Next steps for a 944

Ok, here is where I stand. The spare engine I have (number one son abandoned on my property and I claim squatter's rights) has too many issues to risk according to number two son (GRM hero Ed) so....... Scenario 1- I will sell the car to a good home. $4,000. It was a painstaking build to the limit of spec944. Fresh LSD, Hanksville cage with all the bells and whistles and many extra parts. Needs one complete engine to drop in and go. Scenario 2- I will buy a good, documented, fresh, known 944 2.5 NA (not a turbo, not an LS1, not a.....well, you get it) that I can drop in and start testing in January. What say ye?

You could buy the '88 engine that's currently in my car just as soon as I'm done with my old engine's rebuild (in other words, as soon as I'm sure I won't need it).

It is known and documented only as far as it has run a full race weekend without complaint. But it would probably take to a freshening nicely.

Either that, or I could buy your car and drop my rebuild into it. Hmmm.

The only problem with that is I lose a competitor.

Hey CrookedRacer....I owe you a phone call. Sorry for radio silence...this fall has been "epic". Sorry your motor is gone too. Yes...If I keep the car, I am going to run PTE. As you know, it's the best fit for you and me in the mid-atlantic nasa world. I will build the car to the level I can depending on what mods are in the motor I get. Due to time constraints, I am either going to buy a turnkey engine or sell the car and start another project. Ed is hopefully coming up for the holidays and doesn't yet know that I am chaining him to garage if I can score a motor. Irish44J, I appreciate the offer...I am going to hunt down a plug and play engine if I can. But I do have plenty of street car bits and pieces if you need anything...let me know. My #1 son's car is going to be parted out so I can free up some space.

Turns out a fellow racer from the old days is selling his 944 and it has what seems to be a good heart for a transplant. Plus an lsd, short 5th, and some other good bits and pieces. Just what I need.....another parts car!

Glad to hear you'll be getting it back on track.

The deal is done! I will be heading north to retrieve the donor vehicle around the new year. This is a car I raced against for several years and owned by a great guy. We are both pleased to meld the two former enemies into one transformed super hero 944.

Since I'm simply dropping the engine in my car, as is, the mods to get to the limits of the rules will come outside the engine. Time to plot my course!

Awesome. What are you doing with the rest of Tom's car?

Just got home from PA....Tom's old #18 in tow. The car has a lot more good bits and pieces than I thought...so I plan to take my time and get all the goodies off and organized. The engine and lsd will be quick pulls....the rest of the car is straight and clean. The cage is nice. Looking forward to digging in and see what all I bought! To top it off, Tom offered to come to my place and help with the transplant. Sounds like a good day of fun!

It's a classic, time told tale. Two warriors, after having battling fiercely but valiantly through the years, are separated. One warrior seeks solace, peace and sanctuary.....changing his warring ways.
The other continues to battle, well past his prime. Beaten, bloody and facing certain death, he lies waiting for the final dark curtain to envelop him. At the last moment, his former sworn enemy emerges from the shadows, reaches into his own chest and rips out his own heart to donate to his fallen former foe. Or something like that. Well, Tom and I raced against each other for a lot of years. It's pretty cool to me to meld our two cars together. Pics of the transplant forthcoming.

Ed, What if we put the old 305 from the Chris craft into Tom's car and build for the 2018 challenge??????

And here's a cool video of the two cars in question. The camera car is now the engine donor. The car ahead is the one that this thread is about. Both cars set track records on this lap, but the slightly faster one went to good old 36.

https://www.youtube.com/embed/fLMttxvy31k

Also, the Chris Craft engine in the 944 is inspired. That's the old one that shouldn't be pushed over like 2000 RPM, right? Do it.

Well, yeah....it has some issues NOW, but we held it at 2k unless the coast guard gave chase....then we could nail it and lay down our sweet smoke screen. Sure she needs a little tlc, but...... And that video....what a fun day. I'm looking forward to getting a fresh motor that has more than 70 ft lbs of torque. Hyperfest should be more fun this year!

Ok.....it's go time! So good old #18 is in position for the transplant!

[URL=http://s349.photobucket.com/user/jack127/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2017-02/3CE0860D-DB56-40D4-BE27-45A675EBE8B5_zpsjglny8vp.jpg.html][/URL]

Note the small block on the bench....imagine that dropped in the mostly yellow car....ok, that's for a future thread.

After doing this more times than imaginable, I've come up with my preferred method. I pull the transaxle, disconnect the torque tube from the bellhousing and slide back the torque tube as far back as it goes. A little time spent here saves hours of frustration later. And these things come apart pretty easily once you've done it a time or two.

[URL=http://s349.photobucket.com/user/jack127/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2017-02/12B63B87-958C-48EA-A718-06358FC2FB1F_zpsi9tcamba.jpg.html][/URL]

The birthing process. With the method above, easy snatch up through the top.....oh, I did pull the radiator as well....you have to do that to clear the firewall. [URL=http://s349.photobucket.com/user/jack127/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2017-02/B7B8CCC4-8FEA-4253-A500-829D3FA5D4B3_zpswaqaikqz.jpg.html][/URL]

Pushed #18 out, pushed 36 in. [URL=http://s349.photobucket.com/user/jack127/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2017-02/0F1E0CB2-1F0E-44A3-A653-B789E612FA59_zpspvr3r6eo.jpg.html][/URL]

[URL=http://s349.photobucket.com/user/jack127/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2017-02/3D017FDE-FDA7-4C23-916D-842CFA401D8C_zpsfa1ryyvw.jpg.html][/URL]

Everything is tied off that might get crushed.....and here we go. One day I'm going to spring for one of this nifty devices to change the tilt of the engine on the crane....in the meantime I resort to my lifelong, grassroots/depression mentality of chains and straps.

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That sums up Saturday. I'm going to see how far I can get today, but warm weather, hamburger grilling and a son who wants to shoot skeet could limit progress!!

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This is the injector from cylinder #1, where the major carnage was located. [URL=http://s349.photobucket.com/user/jack127/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2017-02/76F4FB35-722A-463D-BD51-46F14A160455_zpsjmpipm5l.jpg.html][/URL]

Wiring harness, afm, fuel rail, crank sensors in today. New gasket should be here Monday to put my turbo cooler on this engine. Getting closer. [URL=http://s349.photobucket.com/user/jack127/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2017-02/2C282A4D-FC79-49C3-B400-90173701C7B7_zps7efsrwv8.jpg.html][/URL]