i am thinking about buying a 1984 porsche 944. (dont worry, im keeping my fiero too)..what i need to know from you porsche ppl is how hard would it be to install a turbo on a '84 model, when the first turbo model didnt come out until 85? are there andy kits to for a turbo on an 84 model??

i have an '84 944 myself, and thought this very same question. From many hours of browsing porsche forums, i have come to the conclusion that it is cheaper to get a 944 turbo, rather than slapping a turbo on a 944 N/A engine. Now that doesn't go without question of getting a '944 turbo engine (951) and then swapping it into the '84 (as long as you have the correct computer/wiring harness), but that is work i know i can't do (without a lift/cherry picker). Some porsche guys say that the N/A engine isn't strong enough to handle a turbo, and so on and so forth. If you come across anything though, please let me know, because those 951 turbos are some slick cars.

This isn't to say that i have no knowledge of putting a turbo on a car, cause i did turbo my fiero...so i've done my homework

-Coop

ok thanks...if i find anything, i send you a pm.

The 1984 944's will cost you more in repairs than you paid for the car. Timing belt with trimmings-$1200; clutch $1400; and so on and so forth.
Anyway, If you want a classic Porsche get a 914 or 1970's 911. You'll be investing your repair money. I am not knocking the 944's, but 9 out of 10 I work on are ready for the junkyard. There are some nice ones out there...don't get me wrong. If you like the 944 body, get a later year with the twin cam or get a 968.
Nobody goes out to buy a 1984 944 intentionally. Usually they found a great deal from a friend and wind up paying more in repairs than the car is worth. They don't run smooth. They aren't quick. The turbo 944's aren't that much better. Save up and get a 928 or a 911.
Dave

Or, assuming the body and suspension are in decent shape...buy a kit and drop an LS-1 (or LT-1) in it. (The LS-1 comes out being within a few pounds of the 944 turbo and its associated plumbing, and doesn't alter the handling significantly.) It uses the Porsche gearing, and has the reliability and power of a late model American V-8. I went to a guy I know who owns a shop which specializes in German cars, and asked his advice (I'm about to start on one too), and he said he's gone both ways with 944's. The one he built using the Porsche goodies was expensive to put together and constantly temperamental; according to him, it broke something every other time he took it out. He said the LS-1 was as powerful out of the crate as the Porsche motor he dumped a ton of money and time into, and was more reliable than a Swiss watch, and had better torque and more usable horsepower across the RPM range, ran on regular gas, and cost less than half the money and effort to put together. He said the money he spent making the other one go fast, he put into making sure the LS-1 Porsche could handle, and more importantly, stop. His words were, "That car was so fast it gave me the willies. It just got up to speed so fast, you didn't realize how fast you were going until you noticed everything in a blur, by which time you were the high side of 140." He said his big mistake was taking his lady for a ride in it, and she wanted to drive it. Then she wanted to drive it all the time---and she was developing a serious case of addiction to speed (not the crystal kind, either). He wound up selling the car because he wasn't going to be responsible for her life.

quote Originally posted by bmwguru: The 1984 944's will cost you more in repairs than you paid for the car. Timing belt with trimmings-$1200; clutch $1400; and so on and so forth. Anyway, If you want a classic Porsche get a 914 or 1970's 911. You'll be investing your repair money. I am not knocking the 944's, but 9 out of 10 I work on are ready for the junkyard. There are some nice ones out there...don't get me wrong. If you like the 944 body, get a later year with the twin cam or get a 968. Nobody goes out to buy a 1984 944 intentionally. Usually they found a great deal from a friend and wind up paying more in repairs than the car is worth. They don't run smooth. They aren't quick. The turbo 944's aren't that much better. Save up and get a 928 or a 911. Dave

My dad used our '84 944 as a daily driver for 3 years (all year round)...timing belts were replaced after 75000 miles for a total cost of 400, a clutch replacement 350 + parts, which came to about 600 dollars and 1 wheel bearing replaced in the rear for 150 bucks. Not bad for a 23 year old car, and still going strong. Also, 968 and 928's are wayyyyyy to expensive...a 944 is a reasonable cheap car to get into and have a lot of fun with, and probably one of the best handling cars on the road with 50/50 balance.

