nize

searching for this information turns up bits and pieces, but not a complete list. i'm surprised someone hasn't already come up with this list yet, so here goes.

how to visibly tell a 1988 951 turbo-s (must meet ALL of the below requirements). note that all 1989+ 951's are automatically turbo-s.

visible outside the car;
bigger front brakes from 928s4 (the non-s has front/rear brakes of the same size)
rolled rear fenders to accommodate larger wheels (this can be felt by hand, the non-s will have rear fenders with sharp edges)
turbo-s forged aluminum wheels (not available on the non-s, but easily swapped. beware of immitation d-90 wheels!)

visible under the car;
koni yellow adjustable shocks all around (this was the m030 option on the non-s)
ride-height adjustment threaded collars on the front struts (not sure if this was an option for the non-s)
thicker 26.8mm front sway bar (not as obvious unless you're familiar with sway bar diameters)
metal transmission cooling coil on rear-passenger side (available as option on the non-s)
M030 front hubs and spindles with ABS sensors
Rear trailing arms drilled and tapped for ABS sensors

visible inside the car;
abs (light visible on dash, the non-s had abs as an option)
full power seats for both driver and passenger (available as an option on the non-s)
10 speaker sound system and equalizer/amp. it has different speaker panels on the doors and the EQ below the radio

visible under the hood;
engine designation M44/52
engine number between 47J00001 - 47J01830
adjustable front shocks (available as an option on the non-s)
intake manifold has two vacuum ports instead of one (the one with the 12mm banjo bolt)
chassis stiffening brackets in the front for the struts
ac dryer lines are different to clear the front frame brace on the drivers side.
larger turbocharger (not available on the non-s). how to tell instructions here;
http://www.clarks-garage.com/shop-manual/eng-19.htm

less obvious or not easily visible differences;
larger sodium-filled exhaust valves
progressive springs
larger 25.5mm rear torsion bars
harder bushings throughout
1st gear hardened transmission
2nd gear hardened transmission
limited slip differential (available as an option on the non-s, can tell by jacking the rear of the car and turning one wheel to see which way the opposite wheel turns)
AOR Case Code Transmission: the turbo-s LSD had thicker friction discs and modified pressure cups to accommodate the thicker discs (AOR code is visible on top of the transmission with tranny removed)
larger front brake discs (.2" bigger)
different DME and KLR - chips were mapped for the K26/8 turbocharger

references;
porsche 944 turbo;
http://vista.pca.org/stl/944turbo.htm

turbo-s registry;
http://www.geocities.com/MotorCity/Pit/4786/

i'll add to this list as additional things come to mind. please contribute.

M758

Forgot to add the chassis stiffeneres from struts. oddjob has excellent pictures of these.

nize

ah yes, thanks. can someone point me to the pictures?

M758

seach for posts by oddjob and you will find them there.

Oddjob

Here are the frame rail stiffeners.

Couple other additional notes offhand (Im sure there are some other specifics too):

Interior also has the 10 speaker sound system and equalizer/amp. So it has different speaker panels on the doors and the EQ below the radio

Front sway bar was 26.8mm

Rear sway bar is the same 18mm as on the regular Turbo. Mid year 89, bar was reduced to 16mm, to reduce chance of power-on oversteer.

Engine serial #s for 89 Turbos were 47K series (J and K are the year code)

Exhaust valves have a different/larger dimensional spec on the valve stem – changed based on wear/thermal expansion. Not a performance difference, the valve head is the same diameter. I think the Turbo S valve part number is the only one still available from porsche for any Turbo model.

The M030 springs are approx 30% higher rate than stock springs. Very slight progressive nature, if at all. They are wound with a slight taper to fit the lower strut perch, also allows greater whl/tire clearance within the fender well – but does not dramatically change the spring rate, like a true progressive spring (i.e. the Turbo Cup springs).

25.5mm rear torsion bars

Torque tube is not stiffened – same part as any post 85.5 944, S, and Turbo. S2 had a different torque tube (but it was not stiffer either).

AOR Case Code Transmission: 1st and 2nd gear teeth on the input shaft had an additional hardening/heat treating process performed on them. The 1st and 2nd gear sprockets were the same as for any S, S2, and Turbo trans. The Turbo S LSD had thicker friction discs and modified pressure cups to accommodate the thicker discs.

Different DME and KLR - chips were mapped for the K26/8 Turbocharger.

2bridges

please confirm pics above are on front frame front pointing forward (toward radiator) - correct?

As I recall only some cars had these and not all S? Just recalling from a long ago thread... source unknown.

spammajamma

for hard turns? split rear seats..fold independently?

nize

split rear seats is not a mandatory feature for the turbo-s.

Chris White

The intake manifold has two vacuum ports instead of one (the one with the 12mm banjo bolt)

azmi951

ac dryer lines are different to clear the front frame brace on the drivers side.

M030 front hubs and spindles with ABS sensors.

Rear trailing arms drilled and tapped for ABS sensors.

spammajamma

a waste of upgraded parts needing to be upgraded

nize

let me guess, you've got a 944 n/a and plan to 'upgrade' it to a 951, right?

nitehawk951

Nize, always so arrogant. You really don't understand what spamma means. Even you mod your turbo s....with used parts.

spammajamma

I figured that nize would either see this as a light hearted joke or a dig, unfortunately the latter

nize

cool, how about updateing your sig?