What to do with my 915

[Matt Monson]

Originally Posted by redridge

really? to drop the engine, crack open the tranny and fix. It aint gonna happen in the tri-state area.

I’m Guessing he dropped it himself and threw the gearbox in his trunk.

[Tinkerer]

Originally Posted by Matt Monson

I’m Guessing he dropped it himself and threw the gearbox in his trunk.

Nope, he dropped the engine and rebuilt the transmission. The guys been working on Porsche exclusively for 45 years and has the equipment to replace parts as needed. It was in and out of his shop in a week.

[stownsen914]

These threads can be interesting. Everything from "it's the linkage" to "just rebuild your trans."

Truth is, it may well be both. If it were mine, I'd look at the easy/cheap things first. Adjust clutch, linkage bushings, coupler (check the set screw too) fall into this category. If it improves enough to be acceptable after those changes, great.

If it isn't perfect and you don't like the idea of spending $10K or whatever trans rebuilds are going for these days, one option is to double clutch on downshifts. And/or skip the downshifts to first while moving.

[Matt Monson]

Originally Posted by Tinkerer

Nope, he dropped the engine and rebuilt the transmission. The guys been working on Porsche exclusively for 45 years and has the equipment to replace parts as needed. It was in and out of his shop in a week.

Then you aren’t posting a repeatable comp. most shops charge $800-1000 labor just inside the gearbox. Your guy hooked you up.

[Tinkerer]

Originally Posted by Matt Monson

Then you aren’t posting a repeatable comp. most shops charge $800-1000 labor just inside the gearbox. Your guy hooked you up.

He’s a great guy that knows his ****! ScottShop Sarasota

[Tinkerer]

Originally Posted by stownsen914

These threads can be interesting. Everything from "it's the linkage" to "just rebuild your trans."

Truth is, it may well be both. If it were mine, I'd look at the easy/cheap things first. Adjust clutch, linkage bushings, coupler (check the set screw too) fall into this category. If it improves enough to be acceptable after those changes, great.

If it isn't perfect and you don't like the idea of spending $10K or whatever trans rebuilds are going for these days, one option is to double clutch on downshifts. And/or skip the downshifts to first while moving.

That’s the path I took and think many others do as well. Once all the easy stuff was done it was time to bring it to a pro for an opinion. He asked me how the hell I was shifting it and I told I double clutch and he just laughed. Called him back 2 days later to discuss repair work and it is now fixed and smooth as silk.

[cabmandone]

If you can't shift into 1 while moving, your synchros are toast. There's a good thing about not being able to shift into 1 unless stopped though, REALLY hard to do what I did and go 1/2/1 at 60 mph. After smoking my exhaust valves on 3 cylinders, I wished I hadn't refreshed my transmission.

As others mentioned, if you want you can get it shifting pretty well by doing a full clutch adjustment, check/replace tunnel bushings and coupler bushings, and then dialing in the shift coupler. But if you can't shift into first while moving, your synchros are smoked.

FWIW, I did my own transmission refresh replacing synchro bands, sliders and dog teeth. I also found the needle bearing under the stack needed replaced because of a broken cage. It's doable if you know how to read and follow directions. There's a complete wiki on how to do it.

http://porsche.wikidot.com/porsche-915-transmission-repair-tutorial

[Tinkerer]

Originally Posted by cabmando

If you can't shift into 1 while moving, your synchros are toast. There's a good thing about not being able to shift into 1 unless stopped though, REALLY hard to do what I did and go 1/2/1 at 60 mph. After smoking my exhaust valves on 3 cylinders, I wished I hadn't refreshed my transmission.

As others mentioned, if you want you can get it shifting pretty well by doing a full clutch adjustment, check/replace tunnel bushings and coupler bushings, and then dialing in the shift coupler. But if you can't shift into first while moving, your synchros are smoked.

FWIW, I did my own transmission refresh replacing synchro bands, sliders and dog teeth. I also found the needle bearing under the stack needed replaced because of a broken cage. It's doable if you know how to read and follow directions. There's a complete wiki on how to do it.

How-To: Porsche 915 Transmission Repair Tutorial Part 1 - Porsche Wiki

Kudos for doing your own work, no tools or time for me to get to that level. Anyways, Kirsten’s spring will bring the shifter back to the 3 and 4 neutral plane, you may want to look into it.

