Fishcop Posted 25July, 2020 Report Share Posted 25July, 2020 Okay, not my current project - but if our dollar can recover a bit in the future, maybe... So as the owner of a 944 after many years of A/C 911s, the one thing I can't reconcile is the 4cyl engine noise - it's very "meh". I wouldn't mess with the original S2 I have, but there are plenty of 944 hacks about that could make awesome resto-mods with an engine upgrade (and I mean something more interesting than the ubiquitous LS conversion) Boost Brothers over in the US are just backyard hacks like me, but they have done a genuinely nice job of making a kit to use the very sweet VW 07K 5cyl engine in a 944, either NA or Turbo. This engine is literally "one half" of the Lambo V10 engine and has that really sweet 5cyl noise and a bunch of tuning advantages opportunities. Anyway, I've no affiliation but thought I'd post this stuff up in case it's of interest to anyone looking to build something different... PS I've done some quick sums and it would be around a $15k proposition at the moment. https://www.boostbrothersgarage.com/product-page/944-07k-swap-full-kit Rob and Peter M 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OBRUT Posted 25July, 2020 Report Share Posted 25July, 2020 The noise they make just while starting up is awful. A mate had a 968 with a fruity exhaust that actually didn’t sound too bad when on the go. I suspect it just had one small free flowing muffler. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeeM Posted 25July, 2020 Report Share Posted 25July, 2020 That'd be fun Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TINGY Posted 25July, 2020 Report Share Posted 25July, 2020 This is what i would do as well if i was modding a 944, put the relo's engine in Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michel Posted 25July, 2020 Report Share Posted 25July, 2020 https://rennlist.com/forums/944-turbo-and-turbo-s-forum/803341-vw-audi-07k-2-5l-20v-i5-swap-thread.html Rob 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fishcop Posted 25July, 2020 Author Report Share Posted 25July, 2020 What I liked about this swap was that these guys have done a lot of the hard work and are providing the kit - which if you don't have access to fabrication gear (or the skills) makes life a whole lot more fun! Then there is the similar advantage to the LS in that parts are accessible and reasonably cheap. Rob 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob Posted 25July, 2020 Report Share Posted 25July, 2020 2 hours ago, OBRUT said: The noise they make just while starting up is awful. A mate had a 968 with a fruity exhaust that actually didn’t sound too bad when on the go. I suspect it just had one small free flowing muffler. Yep - the 944s and 968s sound just like my Hilux when starting up. The VW/Audi 07K donk sounds infinitely better when cranking, and when revved is on a different planet altogether. Ask me how I know... OBRUT and Fishcop 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fishcop Posted 25July, 2020 Author Report Share Posted 25July, 2020 1 hour ago, Rob said: Yep - the 944s and 968s sound just like my Hilux when starting up. The VW/Audi 07K donk sounds infinitely better when cranking, and when revved is on a different planet altogether. Ask me how I know... Audi RS powered 944... What's not to love? Best of both worlds... 4 hours ago, OBRUT said: The noise they make just while starting up is awful. A mate had a 968 with a fruity exhaust that actually didn’t sound too bad when on the go. I suspect it just had one small free flowing muffler. Yep, pretty uninspiring. But they do start to sing a bit above 5k Rob and OBRUT 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DJM Posted 25July, 2020 Report Share Posted 25July, 2020 Sweet, 360 whp and that 5 cylinder sound and more to come. What’s not to like 👌🏻 Rob 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brian in buddina Posted 26July, 2020 Report Share Posted 26July, 2020 The Boost Bros talk about how cheap these used motors are in the US. I wonder what they sell for in Oz? Going by memory I think the B bros complete parts kit is in neighbourhood of $7k US. Plus a bit of time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fishcop Posted 26July, 2020 Author Report Share Posted 26July, 2020 1 hour ago, brian in buddina said: The Boost Bros talk about how cheap these used motors are in the US. I wonder what they sell for in Oz? Going by memory I think the B bros complete parts kit is in neighbourhood of $7k US. Plus a bit of time. $2,200 and within a stone throw of you https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/VW-Jetta-2005-07-Beetle-2006-11-Golf-MKV-2006-NEW-OEM-Engine-BGP-2-5-Litre-5-cyl/383473798275?