Whenever a car with a bad or missing engine is featured here on Barn Finds, the conversation inevitably turns to LS swapability. Normally it’s a bad idea but we may have found a car where the swap could make sense. This 1984 Porsche 944 is missing its engine and finding a replacement could be tricky so why not? Find this LS candidate here on Facebook Marketplace out of Boise, Idaho (BF’s Hometown) where it’s listed for $3,000.
First off, what the heck is an LS swap? For anyone new to the concept, it involves removing a vehicle’s original engine and replacing it with a GM LS-Series V8 engine. This modification is popular because the engines are plentiful, typically cheap, and easy to upgrade. It’s an easy way to add modern fuel injection and air-conditioning to an old car. Sounds like a good idea, right?
Well, sometimes. Other times it can be a nightmare. Some swaps require firewall modifications or custom motor mounts. Wiring can be a huge challenge too. For every nicely done swap, there’s a dozen unfinished ones bound for the scraper. We have seem many good cars get ruined by these big LS dreams. So we typically advise against it.
This one feels different though. The engine is already missing and it won’t be easy to find a good replacement. The body and interior appear to be in good shape too so you wouldn’t be spending all you time there. It’s rear wheel drive and there are kits available to make the job easier. I have a feeling the swap could make an already good handling car even more fun. What do you think – LS swap it?
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