anyone have an early car with a 4-speed?

[nostatic]

How do the 4-speed trannies compare, and for 901 cars, are they also a dogleg pattern?

[Todd Simpson]

Don't have one, but I test drove a 4 speed '68 912 years ago. It's not a dogleg pattern. The 4 speed 901 puts 1-4 in the same place 2-5 is on the 5 speed box, both in the pattern and inside the trans.

[maxnine11]

from a 1969 R&T comparison: a 69 911T with the four speed--70mph = 3470 rpm!! 0 to 60mph was a rather lengthy 8.8 seconds

[atlporsche]

does a 912 count???

I can officially out run a subaru SVX...

the fourspeed is okay...first is great (same as 5 speed) second isn't long enough, and third is too long.

I find myself switching back and forth alot between 2nd and third in city driving, but usually just speed in third.

hope this helps some.

sjd

[dhaines]

I have a 4 speed. No dogleg. 1st is the same ratio on both and my 4th is the same as 5th of a 5 speed. I have a big hole between 2nd and 3rd, other than that not a problem. I talked to the local P-car wrecking yard about picking up a 5 speed and he suggested keeping the 4 speed, as they rarely fail. If you are really into performace the closer gears would be welcome. I am pretty OK with it as I do not drive it in a way that it really matters.

[RallyJon]

I remember reading somewhere that the 901 4-speeds are favored by the V8 conversion guys. They apparently have a MUCH greater torque tolerance than the 901 5-speeds. Makes one wonder how it would work with a torquey 3.6 in a light, early car. It would save a bit of weight vs a 915, and the 901 has a really nice shift action once you get into the "H".

[HarryD]

Originally posted by RallyJon
I remember reading somewhere that the 901 4-speeds are favored by the V8 conversion guys. They apparently have a MUCH greater torque tolerance than the 901 5-speeds. Makes one wonder how it would work with a torquey 3.6 in a light, early car. It would save a bit of weight vs a 915, and the 901 has a really nice shift action once you get into the "H".

The four speed was also the only available tranny for the Turbo cars due to factory concerns of premature failures.

[RallyJon]

I thought the turbo 4-speed was different, and much larger than the 901.

[bigchillcar]

It's true about the 4-speed only for turbos...up until '89 I believe when the 5-speed became available.
Ryan

[Todd Simpson]

I thought the turbo 4-speed was different, and much larger than the 901.

Yep, a whole different animal. The advantage of the 4 speed 901 for the V8 swap is the notoriously weak first gear is gone.

You still have a first gear of course, it's just that it's in a different place and has much better support for a hard launch.

[POVI]

Hi,

I put a 1986 930 4 speed long bell housing in my 1975 911 with a V8 things needed to do are ..

modify front trans mount .. so trans fits more forward about 1.5 "

disassemble trans and cut bell housing and pinion shaft down about 1.3 inches, and machine a new centering grove in bell housing

get a 930 petal assy .. you need the clutch petal and arm as the 930 petal arm is longer than a 915 arm so when you depress clutch petal you get more throw.

If you go with a early short version of the 930 .. you dont have to cut the trans box, but then again the later boxes are stronger and 10 years newer .. thats why i went with a late long bell housing 930

here is a picture..



Take care - Joe -

[rvanderpyl]

I have a 68 with a 4 speed. The 5 speed had 1st hanging out the front of the transmission along with reverse so it was only supported on one end, hence the propensity to snap off if you dumped the clutch on a higher horsepower car. I had considered replacing mine with a 5 speed, but so far I am sticking with it as it seems to get the job done, and I'm saving a little weight

[barlowdo]

I believe the 901 4 speed for the Sporto is slightly different than the early 901 4 speed.

Reason I say this is, I was trying to sell a early 4 speed and the guy would not buy it because the serial numbers I gave him told him that it was not a Sporto which he needed.