44 replies to this topic

[flash]

yeah - there comes a point, after trying things like this, that you just say "been there done that", and either deal with the realities, or move on.

 

there is also an infinite number of levels of acceptability.  i won't except uncivilized unbalanced cars.  i won't accept chassis twisting and rattling.  i definitely would not accept listening to a V8 roaring and droning at 3400rpm all day on the freeway.  it's not good on the engine either.  other guys might not mind this kind of stuff.

 

in the end, i found that the 968 can handle about 320hp, and maybe about 310 lb/ft, with some minimal changes.  after that, a lot of work needs to be done.  even at that though, more brakes, bigger tires, and more suspension really need to be added in order to be able to drive the car to the level of which it would be capable.  more power and more torque would only increase the need of those reinforcements.  there are other issues, like the axles, the drive shaft, the drive shaft bearings, etc, all of which need to be beefed up.  it's really very basic math.

 

like i said, i'd love to see one done right, but so far, no dice.  so far, all i have seen are people cheaping out.  those cars keep changing hands.  it's easy to want more power.  it's easy to get sucked in by all that torque.  but, once you live with a bad setup for a while, you get out and sell it.

 

but hey, when i was a kid, i drove some really crappy setups on V8 conversions too.  i had them for a few months, and then either wrecked the car, or sold it.

 

the real issue here is hat nobody who has one of these wants to admit publicly that it didn't come out the way they had hoped.  if they would grow a pair, and step up, we would all be much better off.  instead they just advertise how much power, and completely skip over stuff that really matters to most drivers, and we all get caught up by the power demon at one time or another.

 

like P.T. said, "there's a sucker born every minute".  i've definitely been that guy once or twice

[ds968]

There are quite a few 968s with the high boost version of the Powerhaus turbos which produce roughly 450 HP ( at that's RWHP I think ) and in excess of 500 ft/lbs torque , so I wonder how many modifications and money that kind of power requires to make the 968 drivable , if an LS engine demands as much as you guys are indicating ..

[flash]

i checked out the powerhouse turbo years ago.  total nightmare.  wouldn't idle.  ran hot.  serious lag.  great fun on boost though.  the owner has been trying to sell his own car for years, to no avail.

[ds968]

I know , one of our local 968 guys had ( maybe still has ) one , alongside a Ferrari 355 garage companion , and he did say it spent most of the time in the garage and in the shop because it was a nightmare to maintain and keep it running , the rare times it did run , but I was wondering what kind of money you'd have to spend on it just so you don't tear up every single piece of that car with that much power . $ 100 K in mods ? $ 150 K ?

[paulzebo]

Before doing anything to your 968, take the inexpensive way out and consider this 944 conversion. https://tucson.craig...6101472915.html

 

Here are a few issues with these conversions. The stock 3.0 engine currently in the vehicle weighs in around 380 pounds. An LT1 weighs in around 785 pounds. The newer LS motors have aluminum heads and blocks. This lets them weigh in around 450(auto) or 500 pounds(manual w flywheel/clutch). That given, you would be installing an engine which is at least 18-31% heavier if it's an LS motor and a whopping 106% heavier if it's a stock LT1. Either way it will be nose heavy.

 

Let say you go ahead and proceed with a conversion. All the newer high horsepower cars come with traction or launch control. The conversions do not. My experience in this area is that there are quite a few wrecked vehicles out there because the owner turned off traction control thinking they could better control the car. Most of the professional drivers can, many regular guys cannot. 

 

I'm not 100% against the idea. Just be sure you realize the vehicle created will drive more like a 1970 muscle car than your 968. Straight line performance will be great. Cornering performance, so-so to poor dependent an the engine.