2nd Generation Specific (1986-1992) 1986-1992 Discussion including performance modifications and technical support sections.
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 Dec 1, 2002 | 07:49 PM
  #26  
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From: Cincinasty
Aren't the 914's mid engine cars?? I would have one hell of a time doing that...

Aaron
Old Dec 1, 2002 | 08:18 PM
  #27  
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From: Cincinasty
BTW.... whats this torque tube thing ur talkin about???

Aaron
Old Dec 1, 2002 | 08:31 PM
  #28  
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Pipe Dreams!! If someone is going through the trouble of doing an engine swap, do your homework first. Putting a rotary in a Porsche will do nothing except degrade performance and drain your wallet. The rotaries don't even last or perform well in the car they were designed for, what makes you think the Porsche will fix any of those problems???
Old Dec 1, 2002 | 08:39 PM
  #29  
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I don't expect my rotary to last any longer in a 944 than an FC. However, I think this would be a REALLY fun project and I'd be the only kid on the block with a rotary 944. Trust me, I don't intend to just go out and buy a 944 then take measurements to see if it will work. I'm going to gather as much information as possible and them make an assessment as to whether or not the transplant would be viable.

Aaron
Old Dec 1, 2002 | 08:48 PM
  #30  
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I think you will get more enjoyment and satisfaction if you were to put a Ford Escort motor in a bathroom ceiling fan......
Old Dec 1, 2002 | 09:02 PM
  #31  
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HELL YEAH!!! I heard that is an AWESOME upgrade for ceiling fans. The only problem with that modification is the ventilation from my room to the outside; I live in a brick house and routing the exhaust from the engine to the outside could be tricky. Also, you're an ***. Who are you to talk about engine swaps? You've got a buick engine in an rx7. I believe at the begining of my post I specifically stated "ANYTHING you might find relevent, please tell me, except for flames" If you have useful information for me, then by all means, help me out. If you wanna tell me the swap is moronic, fist yourself.

Aaron
Old Dec 1, 2002 | 11:16 PM
  #32  
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Originally posted by flying taco
BTW.... whats this torque tube thing ur talkin about???

Aaron
torque tube is the "driveshaft" of a 944. its a hollow tube that has a smaller shaft riding on bearings inside it. it connects the engine in the front of the car to the trans in the back of the car. this is why i say it might be tricky to pull a rotary swap off. its not impossible, butit will make for a lot of custom work. the only way i can think of to make the swap work is to use the stock bellhousing but make an adapter plate to get the rotary to fit. this way the torque tube can still be used and it will retain origional trans placement. but if it was into a N/A car id suggest getting a 944 turbo trans, theyre way beefier. it would be tough to do but it is possible.
Old Dec 2, 2002 | 08:03 PM
  #33  
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Originally posted by flying taco
Aren't the 914's mid engine cars?? I would have one hell of a time doing that...

Aaron
The 914 is mid-rear engined... My Porsche buddy dropped a S4 13BT into one with no problems, with the tranny adapter kit. The kit/adapter he used was actually to drop a 13Bt into a dune buggy instead of the flat 4 VW motor. He had to fab mounts for the 13BT engine mounts though.

His high-bred is easily faster than my T2 'vert, but he does not have any extras on his car like air conditioning or power steering and we haven't done any real long term racing to see how it deals with the heat.

The rad is up front, but the oil cooler is up high, just under the rear cowling on the rear deck.
Old Dec 2, 2002 | 10:14 PM
  #34  
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you shouldnt ask for peoples opinions on doing a custom job like this. Just do it and see what happens. I think the hardest part is going to mount the engine to the trans. I dont know anyone that makes an adapter for front engine Porsches. I think Kennedy engineering (KEP) can make you a custom adapter. I think putting a rotary in anything is pretty cool.... I somehow got this crazy idea to put a 3 rotor in a vett or f-body... that would be great!
Old Dec 2, 2002 | 10:22 PM
  #35  
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SOMEONE BUY MY 944! EMAIL ME @ autocrosser4@yahoo.com
Old Dec 2, 2002 | 11:11 PM
  #36  
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787b...why selling your 944? didnt you get it fairly recently?
Old Dec 3, 2002 | 10:10 AM
  #37  
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Originally posted by FC Drifter
787b...why selling your 944? didnt you get it fairly recently?
because i need boost!
Old Dec 28, 2002 | 07:23 PM
  #38  
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I have always wanted to swap a 20B into the back seat my chevy corvair. That thing is cool. 320+ hp in a 2500lb corvair=wheelstands<

But I haven't done it or started to do it because of lack of the greenstuff.
Old Dec 28, 2002 | 08:48 PM
  #39  
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If you want to throw a rotary into a Porsche, go with a 914... I've seen one or two, and they are pretty dope.
The 944 is heavy, you would probably have to go with a 924...
I would honestly like to see a rotary put into a Fiero. THAT would be interesting.
Old Dec 29, 2002 | 12:53 AM
  #40  
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ok this is just !MY OPINION!

TAKE EVERY DAMN FIERO AND THROW THEM INTO THE OCEAN! we need to get rid of these ugly, POS, HI I"M COOL cars. i mean really a rotary is for an RX car. somtimes it's kizool in other cars. BUT A ******* FIERO? holy **** that's fucked up to me. if i offended anybody i'm sorry but PLEASE A FIERO?