-Coop

The 928, what a sweet car. This past winter I watched a guy a few miles down the road completely dismantle a 928 parts car to re-build another 928. There is literally just a chunk of metal leftover of the parts car. Like what everyone is saying I'd pass on the 944.

just drop a sbc in it, turbo that if ya want. lol

i think i may have started a lil bit of unintentional flaming...sorry...truely i know i shouldnt get it considering all the other auto projects that my dad and i have to finish first...the 92 z28 which will soon be the new home for an LS7...a '81 911 SC targa which will hold an LS1...and the 350 tpi from the 92 z28 possibly into my Fiero GT....long story short, V8s for everybody!!

-i really knew nothing of the 944s besides they were suppose to handle extremely well...if i got one i'd like to make it into an autocross car.

I want to hear more about the 92 z28 and the LS7...

I'll be about 2hrs away from there in a couple months (moving) maybe I can check that out sometime....

[This message has been edited by AJ7 (edited 06-07-2007).]

No flames, m8...but if you're going to autocross it, leave the engine N/A, spend your money on suspension, wheels and tires. That big four banger in the N/A 944 provides plenty of power for autocross if you keep the RPM's up, and having owned one before, I can tell you, yes, they DO handle very well indeed.

Speaking of Porsches and Chevy muscle. These guys make some awesome stuff. And personally the 84-85 have the sucky looking dash 86 on up has a much better dash layout. If I hadnt found a good 85SE Fiero to buy, I'd be all over a 86 944 to put an Ls1 into.

http://www.renegadehybrids.com/indexx.html

quote Originally posted by Coop9200: My dad used our '84 944 as a daily driver for 3 years (all year round)...timing belts were replaced after 75000 miles for a total cost of 400, a clutch replacement 350 + parts, which came to about 600 dollars and 1 wheel bearing replaced in the rear for 150 bucks. Not bad for a 23 year old car, and still going strong. Also, 968 and 928's are wayyyyyy to expensive...a 944 is a reasonable cheap car to get into and have a lot of fun with, and probably one of the best handling cars on the road with 50/50 balance. -Coop

There is no way to replace the timing belt properly for $400.00 even if you were to do it yourself. All the rollers must be replaced as well as updating the water pump. As for the clutch, $250 for a clutch kit...no way. I get the Sachs non-rubber update for about $600 and sell it for $800. The labor is 9 hours at $90 per hour. Flat rate. Yes it can be done around 3 hours, but that is what makes a good tech...flat rate.
The 928 is more of a touring car. The GTS is still expensive but I believe it is the only way to get a manual trans with the 87- cars. Then again, my friend had a Porsche 928 S4 and when we raced (with my last V8 Fiero) I took off in third gear and still whupped him.
The 944's that I have seen that are excellent are normally maintained, suspension not falling apart, and owned by Porsche lovers. Those are nice! The others normally are a pile of poop.
Dave
ps. First thing if you do buy it...change the engine mounts. It reduces a lot of the engine vibrations and makes a better drive. Best bang for your buck.

Cam70Dude actually thas where we will probably get the LS1 for the 911 (renegadehybirds).....and sorry AJ7, my parents are divorced and my dad lives in Weatherford Texas. Thats where we will be doing all the work on our cars. My mom has that mentality of "if its not broke, dont fix it." so she doesn't like me doing anything to my fiero...so i'll take it down to my dads and play with it there.

-yeah the Z28 will be getting a new LS7 from Scoggin Dickey's..which will prolly have around 550 hp when finished..(we haven't decided on a trans because my dad may need to go in for some elbow surgery so there is a debate between auto and stick.) i believe that my dad is ordering the 12in corvette brakes today...OH, quick question, do you guys know if the 12in brakes will fit under the stock '92 Z28 rims?

