924Board.org

[turbobob9242]

Guys,

Here is an article that got published about my hybrid.

There are some good pictures but I don't see a good way to paste them here.

You can downlod the newsletter off the Chicago PCA club website:


Chicago PCA newsletter

See pages 16 and 17.

The file is about 10Meg so make sure you have a broadband connection.

Here is the full text:

IN OUR OWN BACKYARD: MOAB
John Miller [Boxster_S@veryspeedy.net]

photos by John Miller





The voiceover in the movie "Field of Dreams" repeats, "If you build it, they will come". PCA-Chicago member Bob Ward has a different feature in mind. Let's call it Field of Screams.
Bob's voiceover might be "If you build it, they will run". And so he did. This Porsche redefines Shock and Awe. I had the chance to see this car on the streets recently -women and small children ran in terror. Men, seasoned car guys, stopped in amazement. So, what makes this Beast special?
The star of Field of Screams is as much the owner as the car. Bob Ward, during the day is a mild mannered ... ahh it would make great copy to write 'Accountant'... but the truth is a step from there, as he is the VP of Finance for a transmission company.
A unique twist to this Backyard story is that in spite of the over¬whelming complexity and specialty construction and fabrication, this is no 'farm-out' job. Bob has done nearly all the work himself, and that alone qualifies for some sort of special award. And how special is Bob's Porsche? Bob put it on the dyno (photo 1) a few weeks ago and was supremely disappointed that it

ONLY was putting down 380 HP and only (ONLY!) 524ft-pounds of torque. There's more in it. He was certain of that. I had no doubts.
The car started its life as a 1980 931 Porsche or commonly referred to as a 924 turbo. The list of modifications runs into multiple pages, so let's take a look at the highlights: (For all the gruesome details of the conversion, check out Bob's web page at www.turbo924.com/)
The powerplant is no pushover: The original 924 (4 cylinder) motor was removed and replaced with a 1986 Buick Grand National Turbo V6, bored out .030 to apx 4.2 liters. (It's widely believed that Bob dipped the motor in WD-40 in order to squeeze it in the Porsche engine bay.) (photo 2) Bob stocked the inside the motor with Speedpro pistons, polished rods, ported heads, polished and cut down crank, and 42.5 PSI fuel injectors.
Power transfer is thru a custom 8.5" Quarter Master semi racing clutch and plate and custom flywheel that routes through a 944 turbo 5 speed transmission and put to the ground thru 245-50-16 tires. Bob has literally destroyed 4 previous "high

performance" clutch assemblies. The Quarter Master setup is capable of 600 ft Ibs of torque and Bob has explored the (published) 400HP limit of the 944 turbo transmissions (having already ground up 4 of them).
Bob borrowed (adapted) a stock Porsche 944 turbo intercooler and radiator setup for the Buick motor.
Significant frame changes and enhancements were necessary to support his creation including a notched and lowered cross member, custom steering link¬age, and Paragon front coilovers and KYB shocks.
Bob recently added the 924 Carrera GT body kit (photo 3) to accommodate 17" wheels and wider tires. The biggest problem with the car has been transfer¬ring power to the ground. To help stop the beast, he added 1986 944 turbo brakes and custom hydro-boost brake assist.
A few extra touches include a custom interior holding a stereo, a video system, specially calibrated gauges, and other (undisclosed) technology (photo 4). The box on top of the dash is a dual stage boost controller. Base turbo boost on thisengine is at 13 Lbs. (about the max that a stock 944 turbo operates at). Bob has run as much as 18 Lbs boost and figures the car is capable of 24 Lbs. of usable boost.
A unique problem that Bob created and is trying to solve (using technology) is to make less turbo boost at low RPMS and more in the top end. The dual stage boost controller lets him set a low base boost and adjust up to 7 more Ibs at RPM's over 4000.
Using equipment specifications based on the turbo and the current fuel injectors, Bob calculates the GN924 is capable of 540HP and 700+ ft Lbs of torque. Even the Dyno operators were disappointed when

Bob's car repeatedly cut out before generating over 400HP. Bob did some detailed research and found out that his custom computer con¬troller chip was not programmed correctly and the injectors were


cutting off at 60% of capacity. The chip has been reprogrammed and I saw the car run last night.
This Beast is off its leash. Hide your children.
_________________
Bob Ward
80 9214 turbo, w 5.3 LS V8

[CBass]

Awesome, great work Bob! So are you planning on sticking with the Porsche transaxle, or converting to a traditional rear axle setup? I'd hate to see another solid rear axle in a P-car...
_________________
'81 931 in various states of assembly

[turbobob9242]

I'll be at Indy this weekend if anybody want s to come see the beast...
_________________
Bob Ward
80 9214 turbo, w 5.3 LS V8

[N-Dub]

What time, and how far away from the Brickyard speedway?
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'79 924 now Totaled! Carrera GT bodywork for sale!
'87 951