What is the Final Solution for Rough Shifting?
 

The PP tech article on how to improve shifting totally rules. See http://www.pelicanparts.com/techarticles/914_shift_improve/914_shift_improve.htm

Beyond these improvements what else can be done to get the smoothest, tightest shifter possible?

I've been advised about the following aproaches:

1. Weltmeister Kit : Apparently PP sells a kit that centers the shifter and provides spring resistance when shifting into one of the two far-left, or far-right vertical gates (1st and reverse or forth and fifth). Olav writes up a cool description about how to install this bad boy on Rennlist. See http://forums.rennlist.com/cgi-bin/rennforums/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=9;t=000407#000005.

2. Lock Out Plate: Others have suggested replacing the lock out plate, part number 901.424.017.00.

3. Shift Gates : In Excellence I see that you can buy all manner of shift gates or similar mechanisms for the 915 transmission. One such gate, I believe is sold by Robotech. Another is sold by, I think "Weva" or some company that starts with a "W." I've never seen one for the 901, but perhaps it is out there.

So my question is, in my quest to get my 901 to shift like my 1991 Honda (a man can dream, can't he?), will any or all of the above approaches work? Assuming my transmission does not need a rebuild, which I believe it does not, is there anything else I can do to get a smooth shifting 914?

Douglas

1. I think the spring kit is overkill.
2. That can be very worthwhile, particularly if yours is worn. Also check the gear shift lever where it rides against this. Sleeving a worn lever might work, or welding up the old one and having it ground round again.
3. I don't know of anyone who makes something like the Wevo 915 gate-shift setup for the 901.

A properly-installed short-shift kit should make all the motions shorter--including the slop. But it won't cure the slop.

I don't think there's any way to get a 914 to shift like a modern Honda or Miata, really. There's just too much linkage and too many joints there. But you can certainly improve on worn 30-year-old components!!

--DD

I have both street and race 914s and I use the Weltmeister spring kit in both and it makes the 1st->2nd shift a lot safer. There is a Wevo type kit for the 914s made by FABCAR and I think it is around $1000 or so and as far as I know the only cars using it have aftermarket transmissions such as Fortin. The best advice is: Make sure the tranny is rebuilt properly and tight as a drum; And also make sure there is absolutelt NO slop in any of the bushings. The rear one tends to be loose right out of the box and we use wire ties (3 or 4) looped around the bushing and housing to take up any slop. When in gear, the shift knob should only have 1/2 inch or less of movement! Good luck.

I've never understood why people complain so much about the feel of the 914's shifter. Sure the tranny's synchros are well worn in my car, but the shifter itself moves quite nicely and as far as I can tell it's completely stock. The 1-2 upshift in my car is great, just move the lever straight up and the spring pulls (or pushes, I'm not sure which) the lever right over into 2nd. Never missed second, and the 914 was my first car with a standard transmission. Overall the shift mechanism in my 914 isn't terribly looser than the mechanism in my 924S, though I'll grant that the 924S has more miles on it. Only problem I've ever had with the 914's tranny (aside from the synchros) was brain fade on my part. After getting out of the 924S, I got in the 914 and promptly put it in reverse at the first stop light. Scared the heck out of me when I tried to take off.

Aaron

I've heard of people replacing the plastic bearings in the center tunnel with brass bearings, then cutting 3 inches out of the shift rod and re-welding it.

Fabcar 935 style shifter
 

Smart-racing sells the "Fabcar 935 style shifter" for $950. Looks like it's for the serious track car, not for the street use. Because it looks like the shifting rod is mounted out of the center tunnel on the shifter housing and then angles down to the rear bulkhead. I guess you have to cut some of the center tunnel to make the shift rod fit. I guess that's the modifacation needed to make it fit a 914. Plus it has a 1st & reverse lockout which would a pain on the street to use.



Ralph Gosnell

74 2.0

If you have a side shift unit - check all the bushing and replace. Plus rebuld the shift itself. There are 2 bushing and a spring that most people never touch and that cause a lot of the problem.

Tailshift unit - it will NEVER shift like a honda. The internal design is crummy and it is componded by long linkages.

In fact, we will never have a car which will shift like a honda. When the tranny is directly under the shift and there are basically no linkages, how can you compete?

