lemons porsche 944 race car

Chevrolet-Powered Porsche 944 Race Car

What started as a Nissan 300ZX being converted from fuel injection to carburetion eventually turned into something considerably more ambitious: a Chevrolet-powered Porsche 944 built for the race track.

This project was all about making things work that weren't necessarily designed to work together. The Porsche's original drivetrain was replaced with a Chevrolet V8, while retaining the Porsche transmission and torque tube. Getting the two together was far more involved than simply bolting an engine into an empty engine bay. Components had to be moved to make room, including the brake and clutch arrangements, while the connection between the Chevrolet engine and Porsche drivetrain required some very careful engineering.

One of the biggest lessons came from the coupling between the engine, torque tube and transmission. The measurements and positioning of the pilot bearing were critical, and getting that wrong resulted in some expensive failures — and a transmission that we eventually became remarkably good at removing. After a few attempts, we could have it out in under an hour!

The car evolved through testing and racing, exposing new problems along the way. Cooling became an issue, leading to upgraded expansion tanks and other changes. The transmission was eventually upgraded, while oil cooling was added to help deal with the demands of track use. Carburetion brought its own challenges, particularly fuel starvation through corners, resulting in a move from the Quadrajet to a Holley. The standard brake and clutch cylinder was also replaced with a racing setup, and the original fuel tank eventually gave way to a proper fuel cell.

This is the story of taking a Porsche 944 well beyond its original specification, combining Porsche running gear with American V8 power and learning — sometimes the hard way — what it takes to make a hybrid race car survive on track.

Porsche 944 Racecar - Chevy Engine Swap

What happens when you take a Porsche 944, throw away the original engine and replace it with a Chevrolet V8? This is the story of a rather...