G50 vs 915?

[911-32]

Can anyone give an accurate comparison of the weight of a G50 vs a 915? I mean if you "backdated" a G50 car to 915, what would you save? I always thought there was no more than 50 pounds in it but its a vague recollection of someone else's post, so maybe its more.

I have heard it said before (by Tyson for example) that you can also move the engine/gearbox forward if you do this swap. Anyone know how much further forward?

It seems there is a ready market for G50s for high powered kit cars such as Ultimas so you can reinvest in a rebuild 915 for little cash outlay making it close to a something for nothing type of project and also giving access to cheaper gearsets, clutches, flywheels. I figure I must be missing something though. Are there complications? Obviously you revert to a cable operated clutch rather than hydraulic. What else?

I love the way my G50 shifts but maybe there is something in this idea.

Richard

[kepperly]

Are you nuts! why would you even think of giving up the far better shifting of the g-050 for antique 915. What was on your ceral this morining.

Keith Epperly 87 slant nose turbo look carrera cabriolet

[Nine9six]

C-E-R-E-A-L
Pronounced ceral in Kansas :-)

[Tyson Schmidt]

The difference is 45#.

But that includes the flywheel. Bare trannies are about 27# difference.

You'd be able to move the engine and trans about 1.5" forward if you put a 915 in a G50 car.

[JackT]

915 transmission will give your car better balance, less weight and better feedback. the G50 has that numb feel of an Honda Accord. No feedback. Your ceral obviously made you more in-tune with your inner Porsche self.

[Bill Verburg]

It also makes a difference whether or not te trans has a LSD. The LSD adds weight

[Steve87-911]

Originally posted by DrewT
...the G50 has that numb feel of an Honda Accord. No feedback...

Um, no. I have an Accord and a G50. Mucho diff. Love the G50.

[mjshira]

it'll cost you do to it.

[nostatic]

G50's are for people who don't know how to shift

[JackT]

Um, no. I have an Accord and a G50. Mucho diff. Love the G50.

I should have said an AMC Pacer, Sorry.

[JeremyD]

Oh great - another 915 vs g-50 thread

[Porschekid962]

915, 915, 915. I drove a 5spd g50 for the first time a week ago, smooth but not as much feedback. porperly setup 915 is pretty hard to beat. depends on which case you start with, mag or alu and how much your pushing through it. you can always go to a hydraulic setup on a 915 if you really want, reinforced sideplate cover, lsd, horseshoe spring, reinforced main bearing plate, different ratiors, different r&p they are all out there. Also what are you using the car for? Daily car? Track now and then, hardcore driving and lots of track, dedicated track car, the end dictates the means. Happy motoring

cheers, ryder

[89911]

Since when is feedback from your transmission a good thing and could someone explain what their feeling that is so informative with a 915. (Other then a lot of cable strain and grinding?) I want the car in the gear I want when I want it. I don't need no stinkin feedback.

[pjv911]

Originally posted by 89911
Since when is feedback from your transmission a good thing and could someone explain what their feeling that is so informative with a 915. (Other then a lot of cable strain and grinding?) I want the car in the gear I want when I want it. I don't need no stinkin feedback.

Exactly ! I dont understand what these guys are taliking about . Also if you use the cup clutch(euro 964 rs) with its lighter flywheel you will drop about 20lbs from the g50 equation .
I also cant see how a true tranny feel can be had through the sloppy 915 shift linkage .
And is it a good thing to have a vibrating/rattling shift lever ? Someone please elaborate on this feedback theory .

Kurt Williams

[88-diamondblue]

If the 915 tranny is so good how come everyone is putting in a gate shifter and all the other upgrades to try and make them shift better. Feedback = grinding 1st, missing a gear and hitting the rev limiter or worse. I guess we need a definition of what feedback is. I have a g-50 and have driven the 915. Factory G50 short shift, baby
Time for a cold one!

[RoninLB]

I hate my tranny. I don't care how good it's rebuilt. It's just not my thing. As soon as I catch up on current mods it will be replaced, no question.

[Sonic dB]

To the tune of "Heartbreak Hotel"

My 915 gives me feedback
And feedback makes my heart swell
Crunchin the gears, no shift it fears
It wont break as well

My trannys so crunchy
My trannys so crunchy..
My trannys so crunchy...
but it never dies

The G50 is so silky
Like Honda or Toyota Tercel
Smooth as it is there's no gee wiz
So stick me in 915 hell

My trannys so crunchy
My trannys so crunchy..
My trannys so crunchy...
but it never dies

[Ken911]

tell you what I dont blame you at all for wanting to replace your g-50 with a 915 mine has just been rebuilt and I will gladly trade it for your g-50

[island911]

Originally posted by 89911
Since when is feedback from your transmission a good thing and .. .

do ya think we're going to be telling YOU!? . .. YOU anti-porschite!






okay, I suppose I'll tell ya. The 915 forces good/clean shift timing.

Whereas you Borg & Warner coneheads .. .

always flailing about . . . no cadence.





Though that does look like fun.



almost forgot; MUHAHAhahahaha. ...

[911-32]

Originally posted by pjv911
Exactly ! I dont understand what these guys are taliking about . Also if you use the cup clutch(euro 964 rs) with its lighter flywheel you will drop about 20lbs from the g50 equation .
I also cant see how a true tranny feel can be had through the sloppy 915 shift linkage .
And is it a good thing to have a vibrating/rattling shift lever ? Someone please elaborate on this feedback theory .

Kurt Williams

Just on the point re 964RS clutch. This was the initial plan but we can't get a flywheel to mate the euro RS clutch with the 3.2 as the RS runs a significantly different flywheel and you can't fit the RS pressure plate inside a 3.2 flywheel without modifying it.

Funnily enough, Patrick Motorsport thought I was crazy to consider getting rid of the gold standard of transmissions ! In fact here is what they said:

"Sorry, no we do not have a flywheel that would work with the 964RS clutch because the patterns, offsets and sizes are different. The flywheel you have has timing reference marks specific to the 3.2L DME (Digital Motor Electronics). The 964 cars had the 3.6L with the more advanced DME. Those flywheels have the 50-2 tooth configuration machined into them, totaly different. Depth of the bell housing, release bearing, and hydrolics are all configured for the early G50 to 3.2L arrangment. The G50 transmission you have is like GOLD. It was nice Porsche offered this option in the 87-89 models! What you have is what you should stick with in my opinion. It is 240mm hydrolic and fully syncronized as opposed to the 215mm of the 915 transmission. The clutch package for the G50 is typically only about $200-300 more than the 915. Flywheels are very similar and about the same cost as the 3.2L 915 unit. Since you will be be eliminating the rubber hub on the disc, the size and weight is reduced. I still think the Centerforce option is the way to go for you. If you want the lightweight racing package, opt for the special aluminum cover and 240mm 930 style disc. The main things to note are that the G50 is a killer gearbox that set the benchmark for the world of transmissions. If you need to open it up, they are very simple to work on and you do have some options with a shorter ring and pinion and LSD for the faster accel. Hope this helps..."


So, I am now back to considering the Patrick MS Centerforce clutch or a lightened aluminium Pressure Plate with sport 930 disc (picture below). As I understand it the pressure plate is where to save the most weight as the 3.2 flywheel only weighs 9lbs to start with (according to Patrick MS).

Thanks for the info (and comment )

Richard