Noobie & trans identification?

[fanaudical]

I'm the proud owner of a new project (74 911 Targa - the car's a basket case) and this is my first Porsche. (I've been working with Audi's for 25 years, came across this car, and couldn't pass it up.) I have been lurking about the forums picking up some great info. I have searched for this, but haven't been successful in finding it:

My trans has serial number 7151839 (I can't locate the type code - lots of scraping on the bottom of the case). If I read this correctly, then this should be a 5-speed type 915/40. I found this info here:

915 transmission - The Porsche 914 Wiki

Can somebody else confirm this is correct?

My reason for asking is that I can't seem to find 5th gear. (I've been trying with the car static - just got it running today, but the clutch is frozen.)

Thanks for the help.

[Flat6pac]

It is possible for it to be a 4 speed as the 5 speed of the era was an extra $150 and there is some 4 speed cars around.
Bruce

[Glen Pettigrew]

Per the PET book,
Your's is a 1975, 915-40 5 speed.
See below:






Glen Pettigrew

[fanaudical]

Thanks for the replies! I greatly appreciate the expertise available here at the forums.

Dumb question - With the engine not running, I should be able to use the shifter and coax the tranny into every gear, right? Any suggestions for internal malfunctions that would preclude finding 5th?

[JT912]

Do you know the shift pattern? Are you finding 1st to be to the left and up and reverse to the right and down?

[fanaudical]

The spring gate is on the right, so I'm assuming that reverse is right/down with first to be left/up.

[JT912]

With 2nd left/down are you not able to find 5th left/up (above reverse)?

[fanaudical]

No - can't quite find it.

I'll potentially blame this on "user error", with me not being completely familiar with this transmission. Do I need to get through the spring gate to grab 5th? I assume that the spring gate blocks reverse only and that 5th should be "kitty corner" up from 4th (center down).

Thanks for the help.

[fanaudical]

Ha! Yep - user error. Found 5th gear while I help some help in pushing the car across the driveway (won't go into 5th without some tranny movement). It does seem that the shifter has got lots of play in it - guess I'll round up some bushings and rebuild the linkage assembly.

Thanks all for the help.

[JJ 911SC]

Originally Posted by fanaudical

No - can't quite find it.

I'll potentially blame this on "user error", with me not being completely familiar with this transmission. Do I need to get through the spring gate to grab 5th? I assume that the spring gate blocks reverse only and that 5th should be "kitty corner" up from 4th (center down).

Thanks for the help.

The quote is exact... I had to read it a couple of time to register. Of course by then, you got it case.

Now you got this problem solve, onward to the next one