Vehicle Details
- Year: 1988
- Make: Porsche
- Model: 944
- VIN: WP0AB0946JN473121
- Mileage Shown: 168,521
- Transmission: Manual
- Title Status: Branded
- Color: Flint Pearl Metallic
- Seller Type: Private Party
- Location: Cazenovia, NY 13035
- Lot #: V-0050253
This 1988 Porsche 944 has been customized with an LS-based 5.3-liter LM4 V8 engine mated to a 5-speed manual transmission. Refinished in Flint Pearl Metallic from Lexus’ paint collection, this example features a sunroof, 16” Club Sport wheels, cruise control, central locking, and power windows. Modifications also include a Brian Tooley Stage II camshaft, LS6 valve springs, short headers, a Corvette clutch setup, Koni adjustable shocks, Porsche Turbo S brakes, Texas Performance Concepts upgrades, and much more. Acquired by the seller in 2012, this 944 is now being offered for auction out of New York.
Reportedly factory-specified in a gold Porsche shade, this example has since been refinished in Lexus’ Flint Pearl Metallic (1E0). The equipment includes pop-up headlights, integrated fog lights, a rubber spoiler attached to the glass rear hatch, and an optional electric sunroof. The seller adds that the front clip, right rear quarter panel, and rear diffuser are derived from a 1986 944 Turbo. It rides on 16” Club Sport alloy wheels wrapped in Firestone Indy 500 tires from 2015. Track use is reported, and minor imperfections are noted on the front bumper, mirrors, and rocker panels. Detailed images are provided in the gallery along with a CARFAX report showing rear end damage in 2007 and declaring a total loss.
Inside, the driver is situated within a burgundy partial leather interior wih matching carpets. Accessories include a leather-wrapped three-spoke steering wheel, a digital clock, a locking glovebox, power seats, power windows, cruise control, and central locking. The seller states the air conditioning system is in working order but not in excellent condition. All gauges, electronics, and accessories are confirmed to be working properly, except for the cassette player. Some wear is present on the seats, with stitching separation at the outer corners.
Beneath the hood lies a 5.3-liter LM4 V8 engine sourced from a 65k-mile 2003 Chevrolet Trailblazer, paired with a UY code 5-speed manual transaxle from a 1987 Porsche Turbo. Engine modifications include Texas Performance Concepts engine mounts, oil pan, and remote oil filter, a Brian Tooley Stage II truck camshaft with 212 intake and 218 exhaust duration at .553 lift, Chevrolet LS6 beehive valve springs, and Renegade Performance short headers, utilizing a stock GM engine computer with a PCM of North Carolina tune. The transmission features an NA 5th gear swap to lower RPM at highway speeds, complete with a Texas Performance Concepts clutch disc assembly, Corvette flywheel, bell housing, and torque tube adapter. The suspension has been upgraded with Koni Sport adjustable shocks and struts, along with PowerFlex urethane bushings throughout. Braking is enhanced by Porsche Turbo S "Big Black" four-piston calipers and braided steel brake hoses. Cooling is managed by a Texas Performance Concepts dual-pass radiator kit, and the vehicle is equipped with a Texas Performance Concepts A/C kit. The seller notes occasional clutch chatter during the initial engagement, which is said to resolve after the first use.
This sale will include a branded title.
The seller would like you to know: “I am a retired Automotive College Professor who has been involved in the automotive industry for over 40 years. I have experience in both mechanical and collision repair, giving me the knowledge and expertise to do a professional LS conversion on a Porsche 944. This car was originally purchased as a parts car for my son, but it eventually evolved into a well-sorted and fun-to-drive V8-powered 944. This 944 is one of the most exciting to drive Porsches I have owned. As a true Porsche enthusiast, I felt that the approach of building an LS swap 944 from pieces of other cars was less barbaric than cutting up an original example.”
Auction Results
- Sold for: $15,100
- Auction End: Oct 17, 2024 07:04:54PM UTC
- Number of Bids: 13
Comments (41)
@gwistrup My pleasure! I'll call you later.
Thank you MrTaggart.
Sold for $15,100
Bid in the amount of $15,100
Bid in the amount of $12,500
Bid in the amount of $12,000
Bid in the amount of $11,500
It's a UY open differential without an external oil cooler from a 1987 Turbo.
Bid in the amount of $10,750
Hello, was wondering what turbo transaxle you're running? I can tell it's not an 5r but is it 5p limited slip?
We are going into the last couple of hours for the auction. I will be here to answer any last-minute questions. Hopefully I can pass the car on to someone who will enjoy it as much as I have.
Bid in the amount of $10,500
Bid in the amount of $10,000
Bid in the amount of $9,500
Bid in the amount of $9,000
I repaired the rear hatch frame when I painted the car in 2016 and it has held up well. There are no creaks from the rear hatch. The hatch seal and sunroof seal have been replaced with 944Only seals.
