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915 Gearbox

craig2105

craig2105

New member
Hi chaps

I went to see a 1974 2.7S yesterday. The car was fairly lovely - really solid underneath, good sills and kidney bowls etc and clearly cherished by its 20 year owner with lots of bills in its extensive history file. However, I didn't enjoy the gearbox and clutch at all. I've only driven one 915 equipped car before some time ago to compare it with, but I don't recall it being quite so vague or the clutch quite so sharp. I count myself as a pretty confident driver but I really didn't enjoy approaching junctions for fear of either stalling the thing or launching myself up the road with unintended alacrity!

Anyway, to the point - how should it feel please? I've read of its "classic charm" and the need to get to know it to some degree. I'm very tempted by the car but if this is what it's supposed to be like, a long held dream of owning an early-ish 911 is about to be popped and I'll have to look for a later model with a gearchange I can live with. What might I be in for to put it right?

Also, is this the right register forum to post in please? They seem to skip from pre impact bumpers to 3.2's with no early impact bumpers mentioned!

Thanks, Craig
 
a properly set up 915 in good condition should feel nice & smooth, but is not a box that likes to be rushed or banged into gear like you can with an MX5's gearbox though. I've had mine rebuilt by Mike Bainbridge and it is superb with a loverly change that suits the nature of an early car. In some ways I prefer it to my 6 speed box in my 993.

The clutch should be smooth & progressive too.

The reason the 915 box gets a bad rap, is there are too many worn out / badly adjusted / neglected ones out there. They are up to 38 years old now !

The one you've driven doesn't sound right, but all things can be sorted given a bit of time & £££



The correct section of the forum for 74 cars onwards is the 'classic' section just above this one [:D]
 
I have owned a 1974 2.7S for many years. The gearbox is slow and indistinct until warm. As it holds a large quantity of Hypoid oil this does take some time, about 12 miles at moderate tempreture.

The clutch is different. I have had 2 in my car and they were both the same. The pedal pressure is heavy (that and my arthitis is why I dont use the car now) and due to the VW style movement, it seems sudden until you are used to it. Ealier 911's are quircky that's why we love them.

If you buy it you will get used to it.
 
Thanks James and Geoff. I did have a good long test drive of probably 20 miles or more. However, I can't say that the box got any better to use and the clutch was so heavy I felt it was a pain in the backside to operate. I'm a big lad too so I find it strange that it was as much of a struggle as it was and probably more akin to a 1970's Lamborghini than what I was expecting. I just didn't feel in control or able to cleanly engage the gear I wanted when I wanted it.

I forgot to mention that the car has had an engine trasplant to a 3 litre SC job and the box is a replacement for a Sporto that went wrong. It was all done professionally but I'm wondering if there's a potential issue with that work and if there's a mismatch between the pedal box, linkages and clutch mechanisam that may be contributing?

Could anyone give me a steer please on potential costs for, say a gearbox rebuild and new clutch (if that's necessary)? The clutch was done about ten years/20K miles ago.

I also read something about bushes in the linkages being key to a good change feel so what potentially could be the cost of work on these?

Otherwise, the car is such a gem that I feel I might kick myself if I don't buy it.... But then again I want enjoy driving it and I'm not sure I have the patience to work around it's quirks when they are so pronounced. Dilemma!

Thanks, Craig
 
Hi Craig , will echo what Geoff Ives has posted - you need to warm up both the engine and the gearbox and maybe even the brakes and tyres before trying to get the feel of the early 911s.
I'm no expert but I inherited some typed up advice on this from the previous owner of my 2.4S engined / SC braked 911E , a car set up to be quick on road or circuit ( once warmed up !).
If you are used to a modern car this takes some getting used to . I find it easier to step into a (1991) 964RS and access the performance (G50 box) , and it was easier still to step into a 997C2S with the same objective. .....

If you decide to go for it be prepared to be hyper-sensitive about rust , salt , using it in the wet , parking it on the street in London ..[;)]
 
OK just seen your most recent post , I think you'd be better off passing on this particular car . Also recommend DDK forum as place to look and learn !
 
ORIGINAL: oldtimer

If you decide to go for it be prepared to be hyper-sensitive about rust , salt , using it in the wet , parking it on the street in London ..[;)]
Click to expand...

Oh, believe me, I know those dark feelings well enough already...

 
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