914 transmission, 914 transmission Options

[a.haleem]

hi
What are the best types of transmission, which can be installed on 914

[Dave_Darling]

Anything other than the stock trans is going to be a bit of a pain in the behind to install. A stock trans in good shape has handled 3-liter motors, as long as you baby 1st gear.

A few people have used Boxster transmissions, with Boxster cable-shift linkages. At least one was bolted to a VW/Audi 1.8T motor. Search for the threads on here. I'm spacing on the user name of the guy who built it. There has been at least one Boxster trans on an air-cooled 911 engine, but it was a good bit of work.

Someone managed to swap in an early FWD Audi gearbox. I believe it was done for someone who was physically unable to work a clutch. There is a thread on here somewhere with some pics.

The 915 box has been done quite a few times. A little machining is needed, plus the mounting, clutch linkage, and shift linkage all have to be worked out. WEVO (google them!) makes a tail cover that provides part of the linkage and the mounts. But you still have to flip the ring & pinion and do some machining to enable that. It will hold up to more torque than the stock 901-based box does, but not a super huge amount.

The early-ish 930 four-speed can be done, but evidently it is a whole lot more work. It is much more robust than the 915 box, though.

The G50 box from the 87-~92 911s can be made to work, but I believe it needs to be run upside down which means the lubrication setup needs to be revised. It is a stout box, and has been used in a number of specialty cars/kit cars behind SBC motors and similar stuff.

There are a whole lot of different ways to define "best". Start defining what your setup is, and what your aims are, and you'll narrow in on what options work for you.

--DD