1st gear downshift speed 1980 911sc

[ARCSinAK]

Hello Gentlemen-

I am a new 911 owner and had a few questions about the 915 trans. I am aware that it is inherent that your road speed has to be very low to get it to 1st but it seems as though there are times when it would be very nice to slide into 1st at say 10 mph. It this possible with the 915? Your advice is appreciated. Also the mannual say to drive the 911 right after start, I have found it takes a good 10-15 mins to reach 190 temp, some times I need my speed fix sooner, do you go ahead a warm up idle or just work on your patience.

Aloha

JS

[ChkbookMechanic]

1st gear is worthless for anything other than starting. I don't even downshift into it unless I'm stopped 99% of the time.

[ARCSinAK]

I here u that how I been operating, but sure would be nice to be able to get it 1st on some slow tight blind corners in order to keep the revs 3800+ in the sweet spot. There seems to be that point in second where your revs are too low to have much punch but you can't get into 1st.

[rs6er]

I have never needed 1st gear in a corner.

[Trotskyite]

Give her a generous blip and she'll slide right in. There was a great little uphill hairpin right-hander in the parking garage where I used to work, and coming out of that thing in 2nd was way too boring...

[livi]

Welcome!

Every 915 is individual. There are many previous threads discussing this topic (search button). Some claim they have no problem changing down to 1st gear at low speed, others - perhaps most - have certain difficulties unless the car is more or less standing still. The 915 is mechanically a delicate animal. Needs a gentle touch and hates to be rushed. Personally I only use 1st gear from standstill.

Your other question has also been debated frequently. I think most people agree that you start up, give it perhaps 10-30 seconds and the drive off. Gently, not past 4k rpm until operating temp. Personally I believe the first 5-10 minutes of driving is the most important to keep smooth. Even if you have not yet reached op. temp. after that, its probably alright to start speeding up the rpms. Perhaps not hitting the rev limiter until completely warmed up though.

In your nice climate it should be warm rather quick I suppose. Here in Sweden it will sometimes take almost half an hour and at really cold days I never seem to hit op. temps. in my Carrera.

[Dai]

Learn to double clutch and 1st wouldn't be too difficult engaging from 2nd.

[Peter Zimmermann]

Back shifting a 915 into 1st while rolling usually works best between 5 mph and barely rolling. 1st gear is not an "action" gear, and should never be used like one would drive a Mustang. Be patient, the fun starts at 4500 revs - in 2nd.

Cold starts: Start and go, limit revs to 4000-4500 until you're at about 140 degrees F. Even then, control your revs, but you can use more throttle getting there. Garage warm-ups are a no-no!

[oneblueyedog]

I do not downshift to first unless below 5mph and then rarely. Second is a real puller!

BTW, I had to check the parking lot to see if my car was still there! Your's is nearly identical to mine except I don't have a front spoiler and I have chrome sugar scoops. Beautiful car amigo!

[sailchef]

Enjoy your downshifts into first while you can, because if you keep it up bra, she going to grind, and then pau. no more.

[jorian]

only use 1st gear from standstill.
not past 4k rpm until operating temp

Sage advice. 915 trannies are plenty strong but need to be respected.

[scotricker]

man, that's a pretty car... oops,, it looks like mine,, only better I think.

[Flat6pac]

When you are on a roll and want 1st, slip it into 2nd and then go for 1st because then your lined up on the same shaft in the trans.
Bruce

[dentist90]

A 1st gear synchro in good shape will allow downshifting at speed without crunching. Problem is most of our transmissions have not had a recent rebuild or have been brutalized a bit at autocross and the syncronzing components on 1st (and 2nd)are worn or damaged.
As far as your need for a speed fix, you just gotta be patient man! It's not good for your engine to work it hard before it has warmed up. You may certainly drive it right away (and for fuel economy, we are encouraged to do so), but do avoid starting it up and pulling straight out into the merging lane of the nearest freeway.
And one other thing... enjoy!

[RSWiser]

Occasionally if I want to get into 1st gear I double clutch it and slips right in. Otherwise I am almost always stopped.

[jmohn]

For the down-shift to first to work, your clutch cable must be properly adjusted so you're getting full disengagement when the pedal is fully down (and you're remembering to fully depress the clutch pedal), if you're not sure about the adjustment you should check it.

However, even with a properly adjusted clutch, there appears to be a vast difference in how the 915 reacts to a down-shift to first. The only one I have extensive experience with is mine. I have no trouble down-shifting once I'm below 15 MPH, but it's very much a finesse thing, I have to blip the throttle and ease it into first. You have to develop a "feel" for when it's ready to slip into first, if it doesn't go in easily don't force it (I think it may help if you had a childhood driving old trucks and equipment with transmissions with square cut gears and no synchros).

I should add that I recognize the 915 doesn't really "like" to be down-shifted to first when moving. Only rarely do I find it necessary to down-shift to first when moving and I try to "plan" ahead so it's not necessary very often.

Jerry M
'78 SC

[Canada Kev]

As has been indicated by others, learn to double clutch. A tranny will with NO syncros will shift just fine if you double clutch.

[80-911SC]

never idle your car to warm it up , refer to your owners manuel and read start up , very very clear . it will hot spot your cylinders .
place a post starting you idle your car until its warm and ask if its ok and i promise this forum will eat you alive.

you don't really need 1st gear ive got an 80 i rarely use it
Although the manuel does say use all gears but Manuel doesn't own the car Steve does now bought it from Rick)

[stlrj]

The best advice I can give is not to do it unless completely stopped.

First gear on our 915's is probably the most delicate gear in our tranny considering the amount of torque our engines place on it, and it's usually the first gear that goes bad before the rest of them.

I've been unfortunate enough to learn this after having had my trans rebuilt twice on different occasions due to a broken 1st gear.


Cheers,

Joe

[DanielDudley]

Originally Posted by RSWiser

Occasionally if I want to get into 1st gear I double clutch it and slips right in. Otherwise I am almost always stopped.

Same here. If you double clutch the other gears on a routine basis, getting into first is not so hard, I just don't have many occasions to do it. If you do not double clutch on a regular basis, do not start practicing on first gear.