930 4 Speed = POS

[Big Ed]

Went home for lunch today, the sun was out and the road was dry here in snowy MA, so I decided to screw lunch and take out the new 930 for my first spirited drive.

What a blast I had. All of you lucky enough to live in temperate climates are wise people, indeed. But for a brief 45 minutes today, I joined your ranks (once we get above freezing I'll be out hosing off the salt I accumulated -- but WTF, I'm not saving this car for the next owner).

I gotta say though, that 4 speed tranny leaves something to be desired (that something in fact, is a G50). DEFINITELY my first big project on this car, when I save up enough shekkels. And I understand that I may need quite a few of them....

Any advice and counsel from the board on this one?

[masraum]

hmm, I thought the 4 was supposed to be a good tranny?? Good enough for the 934 and 935!

Maybe a rebuild or new fluid is in order. Too, cold temps can make trannies cranky.

I understand that with the power available in the turbo cars a 4 is really all that you need. I would think that with my tranny in a turbo I would hardly be able to shift fast enough. I'd love to try tho

[JDaniel]

I'm sure your tranny is veerrry cold. It's around 15 degrees in your area today right?

All that aside, p-car transmissions have never been buttery smooth. Have you driven a car with a g-50? I think if you do, you'll realize that the sheckles are better spent elsewhere.

[Big Ed]

It was about 30 degrees when I went out. I have driven several G50s (including much time in a buddy's '86 930 converted) and it was light years better than this 4 speed or the 915 in my '86. I'll wait till the warm weather to decide, but this thing feels like a damn tractor.

[Joeaksa]

Does Swepco work wonders in the 4 speed box like it does in the 915 series 5 speed boxes? Mine was light years better after the change to Swepco...

Joe

[IMONBOOST]

I thought the 89 Turbos did come with the G50?

[Big Ed]

89's did. Mine's an 88.

[Big Ed]

I'll try the Swepco too, thanks Joe.

[IMONBOOST]

Sorry, I though you said your friends turbo was an 89! Dyslexia is kicking in again, or may be I am just tired of staring at the screen.

[Amac]

Big Ed,
Cold will make your tranny feel like it
has glue in it. 930 4 speeds are strong
units, plus I like going 0-60 in 1st.
For the price of a G-50 you can buy a lot
of go fast goodies.

[old_skul]

You may not realize it now but that 4-speed is geared *just right* for a lot of tracks. On a ride with my instructor I saw him back and forth between 2nd and 3rd all the way around Mid-Ohio and the car was on the boost 90% of the time. Porsche made good decisions with that tranny.

And yeah, I understand it's bulletproof.

[GeorgeK]

Bulletproof is an understatement. My mechanic has one in his 935. HP? about 1000...
These are TOUGH, big time. Have you seen the first gear pinions? they are about twice the size of the ones in a 915. For the high speed work, they are nice. "100? But officer, it can't be. See, I was only in 2nd gear..."

[88911coupe]

I got to borrow a friend of mine's 88 930 cab when I was last in LA and I never needed to put the car in 4th, even on the highway. I was amazed how the car pulled fine in the lower gears. I will admit that it did not feel quite like the G50 in my 88 3.2.

[Rick Lee]

I love my G50 to death, but it is a little clunky in super cold weather until she gets warmed up. I imagine that would be the case with you if you installed one. Wait til it gets warm out and throw some Swepco in there - much cheaper.

[GoodMojo]

I'm probably one of the few who actually likes the 4-spd in the 930. Sure, it's a little slower off the line than NA cars but 3500 comes up fast and redline, scary-holy-f******-s***-I'm-gonna-die-fast. I cruise on the highway in 3rd @ 3750 RPM (70 mph) which is just a little bit into the "insta-boost" or the fun range I hardly see 4th gear during daily driving. Incidentally, the lag issue can be addressed to a large extent with SC cams, headers and a K-27 7200. I currently run Swepco in mine. I tried synth for a couple hundred miles and it felt worse and sounded noisier. My 930 shifts much more happily above 3500 RPM. It's balks quite a bit (no pun intended) below that.

[dean]

If the 930 box shifts anything like the 915, then give it some time to get used to it. I didn't really mind my 915. Sure it is hard to shift into 1st and second sometimes, but I never missed a shift. That said.

I am in the middle of doing a G50 conversion. The tranny is 3/4s apart and I am getting ready to mach. it. I have never driven a G50 but I am looking forward to it. I would have done a 5 speed 930 box if I could have found one.

[MIK911]

Back in the day--wasn't the RUF 5 speed what alot of guys wanted to replace the stock 4 speeds in their 930's? Heard this tranny conversion is in the neighborhood of $3K. Anyone with more info on this?

Mike
'86 coupe

[dean]

I wish the conversion was $3k. I am doing all the work myself except the machining and I am sure it will be more than $3k

[carmad]

When I bought my car it came with a RUF suspension and RUF 5 speed, I was told the gearbox had been rebuilt by RUF in Germany at a cost of about $10,000 - 12,000. I have no documentation of this so it is heresay.
1st gear runs out quickly at about 45, 2nd on boost pushes hard to about 85, 3rd pushes hard to about 120, 4th is slightly longer to about 155 which is as fast as I have gone. Top speed in 5th is estimated at about 185-190, but with the wide body this is probably optimistic.
These numbers are with stock motor, I am in the process of doing all the good stuff, GHL dual outlet, K27, K&N, bigger intercooler, 1 bar spring, headers and SC cams. Then it should really fly.

[Emission]

Am I the only one who was confused by your post? Didn't you test drive the car before you bought it? Have you read/learned anything about the transmission yet?

Yes, it is balky (most pre-993 911 trannys are) and the 1-2 shift may make you wait, but it is also damn strong and geared wonderfully for high speed enjoyment.

The 930 will never shift like a Honda S2000 (actually, you'll be lucky to get it to shift as quickly as a Ford Ranger). That is part of the fun - and part of the skill as you learn how to drive it quicker and quicker.

The 930 has tons of personality, and it is a beast to drive. Enjoying the car means accepting faults (turbo lag, weak ventilation, etc...) and focusing on the strengths (power, fun-to-drive, etc...).