Chapter 3
03 /18/04 - 10:00AM
3.0L engine anyone?

The time has arrived. If anyone has a 3.0L engine sitting around that they don't need, I'd be much abliged. Oh wait.

Yeah, that would be my right eye. Spooky, huh? And yes, those would be GORGEOUS 968 headers Jet-Hot coated. The new hotness. So, we have the engine ready to rock and roll up under the car.

Oops -- we forgot one of the header gaskets. Gotta loosen the middle two and slide that puppy in there. Wouldn't want any exhaust leaking! After we square that away, we jack the crap out of the front of the car again...

That's me on the left and Eric on the right. Yes, we have no idea what we are doing. Merely faking our way through this entire process. Well, not really. By the way, do you think I'll be able to get the car to launch at that angle with the 3.0L engine in there? Um... no.

We are preparing the engine for installation. Who ever said anything about "dropping and engine" in the 944 didn't know what they were talking about. You drop the 944 on the engine -- really!

She's in! Unfortunately I don't have pictures of the actual install, because our camera man (thanks Mike!) put down the camera to help us work. Slightly more crucial then taking pictures. Regardless, you get the idea -- the engine was under the car, now it's in the car -- and not by magic! At this point in time we have about 9 hours of work in the car -- no kidding. We then proceed to hook up the radiator and the cooling system (all but the uppder radiator hose) and the other odds and ends. We spent a few minutes installing the Rennbay.com stainless steel fuel lines (they are quite well done). I recommend them, especially at the price - if you have a 924/44/51/68, these fuel lines are a must have.

I spent a few minutes installing the 968 oil cooler in the best place I could find. This location looks to be where the factor inteded it to go. As I have never owned a 951, and I never bothered to look for the oil cooler (if it's indeed this style), I can only assume this is where it goes. I took off the black cowling that directs the air flow (it wouldn't fit with that installed), and found two holes in the body of the car that happened to match up perfectly with two holes in the far (left side) bracket of the oil cooler. Bending the right bracket only so slightly, I was able to slide the right side of the cooler in and slide the ever-present 13mm bolt in there. With a couple lock washers, these bolts tightened right up, and the cooler is as solid as it's gonna get. Just can't hit any curbs (or stumps). I'm going to cut out some of the front spoiler on that side (and the other side for symetry) in order to direct more air flow to the cooler. Should work perfectly.

That's all she wrote for today. Tomorrow, off to the muffler shop!

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