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View Poll Results: Is dropping a rotary engine inside an 87 Porsche 944 a good idea?
Yes, great innovative idea! Want to see the results.
18
21.95%
A good idea, but seems like the procedure will be complicated.
17
20.73%
Could be better off with a different car or powerplant.
16
19.51%
Bad idea entirely; wrong combination, etc.
31
37.80%
Voters: 82. You may not vote on this poll

2nd Gen. RX-7 Inside An 87 Porsche 944?

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Old 09-28-02, 03:00 AM
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Question 2nd Gen. RX-7 Inside An 87 Porsche 944?

Anyone out there with any knowledge or experience in dropping an RX-7 rotary engine inside of a Porsche 944 please get back to me. If you know anything about these Porsches, you know that they can weigh almost under 1500 lbs. with a lightweight rotary as a powerplant with some other minor lightening procedures. With power to weight like that on a real-wheel driven, transaxle car, I should be able to get some pretty interesting performance enhancements. But anyways, if there's anyone out there with some knowledge on how to make moulds for conversion bell-housings, or, if an aftermarket company exists for what I want, where to steer me to. Or if you just want to tell me I'm nuts, feel free to do so.
Thanks,

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Old 09-28-02, 03:10 AM
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944 have flat 4 or 6?
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Old 09-28-02, 03:15 AM
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if it's got a 4 go for it if a 6 cyl the swap probably not worth it, a rotry in pretty much any car is cool if you ask me
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Old 09-28-02, 05:45 AM
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a 944 has a 3L I4 with just as much power potential as a 13B. i'd say youre wasting your time as far as power goes. but it would be unique.
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Old 09-28-02, 08:24 AM
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Here is a company that does V8 conversions for the 944 among other porches. They could probably help.

http://www.renegadehybrids.com/
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Old 09-28-02, 12:08 PM
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I'm not an expert, but I thought they were at first 2.5L I-4s and later 3.0L.

Perhaps if the porsche parts are expensive enough it would be cost effective, but the performance would go down. (exceptions being if you did something like a 13BT in place of the n/a 2.5L)

You say they can be under 1500lbs? I thought the 944 was heavier than a FC?
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Old 09-28-02, 12:18 PM
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the most 944s have 2.5 liter slant 4 cylinders. the 944S was a twin cam 2.5 liter, the 944S2 was a 3 liter twin cam 4, the 944 turbo and turboS both had turbo 2.5 liters. the potential of the 944 turbo engine is extremely high, just about anything can be done with it. the twin cam models were also stout, and the regular 944 is decent. the cars varied in weight from 2700 to 2900 lbs so its comparable to a FC. the rotary would be a cool swap in my head, but really not that worth it. the FC and 944 were always pretty equal in most respects so i cant see justifying the amount of work involved, cuz it would be alot of work. i vaugley remember seeing one done a while back though. seemed pretty cool.
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Old 09-28-02, 01:58 PM
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i had a 89 944 and it was a great car..the 83-88 had the 2.5 liter engine 4cyl and the 89's had the very rare 2.7 liter engine. i actually thought about seeing if it was possible to drop in a 13b but was 2 damn lazy to persue it..if you have any questions about the porsche feel free to ask..
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Old 09-28-02, 08:00 PM
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Question

Why, again, do I want a V8 on my porch?


Just wondering...


Originally posted by bwaits
Here is a company that does V8 conversions for the 944 among other porches. They could probably help.

http://www.renegadehybrids.com/
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Old 09-28-02, 08:32 PM
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My 86 944 weighs 3400lbs
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Old 10-02-02, 10:07 PM
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I had an 87 944 Turbo, and it only wieghed 2800 lbs.

Putting a rotary in a 944 wouldn't be worth it in my opinion.
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Old 10-02-02, 10:36 PM
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As much as I like rotaries, keep a porche a porche. Too much time and trouble involved unless you want something totally original. The 924s were the light ones. 944s are tipical German heavy.
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Old 10-02-02, 11:48 PM
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just dont care.

