915 its own worst enemy?

[Matt Holcomb]

Originally posted by JonT
Ok--so what is the fix for the 915? or isnt there one? has anyone rebuilt or customized a 915 to shift better, smoother, easier?

The WEVO shifter. This shifter transforms the 915 into a more precise unit, with throws that are 40% shorter.

I've done close to 90 laps with mine without any drama.



WEVO shifter aside, the 915 is actually a pretty good gearbox on the track -- you're never in first gear!

My 915 was rebuilt 15,000kms ago with all new syncros, so it's still a bit tight -- I can crunch the second-gear syncro if I rush a downshift.


Matt Holcomb
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[911pcars]

"G50.... Ruf"

Now that I've finished chuckling, are these the alternatives 911 owners have for their 915 gearboxes? Might as well install a turbo'd Saab engine while we're in there

Back to my world; just as in Porsche's advertising mantra, "Porsche - there is no substitute", I guess one could say that about our 915s as well. I think most of us will have to live with our tail-happy transaxled cars as is.

Sherwood

[beepbeep]

Originally posted by ZCAT3
This is more about economics than anything else. The 911s were selling without Porsche putting money into these improvements (what else explains the faulty door pocket design that lasted what, 20 years). When Porsche wanted to expand into other cars, i.e the 924/944 design, they had to make a superior product as they were not 911s. I had a chance to drive a 1987 924S the other day with close to 300,000 miles on the original engine and tranny and it shifted great - like my old 91 Nissan NX2000. I was shocked and said to the owner ' "You mean Porsche made a smooth sifting transmission like this in 1987?" I have a G50 1987 Coupe with a tranny in very good shape and the 924S shifted way better (oh, and the AC worked as well).

924S , 944 and 968 all had Audi-sourced gearboxes

They tried with Porsche-developed 5-speed 915-derived box called G31.01 that existed in 924's untill 1980 when it was finally replaced beacuse of crappy shifting. It's called "snailshell" gearbox and is easily recognized by the fact that all gears are in front of rear axle. Those 924-afficionados still having one of those are usually replacing them with later Audi-based ones beacuse of "crunchy" 1:st gear and hopelessly expensive and frequent rebuilds.

Actually, side diff lock sitting on G31.01 box is exactly the same lock that sits on 915 and 930 boxes, and when we bought cheap rebuilded 930 box that missed this diff-cover (mech somehow lost it during rebuild), i sourced one of those from a local junkyard for peanuts

So yes....everything that has 915 gears has been despised by drivers...aircooled or not.