Difference in 901/914/915 Transmissions

[67Westy]

Looking for alittle guidance. I'm ready to do the 5 speed swap in my 61 Beetle and am looking at using a 901,914 or 915 transmission. What are the differences between them? Also I would like to know if there is any gearing, size or strength difference between the 3 and what years should I look at.
_________________
Welder/fab repair
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=452054

[Bleyseng]

901 used in 911 and 912's some 912 ones are 4 speeds. these are the easiest to modify into a bug as they already use a tail piece shifter

901/914 is setup for a midengine chassis sooo the diff is flipped so you get 5 forward gears compared to a 911 901. Cheap to locate but you will need to flip the diff (easy) and locate the 911 tailcone shifter setup to use it.

915- came out in 73? and the last years are the one to use 78-82? Stronger but it does have its internal problems with bearing seats. $$$ to fix.

for a bug use a 911/912 one also there are tons of gear sets to choose from and its easy to switch them in a 901 tranny. In a 914 you can remove just the gear cluster (ala a race car) and switch gears sets without pulling the whole tranny out. handy
_________________
70 Ghia Black convert-9/69 build date-stock w/133k 1600 SP-barn find now with a rebuilt tranny and engine
77 Westy 2.0L w/Ljet, Camper Special engine-95hp and with LSD!(sold)
76 Porsche 914 2.1L L20c, 120hp Djet (sold)
87 Syncro Westy Titan Red 2.1L 2 knob 100k miles

[bt]

901s came in 5 speed. A 912 is trans code 902/0(4spd) 902/1 (5spd) the 5 spd has 1st gear on the lft down towards the rear. kind of odd.

On the 915 1st is Lft foward. Not much of a problem but the 915 is what most people are use to.

What are you planning to do with your car? If I had a choice I would go with the 915 because they are easy to find, lots of gear ratios and they are stronger than the 901. If you cant do trans work for yourself, I would skip the 914. There is nothing wrong with it but the 915 and the 901 are ready to work as they are.

www.aircooled.net has a page on what it takes to put a porsche trans into a t1

[67Westy]

[67Westy]

Did the 915 model came in the 73 and up 911?
_________________
Welder/fab repair
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=452054

[Bleyseng]

The 901 is good for about 300hp

the 915 is good for alittle more. 73 and upto about 82.

are you going to drag race this car?? forget using these trannys if you are.

find a 930 4 speed box if you are.

locating a good 915 is harder IMHO than a 901. People beat the crap outta them and they are expensive to fix.
901's are cheaper to fix IMHO
_________________
70 Ghia Black convert-9/69 build date-stock w/133k 1600 SP-barn find now with a rebuilt tranny and engine
77 Westy 2.0L w/Ljet, Camper Special engine-95hp and with LSD!(sold)
76 Porsche 914 2.1L L20c, 120hp Djet (sold)
87 Syncro Westy Titan Red 2.1L 2 knob 100k miles

[67Westy]

[Bleyseng]

930 then


anything else won't handle the hp for very long IF you are going to drag race it.
Pinion will shear or shatter on both 901/915
For track use you can get away with using them not drag racing.
_________________
70 Ghia Black convert-9/69 build date-stock w/133k 1600 SP-barn find now with a rebuilt tranny and engine
77 Westy 2.0L w/Ljet, Camper Special engine-95hp and with LSD!(sold)
76 Porsche 914 2.1L L20c, 120hp Djet (sold)
87 Syncro Westy Titan Red 2.1L 2 knob 100k miles

[bt]

look into a G50/50(turbo) G/50 (reg). These trans are made after 1989. The 915 was made until '89

[Bleyseng]

money!!!
_________________
70 Ghia Black convert-9/69 build date-stock w/133k 1600 SP-barn find now with a rebuilt tranny and engine
77 Westy 2.0L w/Ljet, Camper Special engine-95hp and with LSD!(sold)
76 Porsche 914 2.1L L20c, 120hp Djet (sold)
87 Syncro Westy Titan Red 2.1L 2 knob 100k miles

[gears]

The '72-'86 915 had somewhat larger gears than the 901/914. The later year 915s had the better mainshafts, while the '72-'74 had the low 7:31 R&P. As bt says, the G50/50 (Turbo version G50) 5-speed or the earlier '76-'88 930 Turbo 4-speed will stand up to turbo horsepower. All the others will likely fail sooner, rather than later.

[67Westy]

[Bleyseng]

[gears]

You'll likely need small diameter tires and/or lower R&P ratio (or lower gears) for adapting a VW engine to the 930. One of the bigger complaints with this box is the tall gearing.

[67Westy]

[67Westy]

The G50 is out of the question. I would have to cut into the rear of the car to make it fit. I do not want to cut into the back seat area and have to build a new tunnel. So I'm looking at the 915 and 930 setups.
Does anyone have the gear ratio's for the 930? If they are tall enough I will go with that. I would like to be able to do roughly 80mph at 2500-2800RPM's and have a top speed around 140mph(7000rpm's).
How much power can the 930 trans hold before needing internals?
_________________
Welder/fab repair
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=452054

[gears]

930 1st of 2.25 with 4.22 (9:38) R&P is equivalent to a 2.45 1st with 3.88. 930 4th of .625 is equivalent to .68. Too tall. Putting in the 4.88 R&P brings it into proper range.

The 930 internal will be WAY more than adequate to hold up to any VW horsepower.

[Bleyseng]

Yup, the 930 will hold up to what you install as its one stout tranny with big ass parts of hold all that HP a 911 Turbo could put out.

The 914 V8 conversion guys all end up going with the 930 so they can put the hp/torque down (burnouts) without blowing up their tranny.
_________________
70 Ghia Black convert-9/69 build date-stock w/133k 1600 SP-barn find now with a rebuilt tranny and engine
77 Westy 2.0L w/Ljet, Camper Special engine-95hp and with LSD!(sold)
76 Porsche 914 2.1L L20c, 120hp Djet (sold)
87 Syncro Westy Titan Red 2.1L 2 knob 100k miles

[67Westy]

[gears]

Proper gearing range for VW.