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the 944turbo's had a 2.5 liter straight 4. that is until they came out with the S2, then they put a 2.8 4, then a 3 liter 4.
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Old 10-03-02, 06:18 AM
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Nah, 914 are the light ones. 912 is probably even lighter and a rotary swap makes sense in either one of these, but a 944 turbo will kick an TIIs *** and modify just as well or better. Why bother w/ a rotary swap in that?
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Old 10-03-02, 07:42 AM
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When i asked this same question, I was ridiculed and spit on like a fool. They siad it could never be done, due to the Torque Tube drivetrian and rear transaxle. Someone siad i should not it untill i have $50,000.

Does everyone just have PMS here, and go through mood swings ?!?!

I say go for it, sounds like a great idea, But i bealive your thinking of the 924S being that light. A friend of mine owns one, according to his manual it weighs 2785. I would say by the handeling that that is way off.
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Old 10-03-02, 08:24 AM
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Originally posted by TriTurboGen3 RX-7
A friend of mine owns one, according to his manual it weighs 2785. I would say by the handeling that that is way off.
Why would you say 2785 lbs would be way off? That weight sounds about right for a 924. If you're inferring that the lighter a car is, the better it handles, you're partially right. However, those Porsche 911's and Corvette Z06's weigh quite a bit as well...
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Old 10-04-02, 07:10 PM
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Yes, i was implying that, I do know that good handeling, is the combination of many other factors. Tires, Wheel weight and size, Suspension Stiffness, Chassis stiffness, weight distribution. wheel camber/caster etc.
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Old 10-04-02, 09:41 PM
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924 S! Isn't that the ultra sleeper Porsche? Has the ugly little body of the 924, but the running gear of the 944 turbo?
All 924, 944s will weigh about the same since it is the same chassis. Just like 2nd gens, the turbo models will weigh more and 944s will weigh a bit more than 924s.

The 914s and 912s are cars that really have the 1,500lb potential, however and both use a transaxle like a VW that already has a rotary conversion kit available for it.

I believe 912 is an early 911 w/ less flared fenders and a flat 4 not flat 6. They are very cute and small. I would love one!
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Old 11-30-02, 07:01 PM
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Hey, im bringing this one back... I didn't know it had been done before but I wanna do it. I have my 87TII as a parts car. It has a streetported 13BT w/S5 turbo in it and some other goodies. So the clutch is in the back of this thing eh?? I wanna find out ALL the details about doing this before I do it. This would be an extremely fun project to undertake. I have all the time I need to do this and plenty mechanical knowledge. I realize some of the stuff would have to be fabbed ex: motor mounts, exhaust, etc... that website to the Kennedy Engine place would be able to mount the engine up to the porche tranny, but could that tranny hold up to some pretty hefty power? ANYTHING you might find relevent, please tell me, except for flames

Thanks

Aaron
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Old 11-30-02, 07:30 PM
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From a mechanical point, its a cool idea. But it wouldnt be a good idea if you wanted to make a fast car. Swap a 13BT into a 1st gen or an MR2 would make for a pretty fast car.
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Old 11-30-02, 07:45 PM
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I was thinking about an MR2 before, but wouldn't that be and incredibly difficult car to put it in?? there would prly have to be a TON of fabrication done, eh?

Aaron
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Old 11-30-02, 07:50 PM
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BTW, BLUE TII has 944 posts..... it must be a sign MUAHAHAHA
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Old 12-01-02, 02:07 AM
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What the hell happened to your car Aaron? Don't tell me you wrecked it...
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Old 12-01-02, 09:50 AM
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No wrecking.... its just that the interior and body isn't worth restoring... I don't really know why I bought the thing before. I think I would have a blast doing this swap though and not many people could say that have an Rx-944T

Aaron
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Old 12-01-02, 10:32 AM
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Originally posted by flying taco
No wrecking.... its just that the interior and body isn't worth restoring... I don't really know why I bought the thing before. I think I would have a blast doing this swap though and not many people could say that have an Rx-944T

Aaron
****...why don't you buy a 89-91 coupe or vert in great shape but with a blown engine or major mechanical problem and drop the entire drivetrain from your TII into it? A 944 is going to be tricky as you'll probably have to fab up a new torque tube, which can be very costly.

Anyways, the 2nd Gen already looks like a 944. Why don't you drop a 13B into a Porsche 914.
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