Hi, for what it's worth I've known the seller, for twenty plus years. He is one of the finest automotive minds I have ever met, and in addition he is very meticulous. Just my two cents. By the way, the car he is selling is a whole lot of fun on many levels.
Is there any rear hatch window delamination? Any creaking from the rear hatch?
Bid in the amount of $7,500
The tires are in good shape. The car is always stored inside. They are about 50 percent tread with no cracking. The car has no overheating problems.
The tires are older, but I don't see any cracking. Would the car be up for a long road trip to Texas? Any cooling issues?
Additional content has been added to the gallery for this listing.
This car was originally an NA. It had the optional rear diffuser as the option tag states. I put a Turbo nose on it in 2020 when I put the LS engine in it.
I have owned the car for 11 years and it has changed a few times since I bought it. We purchased the car in 2013 for parts to restore my son's 944. We took the front end, windshield, rear diffuser and a bunch of miscellaneous trim for his 1985 944. His car was featured in the February 2018 issue of Porsche Panorama magazine. The car sat in storage for 2 years and I decided to fix it because my son and I purchased a barn full of 944 parts that enabled me to replace the items we took off of it. I put it on the road in 2016 and drove it with the 4 cylinder NA engine until 2020 when I installed the LS engine, Turbo transaxle and Turbo S brakes.
@yzfrider84 Was it also an option for an N/A the S2/951 front fenders, header, headlight covers and bumper cover as this car has?
Bid in the amount of $6,500
@rickb20 On the later 944's it was an option to have the turbo rear valance on an N/A. If you look at the picture of the option sticker its option #472.
The reason for my comment -- "Remember that in 2007, a N/A 944 was worth about $2500 so it took hardly any damage to total it out.". But, upon closer inspection, the photo of the silver, pre-repaired car looks to be an S2 or Turbo based on the holes for the rear undertray spoiler.
Gwistrup is no stranger to 944's. The son's 944 they restored from a $500 shell and multiple cars/parts. That son's 944 is a PCA Panorama magazine feature article. They have broke few other cars to get these and have aided me in past with parts from them for my old 944. There is vast skills and knowledge is this well sorted and turn key LS 944, which I have seen out at many CNYPCA events.
So this was an N/A that was converted to look like a Turbo/S2? Awesome work, by the way!
Bid in the amount of $5,500
I sent PCAR a cold start video when I placed the ad. I will get one posted as soon as I can.
Intriguing build! If able, would you please add a cold start video from outside?
Additional content has been added to the gallery for this listing.
Yes I did the conversion myself. All of the engine installation parts (engine mounts, adapters, clutch, radiator, A/C, Hydro boost for the brakes) came from Texas Performance Concepts. The shorty headers came from Renegade Hybrids.
I believe the chatter is due to the clutch disc I bought from Texas Performance Concepts. It has very stiff torsion springs in the center hub that take some practice to drive the car smoothly. The clutch might chatter the first time you back the car out of the garage and after that it goes away. It seems to do it more frequently when it is humid out. The clutch has about 4000 miles on it. It was new when I did the conversion and it has chattered since day one. I inspected the clutch this winter when I had the transaxle out to do the 5th gear conversion and it looked like new. Once again, it only does it sometimes on the first engagement and then it goes away.
Track usage was one autocross event so I would say very little track use. I built the car mostly for street use but I have equipped it with engine and power steering oil coolers if you want to take it to the track.
I will post some pictures of the vehicle when I got it. Yes, I did the repairs myself. I taught collision repair at a local college and I had access to frame equipment with computerized measuring and all the other necessary tools to do the job correctly such as MIG and spot welders and a paint booth.
The vehicle was hit in the back breaking the right rear taillight, bending the bumper support down and bowing the right rear quarter panel out. There were no kinks or folds in any of the frame rails. Remember that in 2007, a N/A 944 was worth about $2500 so it took hardly any damage to total it out.
One more - lol . any pictures of how bad the rear accident was? I think you say that you did the repairs yourself.
Bid in the amount of $5,000
Also could you describe the track usage ?
apologize for so many questions.
Good afternoon - did you do the conversion yourself? Is so what conversion kit - renegade ?
How many miles on the clutch? whats your opinion on the chatter? does not slip?
40 degrees at a standstill. The car has a Texas Performance Concepts A/C kit that includes a compressor, dryer and a condenser. I finished the A/C installation this winter by flushing the evaporator and making all the hoses. My vacuum pump would only go down to 25 in/hg and I wonder if that wasn't enough vacuum to pull out all of the flushing product from the evaporator. Pressures at 1500 RPM with the vehicle not moving are about 25 on the low side and 250 on the high side. It's possible that another evacuation down to 30 in/hg and a recharge might solve the problem.
At what temperature is the the A/C bowing?
Welcome to my 944 auction. I will do my best to answer all your questions in a timely manor. Thank you.