915 Transmission issue Part 2

[ReconTrojan]

If you guys recall 5 weeks or so ago I posted about my 915 issue after having a full rebuild.

Let me start by saying the shops involved have been nothing but helpful. What I am trying to do here is glean from the decades of experience on this board some advice that I could pass along to the tech who is tasked again to see what is going on.

Brief History, 1986 70xxx miles. new clutch etc. WEVO shifter and coupler. Full rebuild of gearbox, gearbox would not shift after first attempt, we had a WEVO gate shifter installed at that point and we yanked it on second removal of gearbox.

Got car and was initially loads better however first gear sometimes 2/10 would be difficult to locate and second gear required serious effort when downshifting. Reverse would sometimes be lost requiring me to go through the pattern to locate it.

Obviously this was annoying but was told because everything was new it would get better.

Drove it 400 miles...not getting better and twice it popped out of 5th on freeway.

Took it back today and my main shop ( they farmed out to specialist 915 shop) for adjustment told me adjustment was fine, it was internal which made everyone pause and grimace. The 915 shop offered to send flatbed again to fetch car but I said instead I am driving to you and we will work together to solve this as opposed to having my local shop be the middle man. Now, as I stated the 915 shop has been friendly, apologetic and vowed to figure and solve this. One thing they said over the phone was to bring my OEM 915 shifter with me as they want to rule out the WEVO. Fair enough and at this point I am willing to lose it to just have a functioning transmission. I know MANY of you have functioning 915's with WEVO so I ask of you...what on earth could be the issue?

You guys have been great in the past and I am hoping you guys can steer us to a successful repair. FYI we replaced bushings etc. All the synchro's and sliders...new. It was a 5k plus rebuild.

Thank you all in advance.

[MARISOL78sc]

I have followed your thread and I agree, you might as well rule out the Wevo before opening it back up. That being said I did practically the same rebuild this April at the same cost and my 915 shifts smooth as butter and engages with bolt like precision. The box was never tight in any gear @ rebuild just shifted perfect the day I picked it up. I am running 100 percent stock shifter. Good luck.

Paul

[DRACO A5OG]

I would also put back the coupler, just to be sure.

Your mounts are OEM or WEVO too?

[ReconTrojan]

Originally Posted by MARISOL78sc

I have followed your thread and I agree, you might as well rule out the Wevo before opening it back up. That being said I did practically the same rebuild this April at the same cost and my 915 shifts smooth as butter and engages with bolt like precision. The box was never tight in any gear @ rebuild just shifted perfect the day I picked it up. I am running 100 percent stock shifter. Good luck.

Paul

Hi

Do you have the WEVO upgrades or stock? thanks.

[ReconTrojan]

Originally Posted by DRACO A5OG

I would also put back the coupler, just to be sure.

Your mounts are OEM or WEVO too?

Hi, I will pass that along. To your question, I do not know.

[DRACO A5OG]

I would check, a stiffer gear box mount coupled with a stiffer engine mount, the shifting has to be spot on, there is no room for error by the builder.

On my car, I have the NLA whisper derlin coupler ( my wrench weldup a slop input rod from coupler to stick ) and Siennes GSK with cab/sport stiffer mounts at the gear box with metal bushing shaved down and softer OEM motor mounts.

[ReconTrojan]

Originally Posted by DRACO A5OG

I would check, a stiffer gear box mount coupled with a stiffer engine mount, the shifting has to be spot on, there is no room for error by the builder.

On my car, I have the NLA whisper derlin coupler ( my wrench weldup a slop input rod from coupler to stick ) and Siennes GSK with cab/sport stiffer mounts at the gear box with metal bushing shaved down and softer OEM motor mounts.

I will bring that up as well.

The thing is I have literally read hundreds of posts about the 915, the travails, rebuilds and success stories. For every me out there-there are 5 guys who post that their 915 with WEVO is amazing. So it's most perplexing/frustrating that I have experienced 915 mechanics, well sorted mod in WEVO and yet continue to have a good gearbox allude me.

I gather up all these posts and pass them along. They are prepared to rebuild it again but there should be something obvious I would think that is causing this. So we will return 100% stock and then see what happens.

[MARISOL78sc]

No WEVO all stock

[DRACO A5OG]

^^^ OP's right? if so Good less to worry about.

[ReconTrojan]

Originally Posted by MARISOL78sc

No WEVO all stock

Well that will be the first stop.

[universeman]

Tech sounds like he is following good fundamental troubleshooting steps/advice. Another (somewhat dramatic) concept - if they're a 915 shop, they may have another 911 to put your 915 in to determine whether it's a car problem or a transmission problem. Long shot.

[ReconTrojan]

Well to close this subject for me at least once and for all. It was the WEVO and its substitute coupler at fault.

Installed a factory 915 shifter and coupler and it shifts perfectly and smoothly. 2nd is a little tight but everything is brand new, I can tell the difference immediately. I guess those that get WEVO and works are lucky, I am not. But I am happy now.

[DRACO A5OG]

Outstanding! Maybe you can install it later, after a thorough break in of the gear box. Now go drive her like you stole her

[ReconTrojan]

Originally Posted by DRACO A5OG

Outstanding! Maybe you can install it later, after a thorough break in of the gear box. Now go drive her like you stole her

Thanks. I will...in October. I have that first world problem of 5 Porsches and it's month is October. It's Spyder month. Poor me. However it does allow me to be flexible with my shops in terms of turnaround and they appreciate it. There was a guy with a 87 911 as his sole driver when I was there and he was panicking when he learned it could not be fixed that day.
Not sure I could daily any of my manual Porsches in OC/LA traffic..why I do appreciate PDK.

[MARISOL78sc]

Glad it worked out.

Paul