Side shift tranny general question

[gopack]

I have a silly question.
Does the side shift tranny have the same shift pattern as the tail shift? That is to say with first and reverse outside of the "H", or is first in the "H" on the top left side like a modern tranny, with 5 outside of the "H" on the right? I know people say the side shift shifts a LOT better, so i was wondering if that is why.

MARK

[tat2dphreak]

the side shifter shift better because of the LINKAGE... the internal tranny is the same. you can even make a side shifter from a tail shifter by changing a couple outside parts...

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

...And a couple of inside parts...

But to explicitly answer the question--YES. The side-shifter has the same shift pattern as the tail-shifter. And the five-speed 911 and 912 gearbox, up through 1971, for that matter.

--DD

[tat2dphreak]

dave, you don't have to drop the tranny to do the conversion, if I remember right... or am I off my rocker?

[red-beard]

no drop, but you have to remove the gear stack. The slots on the shift rods are different and will not work with a side shift.

[914Ghost]

Is it much easier than swapping out the tranny?
Still gotta change the shifter/linkage/couple a bushings AND mount bar all the way to the tranny right?
Sooo....its the Same thing but you leave the tranny in and swap the gear stack?
How technical is that- think Haynes covers it?
My tranny is great, mayhaps I should go that route instead of a swap.
Good topic, I need to do a search maybe.
Bob O
Is it harder than swapping the ring/pinion on a 1960 356 in 6 inches of snow with the tranny in the car?

[red-beard]

No. Swapping trannies is far easier...

Especially in snow...

[914Ghost]

Yeah, yer probably right. I'll leave it alone.
That first r/p swap only lasted 9 months, and the 2nd ,....who knows how much gravel I left in the tranny. I recall trying to measure something. ... . back - - lash.. ?
naaah.

[red-beard]

Buy a tailshift tranny and use it for parts. Cheapest way to go.

James

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

Conversion parts:

Either a complete side-shift tranny, or the internal shift rails and the side-shift console and the "rake" and such.
Complete shift linkage, gear shift lever all the way back to the transmission. If you like your old gear-shift knob, you can use it, but the rest of the linkage gets swapped.
Special "converter" bushing for the firewall.
Motor mount bar.
Outer solid mounts for the bar.
Inner rubber mounts for the bar.
Brackets from the rubber mounts to the engine.

I believe that's what you have to have to do the swap. I'm very fuzzy on the details of what you need inside the transmission, but I know you need the whole late linkage and late engine mounting system.

--DD

[gopack]

OK now for the other question begging to be asked! Is there a modern transmission (modern shift pattern) that can be bolted on? Or is the shift linkage always going to the problem. ie any other (nicer) trany would require a custom shift linkage and lots of fabrication. just asking as i have never seen this issue addressed.
Also, how much better does the side shift shift?

[red-beard]

Nothing bolts right in. The 915 is the closest cousin and it only shifts marginly better.

#1. Replace all shift bushings
#2. Replace the ones no-one knows about (the shift itself)
#3. Fix wear points in the linkages, internal & external in the metal
#4. Or above & install a sideshift
#5. Install a better shifter (Rennshift)

The side shift has fewer parts and the design of the linkage is superior. It does not shift like a Honda. But it shifts better than a tail shifter on its best day.