Porsche 924S - what to do with it?

I bought a dirt cheap 924S to use as a parts car. The thing is, I sold the 944 I was going to cut the 924S up for, leaving me with an 'extra' 924S. So not knowing what else to do with the car, I began by getting it running.

It didn't take much to get it running, but it smokes like a train (blue smoke, probably rings). Cosmetically, the car is OK. Strangely - since not much else works in the car - the air conditioning blows ice cold.

If it didn't smoke so badly, I would just drive it and occasionally auto cross it. But since it does, I'm thinking of shoving a Chevy V8 in it. I can get my hands on a good running 1996 LT1 from a Roadmaster for $500. Or, a 5.3L LS motor from a 2000 Escalade for $600.

The idea of a sleeper 924S is appealing, but it seems that if I wanted to sit really low in a car with a hard plastic interior, and go really fast for cheap, I could just buy a fourth-gen F-body.

Ideas?

The parts are worth significantly more than the whole. You may be able to make a dime or two parting it out.

if you decide to part it out.. please keep me in mind. I need the entire shifter mechanism..

There are tons of 944s in salvage yards, including ones that have been rolled or drifted into solid objects fairly often. Why not just put a new stock engine in?

In reply to Travis_K:

I can't seem to find one around here for under $1000. None of the local yards I've spoken to around here will guarantee that the engine won't smoke - or better yet, let me hear it run first.

Anything I do with this crap can has to stay dirt cheap.

944cup/ITS racing?

Call George over at 944 ecology I am sure he can set you up with a motor. http://www.944ecology.com/ Tell him Dean from over at Clarks Garage sent you.

Meanwhile, on the other track of this thread, if you can get an LT1 for $500 and an Escalade 5.3 LS for $600, wouldn't the additional hundred bucks be a no-brainer?

Around here you could find a wrecked one in pick and pull and get the long block for $250. If it's different there then I can see why you wouldn't do that.

In reply to Stealthtercel:

Seems like it would be. I know the aluminum LS motors are light and have a lot of potential, but this 5.3 is a cast iron truck engine. Anybody know which one (LT1 or LS) is easier/cheaper to swap-in?

Or build a rear transaxle Locost out of it. Should be fun.

M030 wrote: In reply to Stealthtercel: Seems like it would be. I know the aluminum LS motors are light and have a lot of potential, but this 5.3 is a cast iron truck engine. Anybody know which one (LT1 or LS) is easier/cheaper to swap-in?

Iron motors are heavier but have similar horsepower potential. It seems the turbo guys prefer the iron blocks - they may be able to take more boost.

BAMF wrote: Or build a rear transaxle Locost out of it. Should be fun.

That was sort of why I wanted the shifter mechanism.. including all it's body mounting points. I guess I will need to buy a wrecked or dead 924/44 and have at it