Berg 5 Speed Or Porsche 5 Speed?

[boygenius]

I was thinking about adding a fifth gear to my car and was wondering which route I should take. I already have a built 4-speed transmission. It has an aluminium side plate, close ratio 3rd gear with 3.88 r/p, welded gears, ect.......

I bought it for drag racing so 3rd gear is a little low, I think 1.48 but it has a stock 4th gear. So the question is whether to buy the berg 5-speed conversion kit or buy a 901 or 915 porsche transmission. I am always considering the cost of repairs if I break either one of the gear boxes. I already have the axles and cv joints for either of the transmissions. Any help would be appreciated.

[Alex]

Even though I have a Berg5 with all the goodies......I would go for a Porsche 915 gearbox the next time.

Alex

[DORIGTT]

All the research I've done has pointed me in the direction of the 915 transmission. It seems that it's a better unit for my purposes (track events, autocross, street driving) than the Berg unit...which is a great unit for some, just not for my useage.

I recommend doing a search in this forum and www.shoptalkforums.com for information on the 915 and Berg units and make a decision based on what you intend to really use it for, powerplant torque (the killer of trannys), and budget.

Either way you'll have various modifications that will have to be done to the pan and body of the car.

Again, for me...915 all the way. It's designed to withstand alot more torque than the T-1 trans which is what the Berg is based on.

Just my opinion for my application.

Hope your search goes well.

DORIGTT

[boygenius]

Thanks for the replies guys. I'm still a little worried about the cost of maitainance on a porsche transmisssion. Isn't a 915 clutch kit like $1200 or something. That's what makes me nervous about a porsche tranny since a bug clutch kit is like $150 to $250. That's a big price differance. I'll have to do some more homework.

[DORIGTT]

I feel the maintenance issue isn't an issue. If the clutch costs $646.00 US like it does in the TWEEKS catalog...so what. I don't think I'll wear it out anytime soon. Those puppies lasted for a hell of a long time in the heavier more powerful Porsches so I'm sure our 'relatively' lightweight VW's won't be much of a strain for it. This is one of those, pay me more once or pay me double later scenarios. The less expensive route can quickly turn into the more expensive route.

Have fun.

[hot66]

Originally posted by Alex
Even though I have a Berg5 with all the goodies......I would go for a Porsche 915 gearbox the next time.

Alex

why?

I have a 915 in my 73 2.4S, now mine shifts nicely but still its not a quick shift & you would never want to slam it into gear like you can with a vw box.

ignoring cost, IMO the berg5 would be the way to go

[boygenius]

Thanx for the replies. How much harder is the 915 to install when the car is assembled as compared to when the frame is bare. Right now it comes down to a matter of funds. Do I delay the rest of my car by redirecting funds for the porsche tranny or do I stick with my beetle tranny for a while and replace it when I upgrade to a built type 4 engine..

[Wally]

Originally posted by boygenius
How much harder is the 915 to install when the car is assembled as compared to when the frame is bare. Right now it comes down to a matter of funds.

Well, in the next few months I should be able to tell you :-)

As for funds, I learned that the 915 unit is cheaper to get than a Berg5. That is also very depending on how good the unit is that you buy. This was a big decision making point for me.

As for shifting ease: I think that the crappy flex-joint between the shifting rod and the trans is what is causing this. The 911 needs the play in order not to jump out of gear. In a bug with good engine mounting and i.e. cup-braces, you could make a more solid 'joint' IMO and have the same direct shift action the bug gives.
Anyway, we'll see.

Greetings,
Walter

[Alex]

Let me actually use my Berg5 first.

I will make my comment then.
I am just getting scared because there are a few people saying that the lengthend pinion shaft will not hopld up to stress.
Kevin from KCR who build my tranny told me that I should not worry though.

Alex

[Bruce2]

Alex, you sure are paraniod!
The shaft is lengthened beyond 4th gear. In any gear below 4th, you are dealing with a single piece of genuine VW steel. Since most of your thrashing is done in the lower gears, the fact that your shaft was lengthened is meaningless.
When I got my kit, I wanted a different 2nd gear ratio than 2.06, so I opted for a 3 piece mainshaft. They take an autostick mainshaft, cut the 2nd gear out, then weld onto it the first gear from a 9 tooth mainshaft, then they extend it. Tom H has one of these in his trans, and he's had it for many years without problems.

[Panelfantastic]

I've seen several ads for "gate" kits for the 915 to improve the shift feel. One kit worked at the shifter and was cheap, the other went in the tranny and was not cheap.

[Alex]

Hey Bruce,

I know I am paranoid. Kevin says the same.
He also told me that the parts that were used in my tranny make it very strong.

But you know how it is.....you read a couple of post on other boards and you get worried. I am looking foward to having the car on the road 2004 and actually using the tranny and shifting thru the gears with my shifter. Once that happens I will have forgotten all my worries .

Alex

[Frank]

Is the berg 5spd conversion kit based on a type 1 transmission or a type 4?

Frank

[DORIGTT]

Frank,

It's based off the Type 1 manual trans gearbox.

[hybrid_john]

Hmmmm....

Has anyone used a Mendeola trannsmision with a type IV?

I've heard that they're virtually indestructable, but you pay the price for it too. I found a 4-speed sequential with them, and was wondering if it would be possible to have a fifth gear put in a sequential?



John