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649 Rob 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crsedge Posted 26July, 2020 Report Share Posted 26July, 2020 I have a strong hankering for an engine swap sleeper for my next P project A 924, 944 or Boxster V8 is the desire- LS swap would be great but am also thinking about an Audi V8 to keep it in the VAG family..... This would be much easier to achieve in the US with parts and kits though... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OBRUT Posted 26July, 2020 Report Share Posted 26July, 2020 36 minutes ago, crsedge said: I have a strong hankering for an engine swap sleeper for my next P project A 924, 944 or Boxster V8 is the desire- LS swap would be great but am also thinking about an Audi V8 to keep it in the VAG family..... This would be much easier to achieve in the US with parts and kits though... Ditto - except Lambo Espada with a mopar 440... Ps. 944 turbo running gear into a crap looking 924 would be fun too. crsedge, Rob, michel and 1 other 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fishcop Posted 26July, 2020 Author Report Share Posted 26July, 2020 5 hours ago, crsedge said: I have a strong hankering for an engine swap sleeper for my next P project A 924, 944 or Boxster V8 is the desire- LS swap would be great but am also thinking about an Audi V8 to keep it in the VAG family..... This would be much easier to achieve in the US with parts and kits though... Pretty sure there is a US mob doing an Audi V8 to Boxster swap. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michel Posted 3August, 2020 Report Share Posted 3August, 2020 On 25/07/2020 at 19:38, Fishcop said: Audi RS powered 944... What's not to love? Best of both worlds... Yep, pretty uninspiring. But they do start to sing a bit above 5k Funnier when your passenger begins to squeal On 26/07/2020 at 13:36, crsedge said: I have a strong hankering for an engine swap sleeper for my next P project A 924, 944 or Boxster V8 is the desire- LS swap would be great but am also thinking about an Audi V8 to keep it in the VAG family..... This would be much easier to achieve in the US with parts and kits though... There is the 924/v6 That’s been sitting on gumtree quite a long time now p.S would a C5 RS6 biturbo motor be of interest ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fishcop Posted 3August, 2020 Author Report Share Posted 3August, 2020 3 hours ago, michel said: Funnier when your passenger begins to squeal There is the 924/v6 That’s been sitting on gumtree quite a long time now p.S would a C5 RS6 biturbo motor be of interest ? I perused the 924 - too much has been done to make it worth registering again... You'd be better off beginning with a rolling 944 (of which a few seem to still pop up). The Audi 4.2 is a cracker of an engine, but there are already bolt-in kits for LS engines for those wanting the V8 music which I think make more sense. But I would like to know if the gearbox pattern is the same as the 07K as then you could look at the Boost Brothers bell housing. The attraction of the 07K is that someone is offering a complete kit for shoe-horning it into a 944 (Boost Brothers) keeping power steering and A/C. In NA form it's a *cheap swap for a little more Hp and torque than an original Turbo and you get that badass 5cyl note, and the engines themselves aren't too hard to find. If you're boost junkie then I think that's where the conversion shines as there is a lot of info and options, plus "bits" from the Audi TTRS that can be incorporated. *relatively speaking Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob Posted 3August, 2020 Report Share Posted 3August, 2020 Wondering about how the RHD steering shaft would play with the Boost Bros kit? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michel Posted 3August, 2020 Report Share Posted 3August, 2020 http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-engine-conversion-tech-forum/941956-audi-v8-924-a.html .. wondering what happened to the guy who started in HK to install a4.2’v8 in a 356? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crsedge Posted 3August, 2020 Report Share Posted 3August, 2020 @michel- you have the perfect 924 to start a V8 build 👍 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michel Posted 3August, 2020 Report Share Posted 3August, 2020 11 hours ago, crsedge said: @michel- you have the perfect 924 to start a V8 build 👍 ...pandering to your Peccadillos and perversions Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fishcop Posted 5August, 2020 Author Report Share Posted 5August, 2020 On 03/08/2020 at 16:23, Rob said: Wondering about how the RHD steering shaft would play with the Boost Bros kit? Yeah, I think that's the money question for a right hooker... If you have to custom fabricate a RHD solution, the kit kinda loses it's effectiveness. I actually messaged them and they offered to send the mounts out for free testing. They even offered to subsidise the first punter prepared to take on a RHD project. If I was still in Brisbane and had access to "Stuff and people" I might be keen. But sleepy Port Mac makes experimenting just too hard. Rob 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brian in buddina Posted 5September, 2020 Report Share Posted 5September, 2020 "Wondering about how the RHD steering shaft would play with the Boost Bros kit?" Watching there videos I don't think it would be an insurmountable issue. Very easy to say from the comfort of an armchair. The video showing the fitting of the Lambo exhaust manifold has them installing the exhaust manifold back to front so manifold is feeding the turbo in front of the motor. Looks like lots of room for the steering shaft, at least from my arm chair. They have his race car venting the exhaust out in FRONT of the front wheel. On 5 August 2020 at 16:27, Fishcop said: Yeah, I think that's the money question for a right hooker... If you have to custom fabricate a RHD solution, the kit kinda loses it's effectiveness. I actually messaged them and they offered to send the mounts out for free testing. They even offered to subsidise the first punter prepared to take on a RHD project. If I was still in Brisbane and had access to "Stuff and people" I might be keen. But sleepy Port Mac makes experimenting just too hard. Anyone interested in starting a Brisbane/SE Qld consortium. A 944 shell would be a good place to start. @Rob has a big shed, hoist & a new dog offsider. Rob, Mike D'Silva and Fishcop 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colibri Green Posted 1September, 2021 Report Share Posted 1September, 2021 Hi folks, long time listener, first time poster, and keen to connect and learn from those in the forum. I have been rather fascinated with this boost brothers swap - particularly the irony of circling back to a high volume VW/Audi derived engine, after the mixed reviews of the original 924 2.0L donk. I had even noticed that NOS 07k near Brisbane (what are the chances?). I also have recently picked up a ‘79 924, live in Brisbane, and think a consortium is a great idea - particularly as you’d need to import the longblock, why not two or three and get some economies of scale with shipping/spares? Obviously it’s fairly well established that it’s not recommended to start with a 924 2.0NA platform, for very good reasons. But it’s possibly not insurmountable - particularly if one was already contemplating a 5lug conversion, and an upgrade from the existing 4 speed transaxle. Others haaaave modified the 924 LHD crossmember to accept the later 2.5L engine mounts - and that part (at least) doesn’t seem overly tricky. Looking at mine I think it likely would still foul with the way the steering assembly comes “over” the crossmember. The steering assembly on a 924 turbo RHD crossmember comes “through”, so could free up some space, might be an option. Then it would be 944 torque tube (and linkages/etc) , transaxle, 5 lug conversion etc. Hydraulic clutch conversion. Fairly massive undertaking, no doubt. Haven’t looked into the electrical interfacing though, interested in if there were any showstoppers there. Anyway, keen to know if others were still interested, and talk (or type?) it over. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brian in buddina Posted 1September, 2021 Report Share Posted 1September, 2021 Colibri G Would it be easier to get an early model 944, perhaps a lowly unwanted auto to swap out? Have you tried posting on any other Australian fb sites to see if there is any more interest? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colibri Green Posted 2September, 2021 Report Share Posted 2September, 2021 Hi Brian, Very true, the 944 basis is a lot more logical and easy (relatively speaking). Thing is they are circa $20k, and importing a 924S is similar. The appeal of a sleeper/restomod 924 with clean lines and retro chrome trim has gotten to me, unfortunately. 5 hours ago, brian in buddina said: Have you tried posting on any other Australian fb sites to see if there is any more interest? Good question- haven’t posted on any FB pages, I did follow the boost brothers page, they noted the next batch of orders closed in August. Any good pages you recommend? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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