How do you make it rain in California?... buy a speedster.

James posted:

TRP posted:

The case is only about 3" longer. I am running heavy duty side plates and stiffeners.  It just looks big because it's silver. Black is slimming.

Just out of curiosity, how do you accommodate the extra 3”?  Does the coupler change? Does the engine move to the rear?   Are the mounts moved?

Like I said, just curious about how it all bolts back up.  

Although the gear cluster is longer (both main and pinion shafts extended so 5th sits on the end) and the new nose cone housing is a little bit more bulbous, overall length is the same as the hockey stick (shift selector) is shorter. The rear trans mounts bolt to the trans and yoke the same, but the front mount is reconfigured and the torsion tube is notched a just little to clear the nose cone. It all fits quite nicely just like it did before, with the engine still in exactly the same place.

Edit- And I see you've already answered James' question, Ted, with a comparison pic and everything. And it sounds like your torsion tube clearancing was way more civilized than mine...

just a bit of berg 5 speed insight.  Gene made a few versions of the five speed. The design before the present one used a stock nose cone and you were able to mount the trans with a stock mount.. the current version has a new intermediate housing and nose cone which does not accommodate a stock mount therefore the berg 5 mount is required. Also if you purchase a new berg 5 version  mount, ask for the front mount to come with the alum spacers rather than the cheap rubber studded ones

happy new year!

Gordon Nichols posted:

Now that we're back to the 5-speed and if any of you folks are considering making the leap to a 5-speed and want a used one from a front-corner-crashed 912, @Matt Berry has a front-shift 901 available from Carl's stash.  You can PM him on here for more info.

If your car is irs this is a great way to go. Where's Stan- will this fit in a newer IM?

@TRP

The shape of the 5 speed nosecone necessitates a new front mount, mid-mount, and bracket which you buy from Berg. You also need a new shifter. 

Didn't you just put in a new mid-mount? If you did and you want to get rid of it let me know. I would be interested.

The midmount I put in was the one for the Berg5.

TRP posted:

The midmount I put in was the one for the Berg5.

D@mn it!

It's official. My Speedster finally has a 5 speed!  I need to finish futzing with the adjustable spring plates before I can button it all up.

Just in time for winter!

Bam!

Looking good, Ted!

Nice!

WOW!  Look at THAT!   

Congrats! Excellent.

I like how the transaxle mount is adjustable.

Rusty S posted:

I like how the transaxle mount is adjustable.

It's not really adjustable.  What you're seeing is a "Stiffy" Kafer Bar from @coolryde.  It went in a few years back. The bars can be set up for different amounts of pre-load and all of that.  I didn't bother.   I just made sure they were tight and that each bar was equal length.  

I'll get in there this week and tighten everything down.  Next up will be the stainless fuel lines, a fuel pressure gauge, and a few other do-dads. I keep contemplating sending the long block to Ken Jansen and to have him swap out the heads for a pair of the Panchito's.  That's more of a distraction at this point. Not sure I need them.  

@TRP wrote- I keep contemplating sending the long block to Ken Jansen and to have him swap out the heads for a pair of the Panchito's.  That's more of a distraction at this point. Not sure I need them

Refresh my memory, Ted- engine specs? I do remember it's a 2 liter of some sort- cam/rockers? how high is redline? what heads are on it now? IIrc, 44IDF's and 1 1/2" sidewinder? compression ratio?

Unless the heads on it now are seriously holding it back, I don't know if you'd notice enough difference to be "worth it"?

And that's all a kafer/truss bar does, is hold everything in place. Tran/engine should be level, with maybe the smallest bit of pre-load on each of the rear bars. Al

PS- remember, I want to hear what you think Immediately after your first drive!

TRP posted:

I keep contemplating sending the long block to Ken Jansen and to have him swap out the heads for a pair of the Panchito's.  That's more of a distraction at this point. Not sure I need them.  

 You don't, but they'd be cool.

Gordon Nichols posted:

WOW!  Look at THAT!   

Would you look at that.

That's the hot setup right there. Congrats.

Out with the old. In with the new!

AC Industries wide 5 front discs and Rear stock spring plates - GONE!

CSP front discs and Sway-A-Way Adjustable rear spring plates - installed!

Shaved off about 10lbs off the front.

Waiting on the new shocks. Also installed drop spindles so i can raise the front beam back up to stock ride height. Hopefully regain some ride comfort.

Considering installing a residual valve for the rear discs. One project at a time.

Have you driven it with 5 gears yet?