914-6 Transmission Rebuild Suggestions

[RejuvaYou]

Hello,

I recently acquired a factory 1970 914-6 that grinds going into reverse, 1st, and possibly 2nd (could be because its dropping into reverse instead?). I tried adjusting the clutch but didn't help.

I am now planning to do a rebuild on the transmission, and had read that I could do reverse/1st myself. However, I may just choose to have a shop do the rebuild.

My plan would be to pull the drivetrain and do some restoration on the car while getting the tranny rebuilt. The car would be for occasional local driving, and some local track events (Willow Springs, etc) possibly too.

Any suggestions on DIY rebuild? I have good mechanical skills, and have pulled and installed 911 engines, etc. I understand I will have to obtain Porsche specific tools for this.

Or are there any good reputable shops that anyone can refer me to in the Los Angeles area?

Thanks!
John

[Matt Monson]

If you just do 1st and reverse, you can do it with the transmission still in the car. Though if you've got other things to do, pulling it and doing the whole thing including second may be a more prudent approach.

Since this car sounds like a driver and is going to see a little track time you might consider updating it to a side shifter. If it was a concours special I wouldn't suggest it, but for a driver you aren't going to alter the value very much by using the later shifter style. The parts to do that will add $300-500 to the price of the rebuild but you'll appreciate the improvement in shifting.

Given the symptoms you've described, expect to do synchros on 1 and 2. 2nd gear might not need dog teeth, but first almost always does. You will also need a 1/R slider. That parts the big money part on all the 901 based variants, which includes your 914 transmission:
http://www.pelicanparts.com/cgi-bin/smart/more_info.cgi?pn=911-302-226-00-M260&catalog_description=%39%30%31%20Slider%2C%20For%20 %31st%2FReverse%20Gears%2C%20%39%31%34%20%31%2E%37 %2F%31%2E%38%2F%32%2E%30%20%28%31%39%37%30%2D%37%3 6%29%2C%20%39%31%34%2D%36%20%28%31%39%37%30%2D%37% 32%29%2C%20Each%20

As for shops you could take it to, I have to apologize for my lack of geographical expertise down there. I'm a San Franciso native and didn't spend much time down your way. However, there are a number of top shops down there. TRE, Black Forest, Scott's and Otto's all come to mind. I imagine if you post your city some locals will steer you to a good shop that's pretty close to you.Though if you start digging into the engine you may want to drive further for the service. Even though all my shop does is transmissions, I am not ashamed to admit that vintage Porsche transmissions are pretty easy( You definitely could do this yourself if you wanted). 911/914-6 engine work is a bit more refined art and I'd put as much effort into choosing an engine builder as I would what college my kid is going to go to.

[RejuvaYou]

Thanks Matt for your expert opinion, especially since your business is transmissions. Hopefully I'll get some of it apart this weekend and post some pictures in case others are interested. Although I know there is a nice tech article on doing the transmission on this website.

Take care,
John

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

Here's an article about rebuilding the 914 transmission. It's gone now, but thankfully the Internet Wayback Machine has saved it for us.

http://web.archive.org/web/20050212113437/http://home.san.rr.com/pb914/rebuild/

--DD

[ks2_motorsports]

If you put the car into 4th or 5th while the car is idling then go into 1st or reverse do the gears still grind?

[RejuvaYou]

Yes at idle, when putting shifter with clutch depressed through 3, 4 or 5, then back to 1 or R, it still grinds unfortunately.
Will try to get the drivetrain dropped this weekend.
Thanks!