My 1974 Tranny Feels Like Mashed Potatoes. What do I do?

[Arodog]

Ok Guys,
I have a 1974 Targa (911T). It is a great car that is practically rust free from a life in the deserts of New Mexico. The transmission is a big sloppy mess. Shifting requires Jedi like intuition to land in the right spot at the right time. I recently drove a 1977 Targa and realized just how bad mine is.

The Question:
Will the installation of a short shift kit clean up the slop or am I dealing with deeper tranny problems?

Thanks,

Michael

[4flyboy]

Mike,

Sounds like you simply need to (cheap trouble shoot) replace all of your shift linkage bushings and ball cup. Cheap easy and will probably solve your problem. A short shift kit will only make things worse until you get to the root problem. I did this and mine ('85 C) shifts like butter.

There are many posts and Pelican has a how to guide on this do it yourself fix.

Luck,

Scott

[austin552]

+1
Made a world of difference with my 74'.

[jwernquist]

Dont install the ShortShift, it will make it worse from what your describing.

Re-do the bushings in the shift coupler, . If your coupler is bad and the bushings are shot adding the short shift kit makes in worse. WAY WORSE. Start there make sure your coupler is adjusted properly as well, you should see a noticeable difference and it should be much easier. Then from there install the short shift kit.

http://www.pelicanparts.com/cgi-bin/ksearch/PEL_search.cgi?command=show_part_page&please_wait=N&make=POR&model=911E&section=Tshift&page=1&bookmark=4&part_number=PEL-BUSH-BR

Thats the link, get the bronze bushing kit, if they are out of stock I might have a spare set, I bought a few extra last time cant remember why though.

Jon W.

[ischmitz]

What all others said. Replace all the bushings and it will vastly improve shifting. If you really want to change the feel to clother to that of more modern transmissons you might want to consider a Wevo shifter. While not cheap it sure beats all the short-shift kits. I had a short-shift kit and got rid of it again for several reasons:

- it resulted in a nastry vibration of the shift rod at certain RPM ranges
- the 915 is not designed for rapid shifting. The longer throw gives me more feedback

Cheers,
Ingo

[Arodog]

Thanks a bunch. I will try the bronze bushing kit.

Michael

[Arodog]

Looks like Pelican does not have the bushings. I would be happy to PayPal you some money for a set. Thanks, Michael

[pookie]

Not just the bronze bushing but the plastic ball cup and shift rod bushings as well. My 77 got super sloppy I replaced the bushings and like 4flyboy said, its like butter.

Do a search though cause if you aren't careful the springs in the shifter will shoot out. Not a hard project at all though.