915 weight?

[Joe Bob]

What's a dry 915 weigh? Gotta ship and need to know. I don't have it available to weigh....

[c911s]

I had a transmission shipped last summer, bill of lading from shipping company said 88 lbs.

[Peter Zimmermann]

Figure about 130 lbs (aluminum), a few pounds less for mag case.

From another post in response to a discussion about weight/performance between 915s & G 50s...

Originally Posted by Peter Zimmermann
Let's look at this a little closer. The weight of a filled 915 RoW version 915/67 with cooler is approximately 60 kg (132 lbs). The cooler weighs almost nothing (I can testify to this because I've cleaned a number of them), so let's call the USA 915/68 at 130 lbs. The weight of a filled RoW G 50 version 950/00 is 66 kg (146 lbs), which is virtually identical to the USA version 950/01. So we have a weight difference between the two transmissions of 16 pounds.

The 915 flywheel weighs 12 lbs, and so does the G 50 flywheel, so that's even.

The stock 915 clutch weighs 18 lbs, the G 50 clutch weighs 29 lbs. So, in total, the G 50 package is approximately 27 lbs heavier, which was offset (in 1986) by an increase in rear torsion bar size from 24.1mm to 25mm. Something else comes into play here that contributes to the 915 car "feeling quicker" to some drivers. Back in the day of Hemi-Cudas, 427 Vettes, etc., the ticket to really quick quarter mile times was having a "short", 4.11 rear end (final drive) ratio, or an even shorter 4.56 ratio. Of course, the big compromise with a short ratio was having to run at much higher revs at freeway speeds. Cars with a taller, aka longer, 3.00, or 3.30 rear end (ring & pinion ratio) just wouldn't come out of the hole as quick, and the race was usually over in 2nd gear. In 1974, 911s were fitted with a 7:31 ring & pinion, which is a final drive ratio of 4.43 (remember, the bigger the number the shorter the ratio). Later SCs and early Carreras w/915s had an 8:31 (3.88) final drive ratio, BUT, G 50s are fitted with a 9:31 (3.44) final drive ratio. Yes, the factory fitted all new, "shorter" ratios to 1st-5th to try and make up for it, but, while striving for better mileage and reliability, couldn't overcome that "longer" ring and pinion, which can make, combined with the extra pounds, a G 50 car feel more sluggish than a 915 car. A lightweight clutch will help the G 50 car, but on a road course there should be very little difference between the two because the rpm drop between second and third, between third and fourth, and between fourth and fifth, is very similar when comparing a 915 to a G 50. Yes, the 915, in some situations, will "feel" quicker, but can it generate quicker lap times on a road racing course? I doubt it.

[Joe Bob]

Quite a diff in estimates of weight. I need to ship it to NM and Greyhound has a 100 lbs max limit....

[techweenie]

Mag case 915s are right around 100 lbs, aluminum, approximately 125.

[Mattcamp]

Greyhound and Fedex ground have a 150# limit.......I just went through this. Don't make your crate 1# over what it needs to be. Use kiln dried 2x4's and a little plywood as possible......Pete is correct BTW; 130#'s without fluid......which you have to drain anyway (shippping laws).

[Peter Zimmermann]

Originally Posted by Mattcamp

Greyhound and Fedex ground have a 150# limit.......I just went through this. Don't make your crate 1# over what it needs to be. Use kiln dried 2x4's and a little plywood as possible......Pete is correct BTW; 130#'s without fluid......which you have to drain anyway (shippping laws).

If you want to make it really easy, spend $60 at Walmart, buy a large, white Igloo ice chest (Costco has them also, but they're a little more expensive), put the trans inside, block it with some styrofoam, tape it shut and ship it.

[RWebb]

+!

also, I've used Rubbermaid plastic storage boxes too.

[Shuie]

I've shipped a 901 via greyhound before, but unless they've changed their weight limits, even a mag 7:31 915 is going to be too heavy. I've shipped a Mg case '73 915 and received a later heavier Aluminum 915 via Forward Air freight with no issues. I don't know if I remember the weights accurately, but I think my '73 was ~100lbs, and the later one was ~125lbs. I used the Rubbermaid containers for packing, but I like the Igloo suggestion above much better.

[don gilbert]

i just happen to have a mag 7-1/2rp from a 75 and a alum 8 1/2rp laying around from an 82

[techweenie]

Don, are they both dry, or...

Also, I see the transmission crossmember is still attached to the Alu trans. Same on the Mg?

[don gilbert]

both are dry and both have the X-member

[techweenie]

I'd call that 'definitive' and Wiki material. Thanks, Don.

[RWebb]

only if an accurate scale is used - the difference should be pretty close tho

[don gilbert]

these are some cheap wal-mart scale for the shop, but they seem to be accurate, i weigh the same on these that i do on evey other scale i get on.

[David]

I'm surprised they're that heavy. My only reference is that I can carry a 915 across my shop but I can't carry a 930 tranny more than a foot or two

[don gilbert]

for what its worth, i swapped out the 8 1/2 for the 7 1/2, shorter gears sure make a difference on the 3.0 sc motor, pulls hard.