94489T

How do you tell if you have the correct facorty motor in your 89 944 turbo? Whant should the numbers read? Where to find them? I feel my engine was repalced and undisclosed to me prior to recently purchasing the car. Please give me clear details since I am new to 944's and Porsches. I just sold a 1971 Corvette and "matching numbers motors" meant the difference...thousands of dollars difference in value...is it the same with this model 944?

Thanks.

aeronautica86

I've never tried to locate a vin # on engine parts...used or rebuilt engines are pretty common in the 951 world, and honestly I have never seen anyone who was concerned with whether the engine in the car was original or not. The 944 series car, though loved by many, is not a collector car where factory originality affects value to most buyers.

xsboost90

well since its an 89 951 it would have the turbo S motor, making more power than a stock turbo car. I cant remember where the motor ID #'s are but it should have a larger turbo and be putting out like 250hp.

Oddjob

Why do you think that it may have been replaced (indications, clues)?

There is a small tab in the block casting that is at the head/block interface, right behind the #4 exhaust runner. The engine code is stamped on that tab. It will have the engine model number and will have a date code; there is no matching number to the VIN. I believe this tab first shows up on MY88 engines and newer. My 87 does not have it, but my 89 and 88TS motor do have it.

The model code for the 88TS and 89T engine is M44/52, the earlier non-S turbo motors were M44/51. There will then be another number stamped below it that will be something like 47JXXX (I cant remember the exact series or significance of the number, but I recall that the letter should be the alpha-numeric code for the year of mfg (ie J = 88, K = 89).

As mentioned above, rebuilt/replaced engines should not be a huge detractor as long as the rebuild was documented and done by a reputable shop. At this point in the 944s' life span, originality is not bringing a huge premium. But at some point in the future (like old corvettes, 356's, etc), having an original correct engine will make a difference, and the M44/52 Turbo S engine is going to be the one that brings the big money (last verison, most power, low production numbers compared with other engines).

94489T

That's my concern about the future collecability/value that's why I bought 89 Turbo. I purchased this car w/60K miles beautiful paint and excellent interior. I will look for that number and probally ask many more questions once I have the numbers. Thanks. Anyone else?

Legoland951

M44/52 instead of the M44/51 will differentiate between the turbo versus turbo S on that stamped portion of the block. The next series of numbers will contain a letter which denotes the year. J is 88 and K is 89 so your engine should read M44/52 Kxxxxxx.

Dick Dobson

Engine codes:
M44.52 87-88MY Turbo S 47J 00061>10000
M44.52 89MY Turbo 47K 0001>10000
M44.52 90MY Turbo 47L 0001>10000
M44.52 91MY Turbo 47M 0001>10000
From MY88 on the Engine code is just below and to the rear the #4 exhaust port on the block
Prior to MY88 is on the block behind the oil separator pipe

Legoland951

Oops, forgot about the 47 before the K. Thats what happens when I recite from memory...

Tom

The definitive way to tell is to contact PCNA for a certificate of Authenticity which will give component numbers and major options on the car when it was manufactured. There is a fee for this and it may help to be a PCA mamber (there is a way to order through the PCA website I believe. You could also try to contact PCNA ans ask for the information (I did thei many years ago with my first 944 and asked foe a decoding of the opiton codes. This was before the CoA price was significant, it may even have been free then.)