Pierre

Ok, after a bit more than 256'000km, including 16'000 of them with the Sportec stage 3 setup (542 HP, 788Nm), my gearbox is finally giving up. It's ben sounding a bit weird for a long time (before the stage 3 conversion), but my last trip to the Nürburgring gave it the last shot.

So should I replace it with an original one? Or rather go for a X50 (it's different, right?) or a GT2 one?

Thanks in advance for the suggestions!

Woodster

Have a special one built.

With better gearing (catered to your needs/uses),
and make it stronger than GT2 box.

MK

Kevin

Regear and install GT3R components.. Consider installing the GT2 oil pump and cooler..

KPG

Only 256K KM... wow you are rough on equipment!!! If I can get half that mileage I will be very happy camper. Good luck with the upgrade. Kevin

Geoffrey

What part of the gearbox has worn out? You have a lot of options here.

1AS

At some point, a new gearbox will cost more than the car. Since you got a lifetime of use out of the first, I would probably try to find a standard trans that is servicable and cheaper.AS

Pierre

Thanks for all the feedback, guys!

@Woodster: Having a special one built isn't really an option. Probably mucho expensive, too time consuming, etc.
@Geoffrey: Dunno exactly what part. It really sounds weird in 1st, 2nd, 3rd and when shifting between all gears. 4 is ok, 5 and 6 perfect. Besides, 3rd has started to pop out from time to time.

Actually, this forced me to interrupt my session at the Nürburgring after only 2 days (4 planned). So I drove back to Switzerland in 6th gear, only going into 5 when speed was dropping below 80km/h. And guess what!... I covered 531km in less than 4h30, and the avg fuel consumption was... 9.5l/100km! (24.75 USmpg)

Ok, back to the point. GT3R parts and GT2 cooler or 'cheap' standard item?... hmmm... Any rough idea of the price difference? Will also talk to my mech tomorrow and see what he thinks.

Kiko

I'd definately contact V-Zeeden (http://www.v-zweeden.com/Adresgegevens.asp) and get a 2nd hand X50/GT2 unit and with the THOUSANDS of euros saved I'd fit an oil cooler and it would still be saving money. V-Zeeden are swedish but you can also try some british Porsche breakers.

tkerrmd

ok I already destroyed and rebuilt a "X-50" tranny. saw the autopsy myself and for all you guys thinking there is something "special" in there, there isnt. same tranny parts as everyone else has. I dont know where that myth came from. I blew out 2nd gear and 3 and 4 synchro. I had it rebuilt with stock internals but replaced the brass syncros with steal ones.
I looked into upgrades (very expensive) also looked into the cooler thing, again not easy to do but do-able.
good luck!

Pierre

Talked to my mech too: the GT2 gearbox isn't an option because of the awd system. Buying a X50 one would be much more expensive than doing the std exchange. I can't give my non-X50 gearbox back and get a X50 back... And since Tom says it's actually the same one, it's not worth the expense.

Kiko, thanks for the link and advice. However, I'm not really comfortable with a non-official 2nd hand box. So I'm going to do as AS says and do the part-exchange and get a std gearbox. Will however follow Kevin's and Kiko's advice, and see how an oil-cooler can be fitted.

Well... We'll see how long it'll work!

Geoffrey

The GT2 internal oil cooler will require some additional internal pump parts and is fairly expensive. In my old turbo car the gearbox case would get to 275 degrees F (using an infared pyrometer) in an hour of running which means that the oil was probably closer to 300 degrees F. I think that the gearbox needs to run about 200 degrees F for longevity, especially the LSD. In my RSR race car, I made up a cooler using a Tilton pump and a Mocal cooler for about $500. From my MoTeC data logging, I have found that now on the track, the gearbox will go to 200 degrees F in about 15 minutes and the pump/cooler will keep it there all day long.

Kiko

Get a quote from Power Haus II to rebuild your gearbox with new bearings and synchros, it might be worth to have your mechanic rebuild it. (I'm just trying to save you some money).

Kevin

Pierre;

Go over to our friends at Sportec (your backyard).. Ask them to install the GT2 pump. They have done it on other jobs. If you are tracking your car, you should invest in this system. You might also request that they regear 1st and 2nd for you..

Kevin

In Europe all early gearboxes came with trans coolers.. It was like gold when we could get our hands on the pump and cooler. The same thing is said for the GT2 components.

Kiko

Do you mean early Row Turbos as well or just early GT2's had coolers?