[Geneman]

Tinkerer , who and where is he located: this 1800 dollar magician of whom you speak? At this point I am getting my race 915 box gone thru almost yearly....inquiring minds want to know, THANKS. Frank

[cabmandone]

Originally Posted by Tinkerer

Kudos for doing your own work, no tools or time for me to get to that level. Anyways, Kirsten’s spring will bring the shifter back to the 3 and 4 neutral plane, you may want to look into it.

That's the thing, I have a Seine gate shift kit in my shifter. I have no idea how I did what I did. When the weather is decent I'm going to go out and play around with coupler adjustment. Only thing I can figure is I have my coupler on the jagged edge. The coupler takes a very... very small amount of movement to throw things off.

[G450X]

Originally Posted by Geneman

Tinkerer , who and where is he located: this 1800 dollar magician of whom you speak? At this point I am getting my race 915 box gone thru almost yearly....inquiring minds want to know, THANKS. Frank

Wow, that’s worth shipping coast to coast! I think some builders will charge the “book” price (or book ++) even if it takes them half the book time for the rebuild (due to their expertise/efficiency).

We need to keep shops like this in business!

[junkman300SD]

For those who have done it, how difficult is a drop engine and tranny refresh? What did you include in the refresh- synchros? seals? bearings? gears?

Assume time and access to a 2 post lift?

[riparian]

Originally Posted by Dpmulvan

...and it will do things for your driving experience that a center fill gas tank can’t.

LOL.

Can anyone suggest a 915 rebuilder somewhere near central Florida?

[riparian]

Originally Posted by Tinkerer

He’s a great guy that knows his ****! ScottShop Sarasota

Thank you. Will check him out.

[pmax]

Originally Posted by Geneman

Tinkerer , who and where is he located: this 1800 dollar magician of whom you speak? At this point I am getting my race 915 box gone thru almost yearly....inquiring minds want to know, THANKS. Frank

Any response from the OP ?

[riparian]

Originally Posted by Geneman

Tinkerer , who and where is he located: this 1800 dollar magician of whom you speak? At this point I am getting my race 915 box gone thru almost yearly....inquiring minds want to know, THANKS. Frank

Can't speak to the cost, but here's the where...

Scottshop Porsche Repair
Address: 5656 Jason Lee Pl, Sarasota, FL 34233, United States
Phone: +1 941 923 1382
Hours: Open · Closes 5PM

[Nick Triesch]

When I bought my 3.2 12 years ago I thought the 915 was toast. Shifted horrible. But I was used to a mustang GT. Then I changed bushings, gear oil to Kendal and a super pro on this sight told me to “ Don’t do what you want the 915 to do, do what the 915 wants you to do”. Ever since then my car shifts fantastic. Never been rebuilt. 166,000. Also new clutch and flywheel.

[thetorch]

For the record, my rebuild was closer to $4,000, on top of having to find and buy a new (used) nose case and shift rod due to issues we found. And I dropped the engine/trans myself and delivered it.

Parts alone were $1,200 (2 syncros, dogs, shift fork, TO fork, gasket set + seals, reverse switch, , etc.,etc).

Some of that is no doubt CA pricing and using an expert with 40+ years of Pcar experience, but it drives fantastic now.

[ChuckleBeast]

Got an update….

Ended up pulling the engine over the winter (first timer, massive thanks to everyone on forum) and getting the tranny rebuilt. I ended up replacing the clutch and flywheel and just got the car back together this past week. I can’t believe how much more enjoyable it is to drive and wish I did it sooner. Thanks everyone!

[riparian]

Glad to hear it. It is too easy to procrastinate. “So what if I have to bring it to a full stop to get it in first…”

Did you have the gearbox done locally or ship it? Curious if you can recommend a shop.

Originally Posted by ChuckleBeast

Got an update….

Ended up pulling the engine over the winter (first timer, massive thanks to everyone on forum) and getting the tranny rebuilt. I ended up replacing the clutch and flywheel and just got the car back together this past week. I can’t believe how much more enjoyable it is to drive and wish I did it sooner. Thanks everyone!