Weird 944 Engine Swaps
10-12-2021, 03:57 AM
#1
Intermediate
Thread Starter
Weird 944 Engine Swaps
Hey all, I'm looking to purchase my second 944 soon and have been driving a 2015 Volkswagen golf base (with the 2.0L turbo). I got the idea that that or a GTI/R motor would be a fun swap for 944's. Fitment should be fine it's a small 4 cylinder with a turbo so it seems fitting for a 944. Makes more power but not so much that you'd worry about blowing up your transaxle. Has anyone done a similar swap, also what swaps do you know of that are a bit weird/interesting/strange that you've seen. Been seeing too many LS swaps which I do like but has been done to death at this point.
10-12-2021, 10:34 AM
#2
Instructor
If you want to stick with the Volkswagen/Audi Group engines, look into the 1.8L 5 valve swap. This has grown in popularity over the past 5 years or so but I would hardly call it "done to death". I have yet to see one not on the race track. Most of the swap equipment is available online so minimal fabrication would be required. If you like fabricating your own stuff, you could try a GTI motor, I imagine the process would be similar to the 1.8L swap with a few exceptions.
I'll repeat the broken-record line when it comes to engine swaps. You can swap anything into anything, just how much are you willing to spend?
I noticed your location is California, are you all allowed to do an engine swap? Or is it that you can't put old technology in a new vehicle?
I'll repeat the broken-record line when it comes to engine swaps. You can swap anything into anything, just how much are you willing to spend?
I noticed your location is California, are you all allowed to do an engine swap? Or is it that you can't put old technology in a new vehicle?
10-12-2021, 01:39 PM
#3
Burning Brakes
Join Date: Sep 2017
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Best of my knowledge...
The 2 Liter and 1.8t motors are very similar, but the later (2001+?) versions moved the oil pump to the front, which would interfere with the F crossmember.
My 1.8t swap is done and ready to hit the track, but still needs additional dyno work. Expecting ~300RWHP at 15-18psi.
The engine fits physically like it was meant to be there, but the amount of work required to get to that point was staggering.
Easier choice would be the VW 5cyl swap, all parts available, and detailed somewhere around here...
As for Cali smog... good f*cking luck!
You're allowed to swap later engines into earlier cars, but all later emission equipment must transfer with it.
Including the cat, which needs to stay in the same location. I assume that just means the same distance from the manifold, and that you're allowed to use different bends in the pipe... but I wouldn't bet on that.
The 2 Liter and 1.8t motors are very similar, but the later (2001+?) versions moved the oil pump to the front, which would interfere with the F crossmember.
My 1.8t swap is done and ready to hit the track, but still needs additional dyno work. Expecting ~300RWHP at 15-18psi.
The engine fits physically like it was meant to be there, but the amount of work required to get to that point was staggering.
Easier choice would be the VW 5cyl swap, all parts available, and detailed somewhere around here...
As for Cali smog... good f*cking luck!
You're allowed to swap later engines into earlier cars, but all later emission equipment must transfer with it.
Including the cat, which needs to stay in the same location. I assume that just means the same distance from the manifold, and that you're allowed to use different bends in the pipe... but I wouldn't bet on that.
10-12-2021, 03:42 PM
#4
Intermediate
Thread Starter
My understanding of Cali smog is that you just need to have the engine be manufactured after the chassis and have the emissions equipment for the engine not necessarily stock. However by the time I get to the point where I would do a swap myself I'll hopefully be very far away from California
10-12-2021, 07:58 PM
#5
Burning Brakes
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Well versed in Cali smog law... And I don't miss that bullsh*t at all.
One key factor is the distance from the cat to the exh manifold, and any relevant aftermarket parts (including the air intake...) need an EO for the donor model.
As a swap, it would need to go through the referee process.
Never bothered to get that far into a swap, but from other's experience... like any bureaucratic process, sometimes you get a benevolent dictator, sometimes you get Josef Stalin.
Time to get out of Dodge.
One key factor is the distance from the cat to the exh manifold, and any relevant aftermarket parts (including the air intake...) need an EO for the donor model.
As a swap, it would need to go through the referee process.
Never bothered to get that far into a swap, but from other's experience... like any bureaucratic process, sometimes you get a benevolent dictator, sometimes you get Josef Stalin.
Time to get out of Dodge.
10-13-2021, 10:41 AM
#6
Rennlist Member
Some pics of Sharkey's ecotec swap. I believe he is on RL, but more information for his swap can be found on the 944 Hybrids forum.
https://photos.google.com/share/AF1Q...VhT0F2S3NDZXZB
This is one is pretty unique, Mazda KL-ZE.
https://photos.google.com/share/AF1Q...VhT0F2S3NDZXZB
This is one is pretty unique, Mazda KL-ZE.
Last edited by 87944turbo; 10-13-2021 at 10:47 AM.
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10-13-2021, 06:58 PM
#9
Burning Brakes
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Transaxle and halfshaft life are big concerns with a big sh*tload of torque...
I thought about using a Japanese sourced ~2 liter (Honda, Mazda, Nissan, etc...).
Any of those choices would probably work just as well, or better than the VW/Audi unit, but NASA GTS rules specify "all German" if it's a swap.
VW VR6 looked attractive as well, but the 1.8t seemed to have better aftermarket support.
Whole (misguided...) reason for my swap was to get some lower operating cost out of the car.
Turns out I could've rebuilt my 951 engine about 6 times now, for the amount of time and money I put into this.
I thought about using a Japanese sourced ~2 liter (Honda, Mazda, Nissan, etc...).
Any of those choices would probably work just as well, or better than the VW/Audi unit, but NASA GTS rules specify "all German" if it's a swap.
VW VR6 looked attractive as well, but the 1.8t seemed to have better aftermarket support.
Whole (misguided...) reason for my swap was to get some lower operating cost out of the car.
Turns out I could've rebuilt my 951 engine about 6 times now, for the amount of time and money I put into this.
10-13-2021, 07:29 PM
#10
I cringe every time I hear justification for an engine swap that includes (low) cost.
10-13-2021, 11:39 PM
#11
Intermediate
Thread Starter
