[speedysprocket]

Well distance from the transaxle mounting bolts on the top to the face of the bell housing are the same between 5 and 6 speed. And the engines mount in the same place, so I'm going for it. Will let you know how it turns out...

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[94SilverCab]

Anybody else see disaster written all over this?...by all means, please update us, and send some pics when through.



JMO<



Jay

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[speedysprocket]

Where's the disaster?

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[94SilverCab]

My suspicion is that they will not marry...good luck and let us know how it goes.



Jay

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[flash]

i see all sorts of issues. i'm sure it can b done, but it's not a simple process, if only from the electronics standpoint.

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[Eric_Oz_S2]

What issues do you see? It has been done numerous times. As log as it is an 86 on it is OK. Early cars had different fuel tanks which foul the trans.

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[flash]

don't confuse issues with problems. i was not indicating that there are necessarily problems.



i realize that engine swaps have been done a number of times. there is a laundry list of things to do on that, but it certainly can be done. i have yet to see a complete drivetrain swap though. i see allusion to it having been done, but in 9 years i have yet to come across somebody who has done it. what i typically see is just stuffing the 968 motor in there, and connecting to what is already there, or at most, swapping to a turbo box.

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[speedysprocket]

Well I'll post up when done. Pulling 944 torque tube out today, and will lay it next to the 968, bell housings attached, and see what I've got...

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[flash]

cool - that will answer a lot of questions

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[Cloud9...68]

Flash brought this up in post #16, but I don't see an answer - is your 968 torque tube split, or solid? As Flash says, the split ones have had issues - they're just not as strong, and I understand the failure mode is that the front TT bearing end up moving around and failing due to the extra flex created by the split. Or something like that. In any event, if you have a split TT, you might want to think carefully about whether you want to install it.

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[Eric_Oz_S2]

Yes, the split tubes aren't ideal, but I rebuilt mine a couple of years ago and no problems so far.

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[flash]

unfortunately you can't see what is going on from the outside. i had no idea that my front bearing had completely walked off, until i pulled the engine and looked down the tube. that would have been very ugly left unchecked.

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[speedysprocket]

Alright, torque tube is out.

Laid side by side, with bell housings on, bell housing to bell housing distances were exactly the same. To add, the 6 speed is about 1/2" longer than 5 speed, so if I do ever decide to use the 6 speed, space should't be an issue.

On the torque tube though, it is a split tube… The front bearing is about 12" from the front face of the tube, slightly less than what I measured the 944 tube as. Is that a normal or average placement? Should I get another bearing to add to the front? The engine did come with an aluminum flywheel, though I don't know the brand or if it's the single mass that flash has talked about as bringing problems to the surface sooner.

One final question, when changing the torsion bars, do the two plates the adjust ride height come apart? I had to take the swing arms off to get the torsion bar plates off...

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[speedysprocket]

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[flash]

ok - so, as i suspected, which is clear from the photos, the parts are not "interchangeable" individually, and you have to change the entire driveline together.



you have to use the 968 bell housing and torque tube if you plan to use the 6 speed. that also means the 968 flywheel, pressure plate, clutch, and starter.



as for the 1/2", be sure that the rearward thrust under load does not push the tail housing into the body. as i remember, there isn't a lot of room back there. i'll get under the car in the morning and take a peek at how much there is.

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[speedysprocket]

No, I can use the 5 speed with 968 tube. It looks different, but all four mounting bolts are in the same place and the two shafts line up.



What about my bearing and torsion bar questions though?

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[Eric_Oz_S2]

No need to add another bearing. Placement seems about right. You will find that the front exhaust hanger u clamp actually compresses the tube at the slit area which holds the bering carrier in place. If the clamp is not tightened sufficiently the bearing will walk. You also need to ensure there is foil tape over the slit to prevent ontamiation of the bearing with grit and water.



The spring plates are held together with 3 bolts including one eccentric for height adjustment. So if I am understanding your description correctly, yes they come apart. To change out the bars you just need to take the torsion tube end plate off once you have dropped the suspension. See clarkes garage website for a DIY.

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[flash]

that clamp does nothing to hold the bearing in place. black sea worked on this problem extensively, trying different kinds of clamps. including a welded on triple clamp setup. they all failed. no clamp can hold the slit in position enough to prevent the bearing from moving. it takes very litle play there to allow slippage. they knew of the problem, and did everything they could think of on mine. they ultimately gave up, and now will not rebuild those tubes. this is the business they are in. they are the experts.



it's a bad design that even porsche gave up on.



side note: this problem is exacerbated by a solid light flywheel with solid clutch disk, as the damping mechanism of the DMF is lost, allowing more vibration down the shaft, which starts the bearing moving.

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[Porsche968CS]

Both transmissions fit to both torque tubes. I believe that space is a minor issue when fitting a 6-speed in a 944. The 968 has a (6 litre) smaller fuel tank in order to provide some extra space. I've sold a couple of 6-speed gearboxes to 944 owners and always supplied the 968 fuel tank with it.

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[flash]

unless they made a similar clearance recess in the spare tire well of the 944, the 6 speed will be VERY close to touching, if not touching. we have a nice little recess in there to make the 1/2" of clearance between the tail housing and the spare tire well. that's not a lot when you consider that the entire body essentially "floats" over the drivetrain. you can see how much it moves by watching your shifter on and off throttle.

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.