915 transaxle question / info, a silly question... Options

[CCSmith58]

Hello 914world… Just renewed my Membership !! Now looking to get my moneys worth...

I’m having a ’75 914 built into a 914-6.
Maybe 10 or 20 years ago I might have tried to do (some of) it myself.
Now I’m more a “pay the money, turn the key” guy.
Here’s a “silly” question. Likely the first of many….
How does a 915 Transaxle work when converted to a mid engine application ??
Not looking for a “how to” just an overview for personal info.
I’ve searched for articles, webpages and / or videos and don't find much.
I find acknowledgements of the conversion but no detailed or even general description.
I see the term “flipped ring and pinion”.
Does the whole gear system run backwards ??
Does just the differential run backwards ??
How would a LSD work in a converted 915 ??
Are the available 916 Kits good ??
Etc...
Any info or links to info would be appreciated !!

[mepstein]

I was just talking about this with 914Dave today. He used a Vellios kit - NLA. He said it's a lot like the Martin Bott kit. He's a machinist and carefully fit everything together. Even had to make a piece missing from the kit. Says it shifts like butter and handles any abuse from his 3.2. He drives his car thousands of miles per year so it's a real thing, not just a future plan. I know for sure he isn't going back to a 914 trans.

https://frontstreet.media/2019/02/20/how-to...4-6-gt-tribute/

I have a 914 trans in my 3.2 conversion car but the next one is getting a Carrera trans with WEVO and LSD built by Peter Dawe. It came in on a 914 race car and I snagged it up. If you don't like the 915 trans, you just haven't driven one built by Peter. The Dawes built 3.6 went to a friend.

[Steve]

I was just talking about this with 914Dave today. He used a Vellios kit - NLA. He said it's a lot like the Martin Bott kit. He's a machinist and carefully fit everything together. Even had to make a piece missing from the kit. Says it shifts like butter and handles any abuse from his 3.2. He drives his car thousands of miles per year so it's a real thing, not just a future plan. I know for sure he isn't going back to a 914 trans.

https://frontstreet.media/2019/02/20/how-to...4-6-gt-tribute/

I have a 914 trans in my 3.2 conversion car but the next one is getting a Carrera trans with WEVO and LSD built by Peter Dawe. It came in on a 914 race car and I snagged it up. If you don't like the 915 trans, you just haven't driven one built by Peter. The Dawes built 3.6 went to a friend.

Thanks Mark for the feedback. I’m also using a Rennshift with my Martin Bott 916 kit. I have also driven my car to several WCR’s and other events. I would never switch back to a 914-4 trans. Since I’m so happy with my setup, I am looking forward to my 3.6 project. It would be great if other people responded to the Martin Bott thread with positive or negative experience with the kit. I got screwed by two local reputable shops that could not make the 916 kit shift right. There was always someone local that I trusted that said “did you try these guys?” I could have saved thousands of dollars if I would have taken it to Patrick Motorsports in the first place. Even JW “RIP” at Otto’s told me he could never get the Vellios and 916 kit to shift right and did not recommend it. PMS told me they thought my car was one of the best shifting 915 cars that they have built. Personally I think this is related to the JWest shifter versus Wevo that they install on the majority of there projects. I know that CFR/Tangerine racing also has great feedback with Vellios and the 916 kit from Martin Bott. Nice to know that PMB is also another resource to build them.

[mepstein]

I was just talking about this with 914Dave today. He used a Vellios kit - NLA. He said it's a lot like the Martin Bott kit. He's a machinist and carefully fit everything together. Even had to make a piece missing from the kit. Says it shifts like butter and handles any abuse from his 3.2. He drives his car thousands of miles per year so it's a real thing, not just a future plan. I know for sure he isn't going back to a 914 trans.

https://frontstreet.media/2019/02/20/how-to...4-6-gt-tribute/

I have a 914 trans in my 3.2 conversion car but the next one is getting a Carrera trans with WEVO and LSD built by Peter Dawe. It came in on a 914 race car and I snagged it up. If you don't like the 915 trans, you just haven't driven one built by Peter. The Dawes built 3.6 went to a friend.

Thanks Mark for the feedback. I’m also using a Rennshift with my Martin Bott 916 kit. I have also driven my car to several WCR’s and other events. I would never switch back to a 914-4 trans. Since I’m so happy with my setup, I am looking forward to my 3.6 project. It would be great if other people responded to the Martin Bott thread with positive or negative experience with the kit. I got screwed by two local reputable shops that could not make the 916 kit shift right. There was always someone local that I trusted that said “did you try these guys?” I could have saved thousands of dollars if I would have taken it to Patrick Motorsports in the first place. Even JW “RIP” at Otto’s told me he could never get the Vellios and 916 kit to shift right and did not recommend it. PMS told me they thought my car was one of the best shifting 915 cars that they have built. Personally I think this is related to the JWest shifter versus Wevo that they install on the majority of there projects. I know that CFR/Tangerine racing also has great feedback with Vellios and the 916 kit from Martin Bott. Nice to know that PMB is also another resource to build them.

Dave was telling me he was constantly looking at angles and geometry of how things interacted, not just assembling parts. So the answer seems to be to use someone familiar with how these products work or else it’s a science experiment on your dime.

[stownsen914]

If you've ever messed with a custom shifter setup on a 914 (sounds like essentially what these kits are), there are lots of moving parts. Which means many points of failure, slop, places to have clearance issues, etc. You tackle them one by one, make them right and work together nicely, and it will work.