Installing a Porsche 901 gearbox....maybe

Ron- Why not save the 901 install as a winter project and put the VW box (with the 3.44) in for the summer. That way if it takes longer than expected it's not cutting into the cruising season. Do the 901 right; you'll be happier since you already have experience with this conversion. I had to say it sooner or later....

Just my 2 1/2 cents (I know you know I'm Canadian...) Al

Ron,

You have a VintageSpeed shifter. Just rework the shift gate to lock out reverse.

Weld in a dog leg on the gate so it would slip straight to second and require lifting of the shifter to get over the gate to reverse. I did some modifications to my shift gate to work with my Berg 5.

You might want to get ahold of Ming at VintageSpeed. It's possible that he already has a refigured gate to accommodate the 901 box.

Al, when the engine goes back in I don't plan on taking it out for a long time (I've said that before.... )

Terry, great advice.  I'll talk to my mechanic about modifying the shifter and also email Ming.

Latest word from my mechanic is I will have reverse lockout, so it looks like the 901 gearbox is a GO

A W E S O M E!

with your vintagespeed?

right on Ron!

this mod has crossed my mind - it would be great if you could snap a few pics while you get it done.

My mechanic hasn't mentioned anything about switching shifters, so I'm guessing with the Vintage speed shifter. 

We'll see.

The 901 is coming out of a 914-6.  The owner is taking out the flat six and 901 gearbox, and doing a V8 conversion.

I think he's goofy for doing it, but I'm glad he is, because I get his nice shifting 901 gearbox.

where's your four-speed going?

kevin "coolrides" at mendola may have some soulutions or ideas.I think he makes a kit to install them, but Im not positive.as for the vw tunnel all of mine are flat on top at the shifter aera.there are plenty of porsche shifters on the sambo too.I had a 912 shifter out a few months ago but cant recall the exzact configuration, but it is a bit diff than a vw bug.but not a lot.

Mark, I'm not sure what my mechanic is planing on doing with the shifter.  He's done this conversion a number of times, so the install is not new to him.

As for the 4 speed, I'll eventually put it up for sale.

Ron- What's in the 4 speed box? mileage since last been apart? how does it shift?

I have about $2000 tied up in a new prostreet pluss trans with new rino case from rancho, 3.88 gear,I kinda wish I had the 3.44 gear put into it so I could run a smaller tire than what I will probably end up with. but it was built for my streetbug befor I got bit by the 356. what are the raitos of the 901&915 trans?

Here's a link to Porsche trans ratios.  The 914-6 has different ratios than 914-4.  Surprised 914-6 owner is not reusing it with the V8. It seems to hold up to higher horsepower unless you continually dump the clutch.  With all the grinding/welding of chassis, making a carrier, flipping the R&P that has to be done - welding in the few pieces to accommodate a 911 shifter seems minor.  

http://www.blueskymotorsports.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=17&Itemid=6

The 6 cyl 914/01 is quite rare - you could trade it for five 4 cyl 914/11 transmissions. Ensure trans is in good shape before starting --- rebuilding one is big $.

Sounds like the guy with the 914-6 is successfully going to turn a $65K car into a $15K white elephant.

I second what Tom said. If it's a factory 914-6 than thats a sin. 

914-6 to a V8? If it's an original, I'm with you. Shoot him before he can start the switch.

NO, NO, NO, Bob....he should do the switch.  I want the 901 gearbox.

The bad news, for me, is my mechanic just installed a new 3.44 R & P in my VW gearbox. The 3.44 cost me $400  

I wish he had come across this Porsche gearbox before he went through my tranny and installed the 3.44.  I shouldn't complain, since I'm getting a good price on the 901 gearbox.

Al, I had the tranny taken apart 3000 miles ago to have 3rd gear changed from a .82 to a .89 and the R&P changed from 4.12 to 3.88.  I wasn't happy with the highway rpm, so this time, since the engine was out, I had my mechanic take the tranny apart and install a 3.44 R&P.

It has always shifted precisely, and if it wasn't for this great deal on the 901 gearbox I'd be happy to have it reinstalled.

Tom, I agree with you 100%

Ron:

You win.

Hide the checkbook from Mrs. O'Black, Ron. If it makes you feel any better -- my trans came apart for the 4th time this winter.

I am now rolling (or will be, once I get the car off the stinking jack-stands) what has to be the worlds most expensive Type 1 IRS 4-speed. I've had custom 1st and 2nd gears since I built the car. After driving out to California last fall, I was looking for slightly longer legs than the .89/3.88 I was running (which was somewhat shorter than the .82/3.88 I had before). I paid many hundreds of dollars for a .93 fourth to go with the grossly over-priced 3.44, but then my 3rd gear was too close, so... I ended up buying the last piece of the "fully custom" gear-set puzzle from Erco to get the spreads right. Last go-around, I did a no-longer-available AL rhino case, and a ZF LSD that was like trying to buy shards of the true cross. This time, I had all the syncros redone. There's more money than my wedding cost in the transaxle.

I'm still searching for the secret sauce, but I think I'm right in the wheelhouse. What I had was perfect for everything but 14 hour days chasing the horizon on I80 west. I'm hoping this will be "just right".

If it's not, I'll act like it is.

Stan, is your engine back from ACE?

Mine should be back in soon.  Switching to the 901 gearbox has pushed back the completion date a week or so.

Stan, just keep doing what your doing.  Your my favorite reference whenever I am trying to justify a new gadget for my toys to my wife.  I just say " But Honey, that guy, Stan Galat, just spent $$$$$$$ on his car for a part you can't even see".  She always caves in. I owe you beers.

Har!

Noob question: why is 3.44 R&P expensive compared to 3.88?

I am thinking a 3.44 and the rest normal gear ratios from a Type 1 tranny might make a good fit for the Soob. But "thinking" is quite an overstatement....

The 3.44 is aftermarket and not really available used. The 3.88 is a stock part and if you've taken apart enough transaxles you probably have one laying around

if I recall corectly the 3.44 cost about $349. for the gear alone(R&P)

 the oe 388 was the strongest gear vw made, thus it's used in racing and gets used up.and the frewayflyer is so popular all the oe 388's are getting valuable, so the trans shops charg about $250 for the 388 option over the 412 gear. and the brazill 388 gear is weaker than the 412 gear.you can buy the 388 new but it is the brazilla gear.I had one of those that had been totaly deburred on all edges, for my prostreet pluss trans,I sent it with the new rino case & other new parts to rancho to build the trans.thats when he told me he would not put that gear in my trans. but would swap it for a german oe used gear and put that gear in a frewayflyer trans. well I dont know how the swap worked out I still had to pay him about$1600 I think, on top of the cost of the new rino case,new super diff, new hd side covers,new 3.88 gear, & some other stuff.Im not complaining if you want to put down some power you have to pay the price and have good stuff. had I known it would be going into my 356 instead of my bug then the 344 would be in it and it would be a $2000+ trans. witch is still cheeper than the 5 speed it started out to be....but I wish I had the 5 speed.or an aotomatic 5/6 speed. wish in one hand and want in the other and see witch shoe gets full first.