915 V's G50 gearbox.
Discussion
porkyspecialist said:
Your hilarious, no really, this is why normal people think PH is fun...
Are you sure you don't mean sportamatic? Tip's weren't available when the 915 was about.
Then by the same magin why are you comparing 915's with g50's? Are you sure you don't mean sportamatic? Tip's weren't available when the 915 was about.
Anyway, as someone who's owned both I'd say the g50 is better & I can't understand anyone who disagrees.
However....
The 915 box is lighter & as the old racing crowd go for that some of the people who like to justify their old cars as being "true, original lightweights" follow suit.
Properly fettled it's still a good box but will always have that long throw antiquated feel to it, you can start redesigning bits of the linkage with things like wevo's but IMHO although they do change the shift, it's not necessarily better.
I think some of the replies depend on the context.
Is the G50 an improved gearbox over the 915? Yes.
Does this mean you should avoid 915 cars when buying a pre89 car? I think the answer is 'not necessarily'.
If someone was after a £200k 1973 2.7RS I'm not sure you'd say 'forget it, it's got a 915 box, buy one a later car with a G50 ....'
Is the G50 an improved gearbox over the 915? Yes.
Does this mean you should avoid 915 cars when buying a pre89 car? I think the answer is 'not necessarily'.
If someone was after a £200k 1973 2.7RS I'm not sure you'd say 'forget it, it's got a 915 box, buy one a later car with a G50 ....'
A nicely setup 915 'box (i.e. linkages nice and clean and greased and clutch fork lever no on its last legs) and with a factory short shift kit, is a nice, tactile piece of kit. First thing I used to do when I bought an impact 911 was to dismantle the linkage...after replacing the heater flaps of course
915 or G50 would never be a factor in my buying or not buying a car.
Well, that's what Evo said, and. As everyone knows, I believe everything I read in a magazine....
915 or G50 would never be a factor in my buying or not buying a car.
Well, that's what Evo said, and. As everyone knows, I believe everything I read in a magazine....
rubystone said:
A nicely setup 915 'box (i.e. linkages nice and clean and greased and clutch fork lever no on its last legs) and with a factory short shift kit, is a nice, tactile piece of kit.......
915 or G50 would never be a factor in my buying or not buying a car.
I'd agree (and it's true that most people who dismiss the 915 have never driven a properly-built one - there are rebuilds and there are rebuilds 915 or G50 would never be a factor in my buying or not buying a car.
) but I don't think the short shift adds much to the experience. I had one fitted on my SC race car and found that it meant I had to slow myself down more when changing gear, whereas because the standard linkage has to be moved further it takes longer and is more appropriate to the time the 'box needs.Besides the weight saving, there are lower power losses with a 915 too.
For a road car though I'd also choose whichever car was in the best condition and in a colour I liked rather than based on the type of box (or the mileage).
The G50 gearbox is heavier than a 915 gearbox by about 7 kilos. The clutch in the G50 gearbox weighs about 5kg more than the 915 clutch. I have a lightweight race clutch assembly with a lightened and balanced flywheel in my 3.2. As far as transmission losses go I think that is subjective. An old dog leg 901 box is far lighter than either but also fragile. 200bhp maximum for a road car.
The fact is that the G50 offers a 240mm hydraulic clutch, modern synchros and an internally gated shift. It is a technically better gearbox and nicer to use with a nice rifle bolt action against something that can often feel a litle wooly. By that I mean you struggle to feel it actually go into gear. If you look you'll find a lot of threads on rebuilding 915 gearbox's and they are a good box to use if they are in fine fetal and that is the issue. In fine fetal. I think you'll struggle to find a thread on rebuilding a 3.2 G50 box.
The fact is that the G50 offers a 240mm hydraulic clutch, modern synchros and an internally gated shift. It is a technically better gearbox and nicer to use with a nice rifle bolt action against something that can often feel a litle wooly. By that I mean you struggle to feel it actually go into gear. If you look you'll find a lot of threads on rebuilding 915 gearbox's and they are a good box to use if they are in fine fetal and that is the issue. In fine fetal. I think you'll struggle to find a thread on rebuilding a 3.2 G50 box.
In short the G50 box has a more modern feel and is therefore more user friendly. It's a better box for sure in a road car. But what complicates matters is that some of the very nicest 911s were built with the 915 box and it's not bad enough to make those cars significantly less desirable. Would I prefer a '73 RS with a G50 gearbox? Yes probably. Would I prefer a G50 C3.2 to a 915 '73RS? No!
Taken on its own the 915 gearbox is a slow, clunky, temperamental old piece of kit that would have no place in any modern day car. But then when you are in the right mood, it reminds us of the days when gearchanges required a bit of skill and thought. I'd say the 915 goes well with the classic 911s that were built with it and adds to the quirky old-school charm. But let's not pretend it's technically any good to change gear with!
The G50 on the other hand is quite a nice gearbox that most people would instantly get on with. I had a 964 RS with this box and the gearchange was fast and slick, as it is on most contemporary Porsches. I don't remember it being as good on earlier cars, but that could just be my fading memory.
Taken on its own the 915 gearbox is a slow, clunky, temperamental old piece of kit that would have no place in any modern day car. But then when you are in the right mood, it reminds us of the days when gearchanges required a bit of skill and thought. I'd say the 915 goes well with the classic 911s that were built with it and adds to the quirky old-school charm. But let's not pretend it's technically any good to change gear with!
The G50 on the other hand is quite a nice gearbox that most people would instantly get on with. I had a 964 RS with this box and the gearchange was fast and slick, as it is on most contemporary Porsches. I don't remember it being as good on earlier cars, but that could just be my fading memory.
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