915 vs G50 transmission

[JackT]

I have been messing with my transmission for months trying to get it to shift into 2nd better. Changed coupler bushings, added short shifter, changed motor and transmission mounts. Its as good now as it is probably going to get, but it is still not an easy shift from 1st to 2nd. Yesterday, I drove a 1992 911 with the G50 transmission. It shifted easier from 1st to 2nd, but there was no feed back from the tranmission. Kind of a numb feel. After driving back to back, I am not sure I prefer the G50. Its is easier but I felt like I was losing some of the connection with the car, which is the reason I love driving my 911SC now. Thats the exciting thing about the Carreras and older 911s, you feel part of the car when driving.

[1fastredsc]

Have you tried changing the trans fluid? Swepco is the probably the best stuff to put into a porsche gearbox. Only problem that i personally have found is that it's expensive, and it only starts working really good when it gets hot after driving for awhile. Other than that, awesome stuff.

[ChrisBennet]

Originally posted by DrewT
I have been messing with my transmission for months trying to get it to shift into 2nd better. Changed coupler bushings, added short shifter, changed motor and transmission mounts. Its as good now as it is probably going to get, but it is still not an easy shift from 1st to 2nd. Yesterday, I drove a 1992 911 with the G50 transmission. It shifted easier from 1st to 2nd, but there was no feed back from the tranmission. Kind of a numb feel. After driving back to back, I am not sure I prefer the G50. Its is easier but I felt like I was losing some of the connection with the car, which is the reason I love driving my 911SC now. Thats the exciting thing about the Carreras and older 911s, you feel part of the car when driving.

Drew,
There is only so much you can do external to the transmission to improve it. A short shifter will make things a little worse if anything as they reduce the "feel" and increase the effort. The bushings people replace "while they're in there" doing a short shift conversion are what really make the difference.
The difficulty in going from 1st to 2nd is most likely a worn 2nd gear syncro. The Swepco recommendation is a good one.
-Chris

[Rick Lee]

A pre-89 G50 feels a little different. Believe me, my '87 makes you feel connected to the road. You can hear and feel every moving part in that car. 964's got a little more refined.

[KTL]

I'll second Richard's comment. The early G50 is certainly not all that refined. Mine whines, growls, chatters,.......... but it does shift nice!

The one thing I don't like about the G50 is the left-of-first reverse gate. If you rush the 3rd-2nd downshift, you can pull too far left and grab the reverse gate, getting an "empty" gear when you go pull down for second. There's nothing there. You get blocked out.

[JackT]

I did the Swepco thing too. My transmission is doing fine for a 915. My point was the G50 I drove had a numb feel to it compared to the feel of a 915 and that I liked the feedback of the 915 better. If the early G50 transmissions still gave good feedback but is easier to shift, then that would be the best of both worlds.

[dean]

I put an 88 G50 in my car and from my experince the G50 shifts a thousand times better. My 915 wasn't too bad either.

[andyu911]

My G50 is good, but my friend's 88 is great. It's much smoother compare to mine, eventhough I rebuilt it and have Redline oil in it. The early G50 doesn't feel rubberish at all compare to 964's.

[nestorjw]

how hard is it to put a G50 into an SC?

[dean]

It is a little hard. If you do the work yourself you have to completely take the tranny apart to have it mach. Or put coil overs into the car. Then you have to install the hyd. clutch pedal stuff and the new shifter. So it is a fair amount of work and cost. About $5k