Hopefully someone can answer this: How does the 1971 and earlier 911 shift? Internally, it's the same as the tail shift unit. There are lots less external links, but internally, it is still the same shift finger setup. I cannot imagine all of the slop is external on the tailshifter 901.

James

You could find out if Tischer's 914 Cable Shifter (for 901 tail-shifters, though) is ready for Prime Time.

Maybe he's perfected a side-shift solution; you never know ...

http://www.pelicanparts.com/ultimate...WavingFlag.gif

I have been with Andy Shriver in his 912 as an instructor on several occasions and he shifts slowly and carefully like I do. The tranny sounds just like mine (noisy) and the biggest advantage is the lack of long rod that runs to the back of the car. I also noted that in a lot of street driving, he starts off in 2nd gear so he does not have to do the 1->2 shift. Now for someone that shifts very fast with a 901 tranny, ride with Herb Meeder some time as he shifts like a drag racer!

What is the final solution for rough shifting?
Fresh bushings all around and practice, practice practice!

<i>Significantly</i> tighter and more 'positive' than even the best 914. The shift linkage is far shorter and simpler.

Hmmm. I just heard on one email list that Wevo may be starting to make stuff for the 901 gearbox like they've been doing for the 915. If true, that could be a Very Good Thing. (The post could be mistaken, though--the guy may have seen the 915 bits and thought they were 901.)

--DD

How much play is "normal" in the shift lever when the car is in gear (on a sideshift)? I'm getting like 3 inches each way (!!!) and I'm just starting to check out the linkages.

Not that much! Mine, when in pretty good shape, would move about half that much when in 2nd/3rd gear. Less in the "outer" gears. (The lever could only "slop" over to the edge of the pattern and no further.)

--DD

That's what I thought. I am suspecting the shift coupler but I'll have to check everything out.

Jeff -- just finished going thru the whole linkage on my side-shifter, and there is virtually no slop. The firewall bushing pops out sometimes (or falls apart) and can cause a huge amount of movement in the rod. The bushings at the trans end have a big impact too. My car has a bronze aftermarket bushing back there, which apparently are a tighter fit than the stock plastic/poly ones.

Correct replaced bushings and correct linkage angles....THEN the short shift kit. Nothing better...of course you can't shift the 914 like a rock crusher trans out of a muscle car.....but you would wait until the M/C got sideways and you tuck underneath and show him that nice rear end..... :rolleyes:

Apparently the little set ("cone") screws can wear out over time also, and they do not get as good a grip on the rod. The slightest bit of movement back a few feet down the linkage just gets amplified a ton by the time it reaches your hand.

the "final" solution in a tail shifter might be the little rolled pin that lives up behind the cover plate at the rear of the trans. if you have an ever changing shift pattern esp 1 or r and you have done every thing you can think of, check it out. get a gasket FIRST and drain the trans lube. probably time to change change it anyway. oops missed the f in shifter the first time.

kevin:rolleyes:

I had my '73 2.0 shifter adjusted at Callas Rennsport in Torrence CA.
They did GREAT job.
It is so tight and smooth now. :D

man, 6 bills for a WEVO shifter? panorama p.111. every catalog i've seen offers a upper strut brace for a 911. is there a reason why i've never seen one for a 14? the upper and lower bushings in the shifter see alot of abuse.

kevin

Resolution to the shifter problem for 914s is here!

Check out my new shifter. I am making a list of interested people now. I will contact and fill initial orders from this list.

Feel free to ask me any questions you may have and offer suggestions for things you would like to see.

The website will be updated often as I fill in information and get all the production parts ready to show.

I replaced the shift coupler bushings on my '76 last night - it's like a whole new car! It feels quite solid now, and I am already shifting with alot more confidence.

Even thought the PO installed a Weltmeister short shift kit the throws seemed long. Now they are much closer. 4th gear especially seemed to benefit greatly.

I still need my 1st gear synchro fixed though...then my tranny work will be done (well until the next thing goes of course)...

PS James that shifter looks really sweet. maybe I can get to that by next winter...

Final Solution?
 

I'll check back in a while, but my friendly local speedshop is presently grafting a Boxster S transmission into my 1971 914.

