Making 915 shift like a 996?

[vesnyder]

Drove a buddy's new 996 yesterday and really liked the feel. The power delivery was really smooth, but the most impressive thing was the crisp and smooth shifting. After going back to my SC, I felt like I was driving a semi? From other posts I've read about the 915, it sounds as if my issues are not uncommon - balky shifting, etc!

What, if anything, can be done? Will a G50 fit the SC? Can the 915 be rebuilt to fix these common issues. This drive got me thinking about a 993!

You can transplant a 87-89 G50 into a pre 87 car, but it's a big job. Costs a lot On the other hand a good 915 isn't that bad. But no matter what you do it'll never shift like a 996.

[A Quiet Boom]

The heart of the problem lies in the fact that the 901,911, and 915 use Porsche sychros while the G50 uses Borg-Warner style sychros which as you noticed shift much better. You can make sure your clutch is properly adjusted and that you're running Swepco lube, these helped my 911 tranny immensly. Like the Mikkel said a G50 is possible but $$$$.

[Ove]

Vance,
For the shifter-end, I think the best option is to replace the stock shifter with a wevo-shifter. Have not tried it myself, but from what I hear, this is the best there is.
It is rather expensive at $600, but you'll enjoy it every time you shift.
Take a look at this and other Wevo products for the 915 transmission here:

http://www.wevo.com/porscheproducts.htm

[Ove]

This looks good:
Quote: [The WEVO GateShift kit is an ingenious kit of precision parts that create a gate system inside the 915 transmission. This kit enhances tactile sensations of gear selection and controls gear selection forces.]
Make sure you are sitting down before reading the price!



http://www.wevo.com/wevogateshift.htm

[vesnyder]

I'll look onto the Wevo, but that is expensive! I read a discussion on the Robotek shift enhancer - Anybody out there with first hand experience? Worth the $300?

[nostatic]

seems to me the shifter isn't the main problem. Those things are probably good for helping to mitigate 5-2 downshift errors, but why not same a bunch of money and install Sherwood's kit?

http://www.seinesystems.com

I don't see how those Wevo products address the syncro issues. Good technique and subtlety goes along way towards smooth shifts with a 915. I let a buddy of mine drive my car and shuddered as he slammed the shifter into each gear. ACK! Smooth is as smooth does...

[tmctguer]

i've installed new bushings, done a shifter coupling realignment, installed a robotek and a factory short shift kit. my 915 shifts a little like the G50 (?) in my '89.

if i remember correctly, the robotek was $200, the factory short shift was approx. $150, and the couplers were about $30.

this is cheaper than the wevo kit, but perhaps there are other advantages to the wevo that are above and beyond the improvements i've made.

none of the improvements listed are difficult to install, although if you install the robotek with a short shift kit, you'll need to use a drill or dremel and notch out a 1/2" square out of the side of the shift housing for it to fit properly.

[Jack Olsen]

I have the Wevo gateshift, but not the Wevo shifter. I second the recommendation for Sherwood's gate-shift device, and I suggest new bushings and an adjustment for precise shifts.