fanfoy wrote: How about the Audi 4.2 V8 out of an A8? They look really wide, but they are cheap. There is one for sale right now locally for 1k and I've seen them cheaper.
I think only the original 3.6 and 4.2 from the Audi V8 Sedan (predecessor to the A8) would work. The later V8s used a different bellhousing pattern I think.
Well, since you said you didn't mind fab work, what about an older VQ30/35 engine from a maxima? Slap on a 350z trans and sounds like fun. People are tossing them in 240sx's all the time. There's an FC rx7 with one floating around on the interwebs somewhere, too.
Nissan sr20det. All aluminum, 205-240hp (depending on which model) and 210tq. It's a reliable motor that has a great powerbad and huge aftermarket support.
turboswede wrote:fanfoy wrote: How about the Audi 4.2 V8 out of an A8? They look really wide, but they are cheap. There is one for sale right now locally for 1k and I've seen them cheaper.I think only the original 3.6 and 4.2 from the Audi V8 Sedan (predecessor to the A8) would work. The later V8s used a different bellhousing pattern I think.
so after some research, I decided I was sorta correct:
http://www.motorgeek.com/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=20733
Buried in that awesome thread is information on using a 924 Turbo bellhousing with an Audi V8. 5 bolts line up, so either adding tabs to the bellhousing or building a thin plate to adapt between the two housings.
penultimeta wrote: Well, since you said you didn't mind fab work, what about an older VQ30/35 engine from a maxima? Slap on a 350z trans and sounds like fun. People are tossing them in 240sx's all the time. There's an FC rx7 with one floating around on the interwebs somewhere, too.
+1 on the VQ
VW 1.8turbo. Awesome motor, great aftermarket support, tons of donors. Easy to get more horsepower and torque than a stock 951. And badge it as a VW just to show you know your history.
David
wait wait wait...doesnt want a v8?
lol JK...Nissan SR20DE/VE is my vote. Large displacement 4 banger, lots of aftermarket, aluminum block. Loves boost. VE model gets variable valve timing, but carries a stiff entry cost. SR20's are pretty compact overall, and lots of aftermarket tuning/engine/fuel management options.
Ummm. Yeah. LSx. Period. I have one in my 951 and to say that it rocks would be a massive understatement. Everything you need to bolt it in is commercially available.
If you have some strange desire to NOT put the best possible motor in the car and have a TON of fun, I suppose I'd go with the 1.8T motor instead. Then waste tons of time/money/effort to make LESS power than the LSx... 
I see everyone's point re the LSX. It is just not what I want to build. I don't want a muscle car / supper car. That is what you get when you do that. They are a great cars/motor combo. Probubly one of the best performance values out there next to a C5 ZO6, but I am looking more at something that is moderately powered that has great handling is easy to work on and if down the road I want to add boost there is plenty of room in the engine bay to do so. Since I will be doing all the service/maintenance down the road I really like having just 4/5 cylinders and having lots of room in the engine bay to work in. I have had many V8 muscle cars in my life and although they were great to drive working on a V8 can be a PITA compared to a I4. Another thing to consider. 99% of the time is spent cruising along at "normal" speeds. You don't need a V8 for that. It is a waste. Now if I was building a DE / track / cone killer car using this platform there really is no better option than a LSX.
I guess what I am doing is taking a car that will otherwise be broken up for parts (I would be purchasing a roller here not starting with a working car) and putting it back on the road with the same or slightly better performance using something other than the OE motor and hopefully improving on the OE motor in terms of reliability, parts availability, and ease of servicing it.
And then there is me just wanting to be different. I have never been one to follow the herd.
My first thought when I saw the thread title was "rotary." Although I like the BMW M52 or S52 idea as well, keeps the German character of the thing and is a fairly reasonably priced motor.
dean1484 wrote: And then there is me just wanting to be different. I have never been one to follow the herd.
