Transmission Linkage Issues?, What's the current thinking on "renewing" linkage? Options

[earossi]

As noted earlier, I have just taken delivery of my first 914 which has had both the engine and transmission "rebuilt". Unfortunately, I do NOT have the build history on either component. The engine seems to run very well. The transmission is another story. Shifting is very vague and it is HARD to shift the car. I have been able to work the tranny through all 5 gears, and there are no bearing noises or evidence of bad synchs. But, the linkage appears to be f****ed up pretty poorly. It takes a lot of force to move the shifter forward or rearward. And, hitting the correct gears is a bit of a hit or miss.

I have been able to research the Pelican site where there is a writeup by Wayne Dempsy on reworking the linkage and doing some adjustments. But, I wonder what else is out there. On this forum, I have seen references to some linkage articles in the archives, but have not been able to find much using the Search function.

There are also several sources for replacement bushings, bearings, and hardware. But, what is the "hot ticket" to get the tranny to shift smoothly and with some ease?

Though this is my first 914, my first Porsche was a 66 911 with a 901 tranny in it and I can remember it being a joy to shift. You could not speed shift the car, but it was very easy to shift. And, I am wondering if I can get the 914 side shift tranny to behave as did my 911?

I can source hardware from Patrick MS, Tangerine Racing, Pelican, and Porsche......but, what should I replace and with whose part to get this tranny so that it is easily shifted?

Right now, the car is a true PITA to drive simply because of the linkage or perhaps something internal to the tranny. Iwould like to work through a proper diagnosis and adjustment of the linkage first, to see if that fixes my problems. I kind of feel that the issue is linkage related, at this point.

So, I would appreciate some direction from this forum.

[earossi]

Good questions. Yes, I just took delivery and am just starting to "sort" through the car. The engine and transmission were both "rebuilt", but with no documentation, I don't have specifics.

As noted earlier, my first Porsche, a 1966 911 had a 901 tranny, and I remember how nice the shifting was. Yes, it was a little vague. And, you could not power shift the tranny without "nicking" 2nd gear, but my memories are good ones of that car and its transmission.

My "new" 914's tranny is not very enjoyable at this time. I did drive it some today and since last posting, and the shifter just seems very stiff, requiring a lot of force to move through the gears. And, I was having some problems "finding" 3rd or 2nd on a down shift. Took several tries before I could find the gears. There is no unusual noise coming from the tranny. No indication of bad synchros. It just appears as though the shift linkage is not only vague, but that there is slop in it. I can shift through the gears one time, but the very next time I run up through the gears, it appears they are not "exactly" in the same place they were on the last series of upshifts.

I've attached some photos I took of the linkage that can be seen from below the car.

Starting at the firewall, when I peel back the bellows dust shield, I set that the firewall bushing appears to be bronze or brass. Definitely not plastic. Then, as you will note in the pictures, the rear shift rod is perfectly centered in the clearance hole in the engine support cross member.

I could not tell much from looking at the ball and socket shift collar at the rear of the transmission. There is a plastic dust cover over that hook up. I was not able to peel back the carpeting in the cabin to gain access to the shifter.

So, what would be your suggestions? It could be that I just need to put some miles on the car to loosen up the linkage. But, the vagueness and slop, I am afraid would still be there.