Recipe for Best Shifting 915

[garrett490]

Is there an end all, be all recipe for creating a rock solid shifting 915? Starting from engine and tranny mounts all the way through the tranny internals to linkages, bushings, and shifter mechanism...what's the concensenus for the the most positive / crisp / tight shifting 915? Looking for a complete solution...not bits and pieces that can improve my current setup. Brand names/model numbers please.



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[McLaren-TAG]

Different strokes for different folks. There are a gazzillion suggestions here, some help some are anecdotal, others are throwing money away yet some swear by them. Read, and try the inexpensive things first and venture out the more expensive things if you continue to be unhappy.

75% of the improvements you're going to get in a 915 that doesn't need rebuilding is had from a good rebuilt coupler, new bushing up front and a solid adjustment. The rest is an expensive slippery slope.

Or get a G50.

[dicklague]

You DO NOT need a G50. the 915 is a very good trans.

I have mine working extremely well.

I agree to start with linkage and shifter. I like the new couplings whether you choose Wevo [which I have] or other brands.

If you have not gone through the bushings in the shift road and coupler do this first.

I lived with a "crunchy" 915 for years and finally was forced to have it redone. I love the result, but it was and extensive rebuild that included bearings, synchros, ring and pinion etc.....and the Wevo internal shifter gate which is expensive, but excellent in my opinion.

[darmahman]

I just had a valve job done on my 85 911 and while at it, I had my mechanic replace all the bushings in the linkage of my 48,000 mile 915 tranny and replace the clutch.
Completely, completely, completely converted my tranny. It now shifts like a normal car. The difference is amazing. I had also ordered a Seine shift kit, but this is so good I don't need it. Anybody want to buy it?

[clutch-monkey]

correctly aligned couplings and bushes, wevo or seine kit, and that's all you need. something like wevo gearbox/engine mounts are icing on the cake.
if that doesn't work the issue lies between the steering wheel and the driver's seat

[Pstallo]

I've replaced the shifter coupling with a Wevo (and had it adjusted by a local expert), replaced all the bushings, installed a factory short shifter, and changed the transmission fluid to Swepco. Compared to how it was before, those steps made an enormous change and the car is completely drivable. I still have trouble shifting into first at a stop (unless the car is on an incline) and second gear is really tight when the transmission warms up.
The next step is to replace the 30 year-old clutch and then work on the 30 year-old transmission.
As an aside, installing the short shifter probably didn't help the difficult 1st and 2nd gears, but I like the way it looks.

I think that the transmission on any car just needs a good bit of work after 30 years to get it back to speed. What IS impressive is that the engine is more reliable than my 2006 Mercedes that has fewer miles on it.

[Charles Freeborn]

You don't say what year. There were different eras of both trans and shifter.
My '74 went from downright sloppy to pretty darn predictable with all the soft parts changed. That's the ball cup, bushing, coupler. Good adjustment on the coupler is crucial. Sein gate is next on my list. If my stock unit was worn beyond repair I'd consider a WEVO, but all told the improvement is incremental and expensive.
Once all the linkage is sorted, what I do find is that it's much more fussy at low speeds on the street. When I'm thrashing it on the track it seems to shift better, or maybe I'm just more on top of it on account of adrenaline...
-C

[Arne2]

My transmission is fairly fresh (~15k since synchros), I have Seine and fresh bushings. Took the factory short shift out, shifts better with the original. Good shifting 'box now.

[Dodge Man]

The trans are 2 totally different beasts. I enjoy old school sports car driving so I went with a Euro 915/72. Old 915 trans Porsches (steel sliders, etc...) have a totally different trans character from the '88 up cars so pay you money & make your choice. However, you still have to drive it. Are you a throw back double clutching, heel & toe 915 person or G50 E-Z shifter? I am not passing judgment here but if you want to drive an old school racing trans get a 915 and learn how to heel & toe very well to save your steel gears/sliders. A properly maintained & adjusted 915 is really a very civil daily gearbox. However, smooth E-Z 6000 RPM upshifts & downshifts are a different story. Also, converting a 915 car to G50 is usually an expensive street/racing conversion and generally not a good return on resale value. Just make your self happy and go your own way. Best of luck.

[911pcars]

Originally Posted by Dodge Man

The trans are 2 totally different beasts. I enjoy old school sports car driving so I went with a Euro 915/72. Old 915 trans Porsches (steel sliders, etc...) have a totally different trans character from the '88 up cars so pay you money & make your choice. However, you still have to drive it. Are you a throw back double clutching, heel & toe 915 person or G50 E-Z shifter? I am not passing judgment here but if you want to drive an old school racing trans get a 915 and learn how to heel & toe very well to save your steel gears/sliders. A properly maintained & adjusted 915 is really a very civil daily gearbox. However, smooth E-Z 6000 RPM upshifts & downshifts are a different story. Also, converting a 915 car to G50 is usually an expensive street/racing conversion and generally not a good return on resale value. Just make your self happy and go your own way. Best of luck.

There really shouldn't be any difference in the method of shifting gears for either transmission regardless of design differences. If smooth transitions, especially downshifting from gear to gear is an objective, the skill sets of double-clutching and heel and toeing are required for either gearbox.

