Using 1978 915 Porsche Tranny for ESPRIT V8

[hasuSan]

No need to tell you the maximum capability of the V8 Tranny.

About 4 mos. ago, been cleaning my shed, I found my 1978 915 type Porsche 5 speed tranny. I've been researching since if possible to use this tranny as potential replacement for my V8 tranny incase the box becomes a piggy bank.

To make the story short, I started internet researching and talking to local Porsche garage. This tranny is very strong, ideal for Porsche 930 racing engine & competition. A Porsche high performance garage that I spoke to, said the 915 tranny is rear drive and by fliping or reversing upside down the ring and pinion, it will work to a mid engine car like Esprit. He said, he had done it and works just like stock in the Porsche. He said, the only problem is the fitness to the ESprit and the bellhousing. I assume by making a plate weld/cut to the Porsche bellhousing, I might be able to work it out. The length, I don't know.

Any thought ? Esprit GURU ?

Thanks

[dclare]

Ultimas use Porsche G60 gearboxes mounted upside down and sell a kit to convert the box for use like this (swapping the breather over, etc).

Have a look on the Ultima forums and you'll find lots of info.

Doesn't help with fitting to an Lotus engine though, and I don't know if the G60 box is the one used n the 915....

[hasuSan]

I will try to go to Ultima Forum and check it out.

Also I found that The G50/50-series is probably the strongest of the Porsche generation of gearbox.

A modified G50/50 used at 24 hours race at Daytona. Unfortunately, mine is 915 type. I'm sure there is potential modifying this housing and fit in the Esprit.

Ultimas use Porsche G60 gearboxes mounted upside down and sell a kit to convert the box for use like this (swapping the breather over, etc).

Have a look on the Ultima forums and you'll find lots of info.

Doesn't help with fitting to an Lotus engine though, and I don't know if the G60 box is the one used n the 915....

[mike_sekinger]

I will try to go to Ultima Forum and check it out.

Also I found that The G50/50-series is probably the strongest of the Porsche generation of gearbox.

A modified G50/50 used at 24 hours race at Daytona. Unfortunately, mine is 915 type. I'm sure there is potential modifying this housing and fit in the Esprit.

I do not know about the variant used in the 915, but the use of Getrag gearboxes in kitcars is quite common.

I have a Porsche G50/50 for sale that has already had all of the development work done to mate with a Lotus V8. John Hazzard overcame all of the engineering challenges in order to use the gearbox on his V8 race car project. I subsequently purchased both the engine and gearbox to include the adaptor plate, linkage/shifter and a pair of bespoke strengthened driveshafts.

The beauty of the G50/50 is not only the additional strength, but also the wide variety of ratios that are available from Porsche transmission specialists.

The first check for your variant,would be the length of the gearbox and the alignment of the driveshafts with the Lotus chassis and hub.

Regards,

Mike S

[hasuSan]

I do not know about the variant used in the 915, but the use of Getrag gearboxes in kitcars is quite common.

I have a Porsche G50/50 for sale that has already had all of the development work done to mate with a Lotus V8. John Hazzard overcame all of the engineering challenges in order to use the gearbox on his V8 race car project. I subsequently purchased both the engine and gearbox to include the adaptor plate, linkage/shifter and a pair of bespoke strengthened driveshafts.

The beauty of the G50/50 is not only the additional strength, but also the wide variety of ratios that are available from Porsche transmission specialists.

The first check for your variant,would be the length of the gearbox and the alignment of the driveshafts with the Lotus chassis and hub.

Regards,

Mike S

Mike...I emailed you.

If money is no object, I like to have this type:

http://www.pim.net/rbt6.html

The tranny is almost cost as my daily driving car.

[lotusshaney]

Yes it is posable to use the 915 box on an Esprit. I have a friend who has fitted one into his Delorean (Uses a UN1 gearbox as-well). You may have to have the dif turned around and a new bell housing made but it should work.

I have pics if you want

Edited January 3, 2007 by lotusshaney

[hasuSan]

Yes it is posable to use the 915 box on an Esprit. I have a friend who has fitted one into his Delorean (Uses a UN1 gearbox as-well). You may have to have the dif turned around and a new bell housing made but it should work.

I have pics if you want

Lotusshaney....thank a lot.

Could you kindly email me the picture if its available?

j0719p@hotmail.com

[bimmabimma]

Lotusshaney....thank a lot.

