Wevo side cover and bearing plate?

[Geronimo]

Wondering if these bits are worth installing while I have my trans out? I do plan on adding boost to my SC in the next year or so. It would be nice it the 915 had a little more durability... but I wasn't sure if the WEVO stuff was really that helpful.

[Harpo]

Good evening

I'm collecting parts for my trans build in the near future. I have the double bearing plate and plan on getting both the side cover and the internal shift gate. CMS also makes many of these components and are a little bit cheaper. Who is doing the work on your trans?

David

[Geronimo]

Automotive Techniques in Novi.

My original plan was to get a 930 short bell housing and never look back, but my 915 had other plans. :|

[Geronimo]

OMG their prices are pretty cheap for trans work!!

[LUFTKUL]

Tim Pott is the man over there. Good dude.

[Geronimo]

Tim Pott? At automotive techniques? Yea, I think he went there from Arbor Motion.

I hope they do good work, I haven't found anything negative about them.

[brighton911]

Both the side cover and (especially) the bearing carrier are worthy additions. Great that you have a good guy to do the work.

[spuggy]

Originally Posted by Geronimo

Wondering if these bits are worth installing while I have my trans out? I do plan on adding boost to my SC in the next year or so. It would be nice it the 915 had a little more durability... but I wasn't sure if the WEVO stuff was really that helpful.

Some transmission-related links I bookmarked when using a 915 with a 930:

The "How to beef up a 915" thread. Parts and costs?
sick 915/differential - diagnosis in progress
Puck type clutch disk?

You may think it's cheap to do a turbo conversion - and it can be. Trouble is, it can be difficult to stop. I once thought "330HP ought to be enough for anybody". Trouble is, with a 930, 420FWHP is only 3 bolt-items - intercooler, headers/exhaust, decent turbo - away. And transforms the response/driveability of the car. Then you end up upgrading more and more of the car to match/cope.

Thing to watch out for is doing things over and over - helps to have a plan. Or several. Re-visiting things you already did gets spendy - but not as much as breaking things.

[Rawknees'Turbo]

Originally Posted by Geronimo

Wondering if these bits are worth installing while I have my trans out? I do plan on adding boost to my SC in the next year or so. It would be nice it the 915 had a little more durability... but I wasn't sure if the WEVO stuff was really that helpful.

Geronimo, I've probably posted this before in one of your, "to boost or not to boost?" (not really a question, as the answer is obvious! ) threads, but in review, the 915 gearbox has much narrower gears than the 930 box does (aka - not near as much meat on them) . . . Matt Monson has posted side by side pics in the past, and it really is a big difference in size (and as everyone knows, size does matter! ).

Second gear is typically the one that grenades when a 915 is used with an engine boosted to beyond 300 pound feet of torque or so (remember, turbocharging means a huge gain in torque - way beyond what a built n/a engine produces), and people will advise you to just take it easy from a dig, butt where is the fun in that?!?!

That said, if you plan to use the 915 for a while, which it sounds like you do, given your car budget concerns, etc., reinforcing the 915 with the WEVO components is a good idea (still have the problem of the anorexic gears, of course, but overall added strength to the box helps some).

[Geronimo]

As usual Rawks, you are the voice from the dark places in my head.

My plan is to sort the car this year, collect as much of the turbo bits as I can over the next year or so. Then shoot for a .5/.7 bar set up and treat the trans nice.

Then I can set my sights on a 930 trans and not worry about the boost addict in me.

Time to start that side business I guess.

[Mahler9th]

Of course:

"What something is worth depends on what you compare it to."

Most experts I have known have suggested that using an alu side cover on a mag case 915 is beneficial for many applications where the engine spec offers more performance than stock. This has been true for decades. And by experts I mean real experts, not internet experts.

When I bought my '75 nearly 20 years ago, it had a 3.8 liter engine and a mag case 915. And one of the excellent NLA Guard TBD's.

Eventually I implemented an alu side cover from a newer 915. It was a little less expensive than a WEVO at the time, but of course not as well-engineered. As my engine performance specs increased, several of my expert friends suggested that it would be beneficial.

I now use a WEVO side cover as I acquired one with another 915 I bought.

The WEVO side cover has a lot of real thought and engineering behind its design. Their web site clearly states the benefits. I know the WEVO folks personally, and folks out there may appreciate the fact that the designer's background and experience includes the highest levels of professional motorsport, including IndyCar and IMSA. And he is passionate about Porsches.

I also added a WEVO single piece retainer along the way. That was over 10 years ago. I also use aftermarket hardware (either aviation style lock nuts or bolts and safety wire) to cinch it down.

One of my expert friends has suggested to me that in his experience (which is probably north of 40 years, and includes working on and racing very potent turbo-powered air-cooleds), the greatest benefit of the single plate approach can be perhaps realized in alu 915's-- that the mag case units already have a steel structure by design. Makes sense.

The WEVO owner/designer and the expert to which I referred above know each other and have done business with each other and have respect for each other. And I have benefited from expert suggestions and guidance from others like Paul Guard, Matt Monson, Jerry Woods and several others whom have enormous accumulated area under the curve.

I think it makes sense to consider these things for many situations where the engine performance is greater than what was originally shipped by PAG attached to a specific 915.

And then perhaps to consider the costs of new 915 parts, et cetera. The costs of these parts is now such that for some non-stock situations, it may pay to strongly consider a different transmission like a 930 box. And not only new part costs, but costs for things like used crown wheel/pinion sets, which are getting more and more scarce.

And of course the "use case" is tantamount.

What are the specifics of the use case, now and planned?

[Lyle O]

Originally Posted by Geronimo

Tim Pott? At automotive techniques? Yea, I think he went there from Arbor Motion.

I hope they do good work, I haven't found anything negative about them.

Automotive Techniques is the best in SE Michigan, without a doubt. Rebuilt my engine with them several years ago; so happy with the entire experience. Jeff Jones, the owner, spent time with race teams back in the '80s. Tim is president of the PCA chapter on that side of town (Bahnstormer Chapter). There is no one else I would trust around here with an engine/trans rebuild (or anything else significant, for that matter).

[Geronimo]

Thats great to hear!

I still need to check you car out Lyle. Maybe a Pastieners sometime. I am hating not having my car this summer.

[Rawknees'Turbo]

Originally Posted by Geronimo

As usual Rawks, you are the voice from the dark places in my head.

My plan is to sort the car this year, collect as much of the turbo bits as I can over the next year or so. Then shoot for a .5/.7 bar set up and treat the trans nice.

Then I can set my sights on a 930 trans and not worry about the boost addict in me.

Time to start that side business I guess.

Looks like a good plan, and I am honored to help you spend your money on go-fast parts!