However, if you're of the new school of shifting, where just rev-matching is of sole importance, get a G50. Their synchros will last longer.

Sherwood

[911Maverick]

I haven't owned my 86 very long but I will say that when I purchased it the shifting was pretty sketchy. I replaced the gear oil with Kendall and rebuilt the linkage with the Pelican kit and it is like shifting a completely different transmission now. All told I am out like $80 or something which was money WELL spent.

I still need to adjust my clutch because engagement is really high and then adjust my gas/brake so I can heel toe.

But as far as shifting goes I think those two things put off a rebuild for a couple years at least!

[garrett490]

Thanks for the input guys. I'm really not dissatisfied with the way my car currently shifts. It's a 1982. Reason I'm asking is because I am rebuilding the engine at the moment and gearbox will be next. "While I am there" I would do all of the suggested gearbox mods.....but....based on the feedback there really aren't any. I'm surprised since everyone has there idea of what should be done to the engine while rebuilding it.


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[keynsham1]

Don't underestimate how good Swepco oil is. I have never really noticed much difference between different oils, but using Swepco in my 915 transformed it. I don't know why it works, but it does!

[theiceman]

to Op .. dont expect someone to give you a solution on a silver platter with evrything you want . Invest some of your own time. do your homework and ask questions. Tis board is abou helping people helping themselves and encouraging them to get involved. Not spoon feeding

ranyt over ... carry on ...

[javadog]

Originally Posted by garrett490

Thanks for the input guys. I'm really not dissatisfied with the way my car currently shifts. It's a 1982. Reason I'm asking is because I am rebuilding the engine at the moment and gearbox will be next. "While I am there" I would do all of the suggested gearbox mods.....but....based on the feedback there really aren't any. I'm surprised since everyone has there idea of what should be done to the engine while rebuilding it.

If you are happy with how it shifts, there's no need to do anything.

If you want it to feel new, get it rebuilt by one of the recognized pros, even if that means shipping it across the country. Rebuild the whole thing, don't do the usual half-ass re-fresh, use quality parts (there are "OEM" parts that aren't as good) and use a reccomended lubricant.

While it's out, completely rebuild your shifter, shift linkage wear parts, your pedal cluster and consider putting a new clutch in it when it goes back together. Replace your clutch cable and learn how to propely adjust it. I define "new clutch" as all of the related parts, including a new flywheel.

Your choice...

JR

[911SauCy]

I recently replaced all of my bushings and used the coupler adjustment methods outlined in the tech articles here...it was a transformative difference to my 915 with 176,285 miles...

I do wonder if my adjustment is off a hair as the shifting is good, but sometimes in high rpm/heavy load situations, when up-shifting from 1-2 or 2-3 the shifter kind of gets spit out of its place. Also, in 3rd WOT, the shifter feels a little sticky like it needs a formal invite to go into 4th.

Suggestions?

[garrett490]

Originally Posted by theiceman

to Op .. dont expect someone to give you a solution on a silver platter with evrything you want . Invest some of your own time. do your homework and ask questions. Tis board is abou helping people helping themselves and encouraging them to get involved. Not spoon feeding



ranyt over ... carry on ...

Not looking to be spoon fed. Looking for the end all be all consensus as to how to create the best shifting 915 possible. Turns out there isn't one. I'll pick and choose components based on customer reviews just as everyone else. I guess when I'm asking for an expert there isn't one this time. Oh well just wanted to ask before I make my own decisions. Btw this is me doing my homework and asking questions...your response was useless. Thanks.


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[ClickClickBoom]

On my '84,
Lengthened shift lever(so I don't have to reach)
Short shift kit(so I don't have to row)
Seine Shift Gate
Stomski Shift Coupler
Rebel Racing Sport Trans Mounts
Swepco trans fluid
Careful adjust of coupler.
Careful clutch adjust.
The above combination shifts/operates like my H&K firearms, smooth, certain and very precise. A buddy who is looking for a 911 and was convinced that 915s were nightmares drove mine and was amazed, he is now looking for a 911, 915 or G50! The end-all-be-all isn't in specific brands or components it's in the set up and maintenance of the system. I imagine a stock 915 from the factory was a nice shifting car, add a few decades of driving and lack of maintenance and the 915 horror stories are born.

[javadog]

Read my response. It's not rocket science. A freshly rebuilt gearbox with a good clutch and good linkage shifts fine. You don't need some aftermarket shifter, or sport trans and engine mounts, or whatever. Just put it back to the way it was when it rolled out of the factory. Porsche made a lot of improvements to the 915 over the years and an '82 has most of those.

It's that simple.

JR

[ClickClickBoom]

Originally Posted by javadog

Read my response. It's not rocket science. A freshly rebuilt gearbox with a good clutch and good linkage shifts fine. You don't need some aftermarket shifter, or sport trans and engine mounts, or whatever. Just put it back to the way it was when it rolled out of the factory. Porsche made a lot of improvements to the 915 over the years and an '82 has most of those.

It's that simple.

JR

If "just fine" is all you are looking for this is the definitive answer....

"It's that simple"

If you want to hone it to a razors edge, you have to go a little further.