Yeah, because a Chevy V8 into a Porsche 944 is sooo pedestrian.
I kid. I get it. Sort of. At least on the internet, everyone's done it. In reality it would be the only one within a few hundred miles.
I don't have much to offer you, though. What do you like? Find it and put its engine in the Porsche.
It's your choice, just seems really dumb to waste tons of time/effort/money and end up with an inferior product.
Another vote for the Audi AAN 5-cylinder swap. You should be able to find a whole engine/harness/ECU with turbo for under $1500, maybe significantly less if you can find a smashed S4 donor.
B5234T meets your 5 cylinder criteria:
So, I decided to bump a REALLY old thread.... My '86 944 Turbo came to me with a 968 3.0 swap that I LOVE, but gave me problems with blown head gaskets and, finally, a broken exhaust cam. I am rebuilding the head to repair numerous stripped cam tower bolt hole threads, detonation dimples on the combustion chamber and to square up any warping from being overheated by the previous owner. While the head is out for machining, I am replacing all front seals, oil pump, water pump, gaskets, etc and removing the oil pan to find a cam tower bolt head head responsible for the snapped exhaust cam. I hope that solves my reliability problems because the combination of a 3" Magnaflow exhaust and those HUGE pistons sounds glorious down the straights :-)
That said, if that 3.0 doesn't prove itself to be reliable, the car is getting an LS. The LS3 "truck" motor offers 430hp/425 lb/ft torque, the reliability of a hammer and only weighs about 35 lbs more than the turbo motor setup the car was built with originally.
The next best option is the Audi 1.8T.
I get wanting something different. I autocross a Spitfire with a bridge-ported 13B with a Weber, an FB RX7 5-speed and Datsun 510 IRS with 9.5" Hoosiers. That said, I am tired of having to do significant work on the 944 EVERY time I track it.
I'm with preach.
Came here to suggest the 07k and saw it'd already been brought up, so I'll keep with the theme and recommend the earlier AAN/3B, although they're starting to get priced out of the "budget swap" range.
If you're looking for inspiration, Mike Day swapped a turbo 07k into a 944 rally build on the ECS Tuning YouTube channel. Worth checking out
To be different, consider one of the high output 4 cylinder options. Lighter, and the turbo ones put out comparable power to a V8 plus usually smaller than a V6/V8 so easier conversion. They include:
Ecotec - stock usually 290 bhp but over 400 available and excellent fuel mileage (I run a 375 bhp version in one of my street cars)
GM 2.7 L3B - used in small pickups, 310 bhp, 450 tq
Volvo B4, B5, B6 four cylinder turbo - 194 - 247 - 295 bhp
2.3L motor out of a Mustang makes 300 hp, enough to be fun but not crazy.....based on Cars and Coffee posts, there should be plenty in the yards! 
Turbine said:Came here to suggest the 07k and saw it'd already been brought up, so I'll keep with the theme and recommend the earlier AAN/3B, although they're starting to get priced out of the "budget swap" range.
If you're looking for inspiration, Mike Day swapped a turbo 07k into a 944 rally build on the ECS Tuning YouTube channel. Worth checking out
The last time I saw a 20v Audi turbo engine for sale, there were five digits on the price 
The 944 engine bay is weird. IIRC the 951 stuck the turbo on the intake manifold side of the engine because there was just no room on the exhaust side.
In reply to Pete. (l33t FS)
They go for around $2500 in the 5cyl Audi groups I'm in. I got mine for a little over challenge money last year.
But yeah, they've roughly doubled in price in the last 4-5 years.
Really. I was looking at $4k for a 7A, let alone a 3B or the vaunted AAN.
I have plenty of 5cyl bottom ends but good luck finding a 20v head that someone didn't part the cams out of, or comes with a water manifold... By the time you piece all that together you may be at $2500 just for the top end.
In reply to Evanuel9 :
I came in here to mention that exact car! It'd make a very cool sounding 944.
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