Swepco, Fact or Fiction

[stomachmonkey]

Car has always shifted like garbage.

Difficult to get into 2nd and 4th at times and just generally not smooth.

Did front bushings last winter and it helped, have the coupler bushing and solid motor/sport tranny mounts that still need to be done.

Front bushings and a shifter adjust helped a lot but it still did not shift well.

Picked up some Swepco at the beginning of the summer and never got around to it till this weekend.

What a difference. Not perfect but the improvement is dramatic.

Shifting feels lighter and definately silkier.

A lot less effort involved.

Will run it for a week, drain it and refill just to make sure all the old stuff is out.

Was thinking about a rebuild lately but it looks like I may have bought some time.

I am a believer.

Scott

[RoninLB]

Originally posted by stomachmonkey
Not perfect but the improvement is dramatic.

Shifting feels lighter and definately silkier.
I am a believer.

routine weight or the 80-120w?

[stomachmonkey]

Ron,

Swepco 201.

Have any experience, words of wisdom w/anything else?


Scott

[n8marx]

Not only did I notice a dramatic shifting improvement when I first made the change but now after about 5K miles it is very nice. It seems to get better as time goes on. Rack up the miles and you'll the shifting improve. To a point at least.

[BGCarrera32]

I've always thought of it as damage control.
If you pull your magnetic drain plug and its all full of metal swarf its only a matter of time anyway...best thing ever done for my shifting was a proper adjustment of the shift coupler...

[Danskman]

Originally posted by BGCarrera32
...best thing ever done for my shifting was a proper adjustment of the shift coupler...

Please explain... Thank you!

[nostatic]

I can't believe you didn't title this thread:

Swepco, Fact or Friction.

Opportunity missed

[RoninLB]

Originally posted by stomachmonkey
Ron,
Swepco 201.
Have any experience, words of wisdom w/anything else?

only that I'm gonna fill with Swepco 212, which I think is
75 or 80/120w.. Warren suggested it for some applications. So WTF.. I hate all 915s to begin with so I'm not a good inspiring resource on this.. but to take the 915 serious involves the aftermarket shifter and non-slop full metal coupling.. and I always check the linkage inside the cover that's located on the bottom of the tranny.. maybe 3in X 3in outside cover plate with 4 small bolts on the plate, can't miss it.. so shifting these trannys is no prize to begin with............Ron

[tmctguer]

danksman: check the technical article on shift coupler adjustment, or look in 101 Projects. adjusting the shift coupler (which is located under the mysterious plate on the floor in between the rear seats), and replacing all bushings usually improves shift performance.

new fluid (swepco or otherwise) never hurts, either. but new fluid won't cover for excessively worn bushings or a mis-adjusted shifter coupling.

[BGCarrera32]

My coupler was adjusted by the shop (without my asking them to) basically making slight rotations back at the shift coupler and movements for and aft balance the shift lever so that it isn't rotated too far one way, too far forward, etc. There is a real difference in making slight tweeks to the coupler before you cinch it onto the shift shaft so that it engages gears more smoothly. It won't fix a goofy synchro of course, but it was noticeably smoother after being done on mine. Keep in mind a short shift kit will only magnify existing shifting problems, because it increases the amount of effort you will need to pull the lever. I installed a short shift kit, and then made about a 1" long extension piece that I turned on a lathe to increase the lever length. Now I have about the same throw as before, but my shift ball is another inch higher (and further away from the seat), which fits me better. I think the ball is placed too low to the floor in the 911 (and some of them have the seats too high...but I'm rambling again....)

[chuckr]

I just put the 212 in my 915 and I am going to change back to 201.
I have 248,000 miles and am looking at a rebuild in the near future.
The 201 is a bit thicker like 80 or90Wt the 212 is a 80-140Wt... I forget the exact numbers but in my tranny, the 201 was better than the 212.
I think the 212 would be best in a newer/lower milage tranny, mine is just a bit too worn and needs a thicker fluid.

[Jdub]

What Ronin says about the bottom plate with the shifter fork!!!!

Next swap of fluid, pull that plate (have new gasket at hand just in case) and tighten up the four studs into the plate. When I pulled mine the shift fork on the plate was wobbly -- that adds up to fuzzy-feeling shifting!

John