915 Transmission - Reduce the drama!

[jcsjcs]

Hey all -

Thought I would post on my recent installation of a Seine Systems - Gate Shift Kit for my 915 transmission. I have had an '84 911 Targa for about 6 months. My main concern was the transmission - basically learning how it likes to be shifted and related concerns. I had an '87 944 - so was caught by surprise by the shifting challenges.

The bottom line:
The Gate Shift Kit offered a relatively inexpensive solution towards solving miss-shifts, e.g. shifting from 5th to 2nd and blowing the engine, nicking reverse on the way from 5th to 4th, finding 3rd gear easily without thinking, etc.

This in turn reduced a lot of the drama around shifting for me. AND know that I shift A LOT - as I live in Brooklyn, New York City and drive my car in city traffic about 70% of the time.

Cost was about $150 - which seemed expensive when I opened the package and saw about 10 little parts. BUT it is a lot less than the WEVO or HAGGARTY - though this kit does not offer the same advantages some people mention about other higher end kits.

Installation was a bit challenging, but mainly because getting the center console out of the way was a major pain. Once I got a bit more forceful, I was able to move the console and carpet and get the job done (almost.) I still have to have the welding done (of a tab onto the shift lever) but have been waiting to be sure I was 100% happy with the kit.

So I suggest you get this kit if you want to keep your costs down and reduce the drama when shifting. I think it will be a huge plus when I start autocrossing this spring. I also feel a lot more comfortable driving in the city AND can't want until I hit some curvy roads. I am no longer concerned about ending up in 2nd from 5th (something I experienced 2 or 3 months ago - yet was lucky that I slowed way down at the time and did not blow my engine.)

Be prepared to spend a few hours installing. You can also pay Seine Systems about $300 to get a pre-installed kit on a rebuilt shifter. I did not feel that it was worth it (though I might re-evaluate) since this started to take me into WEVO / Haggarty territory.

Jonathan

[cdrik915]

Can you show us some pics please ?

[Noel]

THe first step for most should be to make sure that all of the key shifting wear items (Bushings) have been replaced, the 5th/R gate spring is in working order and the shifter is adjusted properly. If you do all of this, these trannies are not really hard to shift, IMO.

I have driven some 915 trannies with bad bushings and no 5th/R gate spring and I couldn't find 3rd gear to save my soul and I kept knicking gears. Very frustrating.

[wolf]

Notice lots of posts on shifting problems and working on trannys; seldom see the problem here in Europe

[porsche930dude]

Im thinking of making my own gate shift likke the seine one. Am i wrong or does the kit consist of 3 parts. A longer pivot pin, a shift tab that gets welded on the shifter and the tentioning bracket thingey?