So I'm taking the plunge into a 915 conversion. As part of the conversion I'm considering having a WEVO gateshift kit installed. I like the idea very much but have never driven a car equiped as such. Have any of you driven a car with the gate shift installed? Assuming I get the linkage nicely done, for my $900 I'm looking for something that feels like a BMW M shifter. Is that realistic?

Later,
Kevin

Kevin, I just finished my 915 Wevo. On advice from Jim Patrick(Patrick Motorsports ie: 1-602-244-0911) I did not add a gated internal shifter. He told me it made it the feel to "stiff". You can always give him a call...he's very knowledgeable. Good luck!

I had the gate shift installed in my 915. I haven't driven it yet to give any feedback on how it works though. I hope to drive it this week.

I did notice that Wevo changed (beefed up) the rear casting though. Yours is much more substantial at the mounting ears. Sometimes it doesn't pay to be (b)leading edge!

Here's my mounting ear (and before anyone tells me my washers are upside down, they've been corrected along with the machining of the lower washers for clearance):

Click to view attachment

East coaster,

Good observation.. I'm glad that Wevo decided to 'beef' up this area. That was an area of concern for me when they first come out with this great product.

I have the gateshift in two different Wevo boxes. The only time you'll notice it is the shift from 2nd to 3rd - it requires a more of a precision diagonal shift to hit the third gear gate. It can be difficult to do when the gearbox is loaded in the middle of a turn. So I typically don't shift from 2nd to 3rd in turns.

With the 915 gearbox, it is possible to select two gears at once, especially when racing or tracking the car. Selecting two gears can break the gearbox. The Wevo gateshift prevents this type of failure. If I was building a street car and had no intention of tracking it, I would probably not install the gateshift. For a track car, the gateshift is not a bad idea.

The 915 gearboxes run really hot (250-270 degrees) in a 914 where they are "behind" the engine and above the headers/heat exchangers. Track cars need a cooler to keep the gearbox temperature under 210 degrees.

If you felt it made the box to stiff couldn't you do your own machining on the ramps to make it more to your liking?

Wish it went on my gearbox. First thing I planned to do but oh well.

The "unofficical" reason they beefed those ears up: ONE cracked

They couldnt easily prove "mis handling" of the gearbox/end cover so they beefed it up so NOBODY can f_ck it up.

It was easier on their part to make a casting change than try to train every installer of the proper method on engine/tranny install. They removed the potential headache from their equation.

You will NOT have a problem with either casting as long as your engine and tranny mounts are properly installed and the entire assembly is not in BIND.

Gateshift:

I like them. They work well.


B

My original Wevo box (which is the very first one ever built) had the ears break multiple times. All due to mechanic error. After the last failure, I put the box in myself and eliminated the binding. No more problems. Does this conform that if you want the job done right....