-the goal for my car, (the fiero) prolly next summer seeing as im only down there for a month or so a year, is to put the rebuilt 350 TPI in, a G6 6 speed, and the West Coast Fiero corvette brake upgrade...after thats all said and done, i will decided what i want to do for paint.

Back to the 944...my dad was and still is skepitcal about an 84 because like everyone else he'd like to get a 951 or 944 turbo because he says that the transmissions in those will be better for a V8 conversion. i would be happy with just a regular 944 because like what Vonov said, the motor itself is prolly fine just for autocross..because in the mitsed of all of these wonderful power hungery V8's that would probably be better at the 1/4 mi..i'd like to have a car that can handle exceptionally well too...dont go crazy right now, i know the fiero will still handle very well even with the sbc in it, but that it is my dd and i really dont want something to happen to it that insurence wont cover...

Ok i like the 944 and i see them cheap around here like a couple grand and i was actually thinking of getting one to have as my daily driver (only got 7 more months = D) but i wanna get one and fix it up but anyways heres my 2 cents dont listen to bmwguru he doesnt like Porsches (i am geussing) and i say go check out a couple Porsche fourms.

i went to germanautoforums.com and pors-chev.com and asked questions there, but no replies yet..

quote Originally posted by ThePyroFreak: Ok i like the 944 and i see them cheap around here like a couple grand and i was actually thinking of getting one to have as my daily driver (only got 7 more months = D) but i wanna get one and fix it up but anyways heres my 2 cents dont listen to bmwguru he doesnt like Porsches (i am geussing) and i say go check out a couple Porsche fourms.

I like Porsches...Hell I CHOOSE to work on them. My shop repairs only german cars. I'm not a fan of the 944. 95% of the owners don't want to fix them and they turn to crap. I've only seen one or two 944s worth the repairs. Personally, I like the 968 much better...which is a gorified 944.
Dave

well right now, my dad and i are looking into getting another porsche. Hopefully a 951 (944 turbo). There are plenty of them on ebay for under 10 grand, in beautiful condition. This is probably your best bet if you're still looking to turbo your porsche...just go with the real deal. Depending on your budget, you can even find one for 7g all the way up to 15g. But in general, like others have said, these are great handling cars, which i'll back up as well. All up to you though.

-Coop

yes, well it really seems like this idea is going south...well more like me (possibly). my mom and step dad have been trying to move out of this area for a few years, but it seems like it might actually happen. they're thinking of either Cape Coral, FL or Oro Valley, AZ. my mom really wound't care if i bought the car, but she does see it as a nuisence (sp?) when/if we move seeing as it will be one more car to transport. but then she brought up the obvious point of insurence, just the word porsche makes it go up, aannnd just the idea of a 15 year old with two cars set the notion of me being some spoiled brat that gets everything he wants..even though i paid for my fiero and i would pay for the 944 aswell. so basically the insurence will sky rocket!

jeez, i really need to get a job...but i do want to thank all of you for giving me your point of views and reasonings on this subject, this will come in handy if i ever get to stay in one place for a while and get the oppurtunity to buy one again. again, thanks.

[This message has been edited by Dana McAlister (edited 06-09-2007).]

I used to love porsche's but part prices finaly got me to sell mine. I just couldn't see paying these crazy prices for frickin vw and audi parts. I went to bimmers.My 3 series handles better..is faster and doesn't rape you for parts. Honestly after buying porsche parts nothing seems expensive.

I had a 914 and a 944

the 914's rust if looked at hard
they were a nice idea done baddly
and sold as VW's in most of the world

the original 924/944 were also a porsche/VW/audi mix
the post 85 1/2 cars are better
and 951 turbo 944 are amazing cars esp the 88 89 TURBO S cars
with 400+ hp a few mods away

for auto X the last 944 the 3 liter S2 cars are very good
DOHC FULL 3 LITER with 4 valves
and better low end tork then the turbo

there is no more costly car then a cheap porsche

a very very good porsche forum

http://forums.pelicanparts....daysprune=&forumid=3

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