009 9:02 a.m. wheelsmithy New Reader

I'm far from an expert, and my facts should be checked, but I believe any diamond star 4G will bolt to both the Starion/Conquest, as well as the Mighty Max Transmissions. Putting it in a 944 is gonna be a little tougher no matter how you slice it.
Nov. 7, 2009 7:54 p.m. fiat22turbo UltraDork

Damn, I was going to post that 944 with the 993 motor. Oh well, here's the link anyway: http://www.924board.org/viewtopic.php?t=30533

From looking at the pixxor, they built a brand new front suspension due to the likely replacement of the front crossmember and the steering rack has likely been relocated.

Honestly, the Subi motor isn't that great and the CoG isn't that low when you realize that the rest of the accessories are above the motor. Not to say the CoG isn't lower than a regular upright motor, but the benefit probably isn't enough to cause me to seek out a way to swap one in place of a normal upright motor.

I would swap in an Audi motor. Like say a TT V6 or a V8 or maybe even a 20-valve turbo motor. The 944 already uses an Audi transaxle and with a 924 (Audi motor) bell housing you'd not have to do all that much fab work compared to another brand's motor.

Just sayin....
Nov. 7, 2009 8:04 p.m. fiat22turbo UltraDork

Go read up on how the V8 swaps are done and realize that all you need is a donor bell-housing.

You adapt the 4-bolt mounting plate at the end of the torque tube to the back of the donor bell-housing. If the shaft is too short, you can cut and section the torque turbo since it is just relatively thin mild steel tube.

The shaft splines are pretty common and are shared with Chrysler products among others.

The rest is just standard engine swap issues, motor mounts, steering shaft, brake booster, exhaust, accessories, etc.
Nov. 8, 2009 12:56 a.m. mad_machine PowerDork

just out of curiosity, how bad is the shifter on the 944 considering the huge distance from shifter to trans?
Nov. 8, 2009 1:03 a.m. JeepinMatt Reader

2 x V-Twin = V4

Good luck, we're all counting on you
Nov. 8, 2009 1:12 a.m. CLNSC3 Reader

Another option to consider is the Toyota 1JZ-GTE, I have seen a 944 with this swap before. The engines are cheap and are easy to upgrade to make some killer #s!

I would love to see one with a wrx engine though! Good luck!
Nov. 8, 2009 6:24 a.m. 924guy Dork

mad_machine wrote:

just out of curiosity, how bad is the shifter on the 944 considering the huge distance from shifter to trans?

with a short shift kit and new bushings, its awesome...but with 20 year old bushings and a worn shifter, its wobby... easy fix though.
Nov. 8, 2009 11:24 a.m. JeepinMatt Reader

How about a Porsche V8? Pick one out of a 928. Keep it in the family - more uncommon than an LS1 but still powerful.
Nov. 8, 2009 12:57 p.m. turboswede UltraDork

mad_machine wrote:

just out of curiosity, how bad is the shifter on the 944 considering the huge distance from shifter to trans?

Actually not bad. The bushings do wear out, but aren't expensive to repair. It isn't as nice as the Miata or S2000 but then it is an older design and there is a lot more linkage to move around.
Nov. 8, 2009 6:18 p.m. dean1484 Dork

JeepinMatt wrote:

How about a Porsche V8? Pick one out of a 928. Keep it in the family - more uncommon than an LS1 but still powerful.

They do not fit. They are to wide. An S4 would be a hoot.
Nov. 8, 2009 6:22 p.m. JeepinMatt Reader

dean1484 wrote:

JeepinMatt wrote:

How about a Porsche V8? Pick one out of a 928. Keep it in the family - more uncommon than an LS1 but still powerful.

They do not fit. They are to wide. An S4 would be a hoot.

Not surprising, but I didn't have any firsthand knowledge of it so it was worth a shot. I suppose you're limited to an OHV if you want a V8 in there.

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