--college expirences have led me to belive that the fiero is satan's personal mode of transportation.
Old Mar 4, 2003 | 11:02 PM
  #41  
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Taco,

To swap a rotary into a 944 would be a HUGE undertaking. Unless there is an aftermarket source for an adapter plate, or you have lots of skill and a milling machine at your disposal, fitting the driveline would be a problem. Remember, the 944 uses a TRANSAXLE, not a transmission. The transmission and differential are a one piece unit. The engine and transaxle are connected by a torque tube that is stationary on the outside and has the live shaft inside it. I guess you could use the entire driveline from the RX-7, but then you would have the issue of mounting the suspension to the tub.

I would look for a clean S5 and go from there. Handling is comparable, and the looks are just as nice.

If you want to talk with someone who could give you experienced advice, see Steve Mains at the Sports Car Store on Montgomery Road.

Just my thoughts.

db
Old Mar 5, 2003 | 05:05 AM
  #42  
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marlaman....IMO you need help....to my knowledge the Fiero was the first American Mid-rear that was released to the public. Anyone feel free to correct me if I'm wrong, but also IMO the 'miniature Firebird' as I've heard it called, also looks cooler'n ****.
Old Mar 5, 2003 | 11:26 AM
  #43  
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ok.

1: Fieros OWN. Anyone who thinks otherwise can stfu. Or come for a ride in a v8 monster. Mine had a shitty 2.8l v6 and would lift the front wheels off the ground on WOT in 1st gear.

2: There isn't a 924/944/968 in the world that will ever weigh 1500lb with an engine or transmission of any kind.
3: 924S= 924 body with 944 engine.
944s: 16v 944. Reasonably quick.
944 turbo: Stupidly fast. Really. Bolt ons (new airflow sensor, ECU, intake) and you're looking at 300hp. Without touching the exhaust.
924 turbo - sleeper 924, but they're still not all that quick and only have a 2 liter. And no intercooler. And '70s fuel injection.


4: A rotary swap would be cool, and the torque tube thing should not be a problem. Just fab an adapter plate to the stock clutch/flywheel/**** to the 13b. Otherwise, I dunno wtf you'd be thinking? Unless you really want to fab a whole new clutch system up? Either way, just make an adapter plate and you'd have far less headaches in the long run. If you don't know how to do that, abandon this project NOW.


5: 914s OWN too. It's a fiero, only smaller and porsche. A rotary swap in one of these would be COOL. I'm not quite sure how much abuse their stock trannys can take though, as stock HP even in the hottest flat six model was only 110HP. 2.0s were in the 95HP range, 1.8s and 1.7s were 60-70HP.
That said, there's been quite a few people swapping in modern flat sixes, so I'm sure there's a better transmission availble.

Also, you'd have to figure out somewhere to put the rad and have it cool effectively. I'm sure this isn't impossible, there's a few 914-8s running around

Rotary in a 911/912: Now this would be COOL. Nobody would expect a weed wacker engine in a car that sounds like a lawnmower stock. Exhaust routing might be a problem. Newer 911 trannies bolt up without too much work, so they can handle the power. 911/912s with deadmotors can be found for well under $2k. Again, just make an adapter plate and you're ready to go. Well, after the aftermarket ECU, custom exhaust, turbo, etc, etc, etc, etc, etc.......

I hope I've enlightened you.
Old Mar 5, 2003 | 06:06 PM
  #44  
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A guy I know has a supercharged 13B 911. He's not on the forum though.

Pics:
http://www.pbase.com/jupiter6/911
Old Mar 12, 2003 | 08:31 PM
  #45  
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The 1988 Fiero was the one that GM finally got right. It had all the new suspension parts which mad it an excellent handler. If I remember correctly, the 88 was dominant in it's class in the 88 and 89 Solo II Nationals.

Now, take that one, and do what my friend Jake did. Put a complete Norstar driveline in it, upgrade the springs/shocks/bars, and you have a real fine little car.

Pulls over 1G on the skidpad, and puts you in the seat like a TO4 spooling up. What fun!

db
Old Mar 14, 2003 | 07:56 AM
  #46  
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Now here is a Fiero I might be interested in:
The 355 cu inch V8 puts out 450 Fuel Injected HP.
http://www.v8archie.com/warberfs.htm

Last edited by SureShot; Mar 14, 2003 at 07:59 AM.
Old Mar 14, 2003 | 08:43 AM
  #47  
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around here, supercharged Northstars come in a kit for the Feiro GT.. they pretty much own SOLO II.. nothing but a SOLO II spcific built shifter cart looks to be able to beat these things.. still ugly as sin though, the interior is 80's Kmart special...
Old Jun 5, 2003 | 06:43 PM
  #48  
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I have owned a 89 944 Turbo S and a 86 944 and they are both very fine cars in their own right!...
Maybe heavier then a RX-7 but not by too much...I wouldn't undertake that project, but then thats out of my league...I would just ether get a running 944 Turbo or a T2 with a bad engine and put your engine into it...I want my time having fun on the road, not in the shop, but then thats why I don't nor ever will again buy American cars...
Old Jun 5, 2003 | 08:35 PM
  #49  
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I just think hearing the rotary engine from behind me would be damn crazy
Old Jun 5, 2003 | 09:08 PM
  #50  
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Putting the 13B into a 944 sounds weird coz you are putting the slightly weaker engine into the slightly heavier car.

You'll be spending a lot on the mounts and adapters, ecu and wiring harnesses.



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