That should be the final solution! (I won't be able to afford gas so I plan to sit in my garage, shift vigorously and go "Vroom vroom" a lot.)

ABChttp://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploads/1971-914-6c.jpg

Wow, that doesn't look like a tube-frame car!

The Boxster transmission is rather large, and will run into the trunk floor. Sawz-All time. Then you get to weld in tubes to bring back the structural strength in there--including the part of the trunk floor that the transmission bolts up to.

The Box tranny is also very heavy, something like 3x or more as heavy as the stock 901-based tranny.

Not worth it, to my eye. Might be cool as a part of a whole Boxster drivetrain swap, though!

--DD

Can ya make one for a 356 and a 915 trans?

Yes it is heavier, but... The car accelerates great! (tweaked 3.2l) Stops great (996TT brakes, F&R, 23mm MB M/C) and corners great! (245x35x18F, 285x30x18R PZeroC on 9" and 10" rims, fully reinforced roll cage).

And shifts crappy! I gain 2003 synchro technology, no concern over shift rods and binding and that stuff. and an extra gear!

It's a track PCA DE car that's a thrill to drive around town.

BTW, did you see me at Le Mans a few years back?

ABChttp://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploads/LeMans.jpg :D

ABC

Those rolled fenders look extra cool. The full Boxter tranny seems like a little overkill, but Brad and others have been looking into retrofitting the Boxter cable shifter into the 901. I'd like to see that product come to market.

Douglas

No, I missed you at the '96 Lemans, but TV coverage was limited back then. I was at Daytona that year and did did see Wayne Taylor win in his R&S MkIII, the car you are about to pass! Mad Max made a late charge in the MOMO 333SP but Taylor managed to hold on for the win. I missed Sebring that year where Taylor won again with the Aurora powered R&S.

Mike

How you could you miss me? I was the only car entered with New Jersey plates and a bra (you know how 24 hours can really mess up the paint on the front of a car).:D

Did it ever work?

???



M

Well, I guess miracles take a little longer than expected. The shop has overcome one obstacle after another (new pedal cluster for hydraulic clutch, etc.), but they are nearing the homestretch. No holes in trunk, and it turns out it's not that much heavier than 901 and much less than G50. Plus, gears are ideal for 3.2 (taller 1st, 5th about the same and a 6th for when I put some real HP into the car.

I'll update when it's done (probably after the first snow!).

Thanks a bunch for the reply, looking forward to see how it works out.

Your car is beautiful.


M

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploads/1971-914-6c.jpg

Wow! ive long been contemplating the possibility of a boxster s swap for my teener. Im glad your laying the ground work.

Has the car been finished yet? Which shop is doing this for you?

please let me know. Thanks.

Well, 914 fans, the job is finally completed. I finally have my 914-ster back! A 2003 Boxster S transmission grafted to my 1987 3.2 l Carrera engine and 1971 914-4 chassis. It has the B&M shifter.

Shifts like a Honda... Better! Short, very positive throws. No more crunches. 0 to 60 times cut by 5 seconds (shifting time). The gears are perfect, too. 5th and 6th are great cruising gears.

Everything I had hoped for. No cutting in the trunk required.

Now it accelerates great, corners great, stops great and (drumroll please), shifts great!

The FINAL (albeit a tad expensive) solution for rough shifting.

pictures, please?

Extensive pictures and part descriptions and prices please please please. This is a mod the six conversion types have been hoping for!

best Mark

74 914 86 3.2

I just replaced all the bushings, coupler and adjusted it correctly and it shifts great, maybe about 1/2 inch play side to side..

Here are some pictures.

Cost? Don't ask (because your reply will be, why not just buy a Boxster?). The actual cost was way above estimate because of all the difficulties encountered. But, they were overcome and now I have the perfect 914.

I don't consider this overkill: weighs only a little more than 901, handles much more horsepower without any concern and shifts just like a Boxster (and still weighs much less than a Boxster).

You gotta drive this car to believe how good it is!http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1088861960.jpg http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1088861986.jpg

Cool, what time would you like us to show up? Me first, me first! :D

Really cool car, install looks very clean. Hey if you're happy then it was worth the $$$. Once you get over the "sticker shock" we would like to know the approximate costs someday.