Tranny Swap, What else will work in a teener? Options

[ThinAir]

These days I'm driving Mike's 1970 teener since I broke my 73. With no radio I get to listen to the sweet sound of the 1.7L behind me and I get lots of time to think (probably a dangerous thing!).(IMG:style_emoticons/default/wacko.gif)

So I got to thinking about transmissions and I remember someone commenting that there was a cable-shifter available from Patrick Motorsports, but that even though it is better than a stock side-shifter it still isn't as smooth as modern transmissions that were made to be cable-shifted. It being that Kennedy seems to make adapters to fit anything, is there a cable shifted transmission out there that would be a natural fit for a 914? (Of course you probably have to flip the ring gear.)

Subarus come to mind as a possibility just because they have flat-4 engines, but I have no idea about anything else about the cars.

[Dave_Darling]

Anything will fit if you have enough money...

I have heard less than complimentary things about the Patrick cable-shifter. This was quite a few years ago, now, and they may have gotten the bugs worked out of it. The install was on a 915 gearbox attached to a 3.0 Six, and the owner said, "I really should have just stuck with the side-shifter. Better shifting, easier install, and much cheaper."

You can try a Boxster trans. Rumor has it that it's the same as some of the Audi FWD ones.

Most other transmissions either turn the wrong way (e.g., 911 boxes), or do not have a differential in them (e.g., most RWD transmissions), or are set up to be transverse (e.g., most FWD transmissions). The Audi and Scooby trannies are the only ones I can think of that are FWD boxes mounted longitudinally. Saab might have some as well...

If you're willing to flip the R&P, then most of the 911 boxes will work. As will Bug/Bus/etc. Note than in many cases some machining to the inside of the box must be done. In some cases, most of the important parts of the box have to be redesigned... But it will work, if you throw enough money at it.

--DD