Could you kindly email me the picture if its available?

j0719p@hotmail.com

G50 is probably the best transaxle you can buy and is also probably the easiest to swap into a lotus body. seems like that would be an ideal candidate. On ultima forums you can do a research, they know exactly which G50 gear box has which gears and etc (many versions of G50s). I'd pick the one with the highest ratios for quickest acceleration. G50 gearboxes have relatively long gearing even in its shortest ratio configuration. Plus a 6 speed would be nice if possible . G50s can take at least twice the power a lotus tranny can and they don't feel like you are shifting a farm tractor haha. If somebody were smart they would mass produce a G50 Adaptor plate for the lotus engine and sell a conversion kit for it (much like many companies do for BMWs). again just a suggestion.

heres the forum link:

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/forum.asp?f=20&h=17

I am a member there as well, lots of great info on that forum

Edited January 3, 2007 by bimmabimma

[jetfixr123]

No offense if you like the 915 gear case.....If you ask me it is the WORST shifting gearbox Porsche ever had in the 911. I have had 3.2 Carreras with fresh overhauled (5 grand) gear cases that shifted just as difficult as 100K mile units. The market on 3.2 Carreras reflect about a 4K difference between the exact car with a G50. Indeed you are right, they are strong, but not smooth......

It's just a personal opinion so don't take it any other way, actually I liked the 915, but only in an old Porsche. Kind of gives the old German tank a certain feel and character. There is a good article in Excellence magazine on the G50 vs 915 box. I believe it was a couple of months ago. I'll try to find it if you like.

Ian

No need to tell you the maximum capability of the V8 Tranny.

About 4 mos. ago, been cleaning my shed, I found my 1978 915 type Porsche 5 speed tranny. I've been researching since if possible to use this tranny as potential replacement for my V8 tranny incase the box becomes a piggy bank.

To make the story short, I started internet researching and talking to local Porsche garage. This tranny is very strong, ideal for Porsche 930 racing engine & competition. A Porsche high performance garage that I spoke to, said the 915 tranny is rear drive and by fliping or reversing upside down the ring and pinion, it will work to a mid engine car like Esprit. He said, he had done it and works just like stock in the Porsche. He said, the only problem is the fitness to the ESprit and the bellhousing. I assume by making a plate weld/cut to the Porsche bellhousing, I might be able to work it out. The length, I don't know.

Any thought ? Esprit GURU ?

Thanks

[hasuSan]

No offense if you like the 915 gear case.....If you ask me it is the WORST shifting gearbox Porsche ever had in the 911. I have had 3.2 Carreras with fresh overhauled (5 grand) gear cases that shifted just as difficult as 100K mile units. The market on 3.2 Carreras reflect about a 4K difference between the exact car with a G50. Indeed you are right, they are strong, but not smooth......

It's just a personal opinion so don't take it any other way, actually I liked the 915, but only in an old Porsche. Kind of gives the old German tank a certain feel and character. There is a good article in Excellence magazine on the G50 vs 915 box. I believe it was a couple of months ago. I'll try to find it if you like.

Ian

You are right, Shifting Porsche is like shifting in dump truck. A friend owned one, I drove a few times. I bought the 915 (for $300) from a guy who own a big barn a while back. I can't resist, he was trying to get rid a bunch of stuffs. The bad rap I read on Esprit V8 tranny makes me worry while I'm in the process of upgrading the power. If in the future I screw my tranny, I will certainly think other alternatives.

I saw this from other site:

http://www.pim.net/rbt6.html

http://www.fordracingparts.com/parts/part_...rtKeyField=8620

but the cost is more than a new winter beater or daily driving car.

[M Blur]

Gottfried over at Grassinger is selling his GT1/GT2 G60 spec trans for about

[rydning]

Gottfried over at Grassinger is selling his GT1/GT2 G60 spec trans for about

[M Blur]

What car is this G60 origin? Turbo Porsche?

yes - latest iteration of the Getrag porsche trans I believe - G60 supposedly even better than stock G50-50 and Gottfried's was running GT1/GT2 internals.... expensive top-end stuff. Otherwise it appears in 996> models, uprated in GT3 variants and turbo I'm guessing.

I'll be running an uprated race 2-way lsd G50-50 5-speed rated to 850bhp, from California, but how well it lasts is down to what you put in it, how it breathes, lubes, cools and used of course. No one else wanted their box to touch my little ol' engine...