Going with the 915 trans, I'm taking the plunge Options

[Thorshammer]

Kevin,

We both know all you need to be competitive is the motor. Your chassis handles as well or better than what I have. Faster than me, you mean faster than Finch, cause he is building one. I know he has 95mm cylinders Nickies. He's coming, and he will win if he goes racing.

As far as the Hewland, I don't think you can use a MK style gearbox like I have with a good 2.7 liter engine. It just won't last. Even with Mk 5 gears, whoch does add a degree of reliability. You will need an LD 200 or the like to get what you need for that car. As far as having 15,000 in gearsets, SELL THEM, if they are worth 15k, you can have one helluva trans for that amount of money,

My MK 8 has a standard case and standard MK 8-9 gears. Although I will recase the trans this year and REM finish all of my gearsets. I had no failures last year, and hope to continue with the good luck this year. The dog ring trans is worth every penny. I will not build a 914 racecar without one.

Erik

[Brad Roberts]

No shit huh? Finch building a 914. That is COOL.

Looks like I need to make a call to RonW. It may be time to play again.

Eric,

are you serious about be able to buy the pieces for under 8k? I can sell all of Ron's parts if needed (tranny) do they all have LSD's in them? Can I use the 901 LSD in the Hewland case?

Why cant I use Hewland guts in a 901 box?? I just need some pieces to try it.



B

[Brad Roberts]

This is the Hewland Jim Blakewell uses in his SCCA Purple GT2 914. This one handles the 6cyl engines no problem.


(IMG:http://i9.ebayimg.com/06/i/08/cf/2b/36_1.JPG)



B

[Aaron Cox]

ok... this hewland talk has peaked my interest/

so they are sequential and you can fit them in VW and 901 cases?

minor hijack - where can i learn about these... just to build my knowledge base?

[groot]

Finch may run the 914 he built in the late 70s... the same one that won FP last year. I hope he does. I want to run against him. I may lose horribly, but he's certainly one of the best.

The Hewland's we're discussing are not sequential, but they are dog ring engagement (no lift shifts) with straight-cut gears (greater efficiency). I was quoted ~$8.5k for a new Mk9 with Mk5 gears and a quaife from Taylor, but that was a few years ago. It's a real racing transmission for sure. In the beginning Hewland used VW cases to build his transmissions.... so they bolt up to our engines without an adapter plate.

Here's some information: Hewland Website

[drew365]

Thanks for the link Kevin. I emailed them to see what they would recommend for my application. They show the Mk9 with Mk5 gears to be good for 180 Lb. torque. Would this be at the rear wheel or flywheel? My car dyno's at 166 lb. at the rear wheel. Not sure how that would translate to the flywheel.

[groot]

Drew,

As I understand it if you exceed the torque rating it reduces the service intervals on the trans. Hewland is based in the UK and will probably refer you to Taylor as they did to me.

Taylor is a very good company and my dealings with them have been excellent.



So, my 915 arrived yesterday... ebay purchase for $850 plus $125 for shipping, from an '85 Carrera. I took it all the way apart today and it looks like somebody drained the oil and then let is sit submerged in water. Everything is rusted to shit. I'm hoping I can at least salvage the gears and synchros. So much for saving $ in the near term for passing on the Hewland for now...................regret oozing in.......

BTW. Anyone know what spline is on the 915 trans? Looks like 20 splines.

[Aaron Cox]

So, my 915 arrived yesterday... ebay purchase for $850 plus $125 for shipping, from an '85 Carrera. I took it all the way apart today and it looks like somebody drained the oil and then let is sit submerged in water. Everything is rusted to shit. I'm hoping I can at least salvage the gears and synchros. So much for saving $ in the near term for passing on the Hewland for now...................regret oozing in.......

BTW. Anyone know what spline is on the 915 trans? Looks like 20 splines.

dude.. you got hosed on shipping depending on where it came from...

i was parting out trannies for a while and was getting them coast to coast for 40-60 bucks via UPS ground and cheaper by gayhound...

10 bucks for a rubbermaid tub and some foam, and some packing tape. DONE.

one dumbass shipped it to me with oil in it... UPS guy hated me LOLOL

[groot]

You're right... but I think I got hosed on more than just shipping.

[Aaron Cox]

You're right... but I think I got hosed on more than just shipping.

i didnt want to rub it in (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

but shipping is easy (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

thanks for the reading material on the hewland kevin!

[Brett W]

If you need I can check a couple of places here in town.

[Thorshammer]

There is a ld 200 on ebay right now. As far as the FP/EP cars the MK8/9 will work just fine. You can have one of these brand new from Taylor still for around 8500 with a quaife LSD. This WILL handle anything that an EP or FP engine can throw at it.

Blakewells 914-6 GT 2 car has an LD200 in it.

As far as the servicing on these gearboxes. I run Ceramic bearings in the tran with swepco gear lube. And have had zero issues. The LSD I have no one seems to know what it is, so I can't tell you myself. I can provide photos of my install to anyone that may be interested. I really feel it is worth it.

Erik

[groot]

So, I fully disassembled this trans and used the wire wheel on the gear teeth..... pitting from rust. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/barf.gif)

Certainly all the bearings were toast, but all of the gears are too. So, all I got was a dirty trans case.

I e-mailed the seller and he offered to refund my cash (IMG:style_emoticons/default/aktion035.gif)

So, I'm going to box up the parts and send them back to him.

My faith in humanity is restored!


Now I need to revisit my trans decision since having this case showed me that the 915 clutch lever interferes with the Tangerine header.

Might just throw a 901 back (with a new ring and pinion) in it for another season, then move to the Hewland later.

[Brad Roberts]

Kevin,

To run the 915 in a 914, you flip the arm around and make it stick out the drivers side. I "think" this will clear the Tangerine header.

Erik,

can you post the pics of your install. I have seen several of them, but you may have more.

B

[drew365]

I never received an answer to my e-mail to Hewland. Not a good sign. I've pretty much decided to fix my 901 and save my money for a Boxster. I wanna be like Bill! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/thumb3d.gif)

[Brad Roberts]

That is too funny Andy!!

I wanna be like BILL!!

Let me know! You know full well I'll be right there helping you strip one and get all the suspension under it. We can do it in a weekend with the right tools!!

You'll have to feed me and give me a place to sleep..LOL


B

[groot]

Andy,

Try Scott at Taylor scotty@taylor-race.com.



Brad,

I now what you're saying, but I'm actually worried about the vertical shaft that pivots the throwout bearing, so flipping the lever wouldn't get me out of that problem. It my fit, but it would be close.

[Brad Roberts]

We typically run hydraulic throw out bearings in the 915's.. havent had to deal with the clutch arm!

Erik..... pics ????



B

[groot]

Do you know one that fits? My discussions with Taylor said it was tight and the 915 looks like it had less room than the 901.

[Thorshammer]

I'll try to post, but some asshole reduced the size of pics that you can post here, or maybe my new camera is just TOOOOOOOOOOOO PHAT.
I am too stupid to understand how to reduce a pic size to be uploadable.

This should be a shot of the mounting plate:

I had this plate CNC'd to put the alignment step in both sides. One protrudes, one is recessed just like a porsche engine case.

The engine AND transmission mounts from these two holes in double sheer.