My matching numbers 1969 911T 4 spead is a 5 speed thats missing 3rd gear

[Perry911]

I wanted to start a thread to discuss the 901 4 speed that is matching numbers to my car and engine.

I have always actually preferred the 901 5 speed 1969 and earlier than the later 915 because of the direct back and forth operation between 4th and 5th as opposed to the forward from 4th and to the right then forward to 5th and back from 5th and to the left and back to 4th.

It's more direct and absolutely pure racing style in a 901 than the more American style of the 915 1st forward and straight back to 2nd.

I had a 1970 911T 2.2 with the original engine and 5 speed 901 and I still have a 1972 911T with the original engine and 915 box.

I segmented the 1970 and 1971 901 or are they 902 because of the different throwout bearing arm and clutch cable that pushes not pulls differentiating it from the 69 and earlier arrangement.

In fact the 1st gears in both the 4 and 5 speed 901's are exactly the same ratio. And my 3rd gear and 4th gear are yet identical to 4th and 5th in the 5 speed. See attached pictures
.
So my 2nd gear is slightly taller than the 5 speeds 2nd gear. So yes I am essentially missing the 5 speed's 3rd gear.

So many folks who don't know Porsche's think I am missing overdrive. No I am missing that extra gear in mid range use for both acceleration and for when I am quickly decelerating and looking to line up 3rd for reversal to full acceleration.

I will not change the gearbox because of it's originality to my car and it's story and I still find the 4 speed very 356ish if you will in operation. How many out there are running a 4 speed and what are your thoughts?

I believe although not desirable, the 4 speed is actually more rare in original production than the 5 speed.

Something to chew on here as I continue to enjoy using my 69 2.0 liter with webers more so than my 72 2.4 MFI

[raspritz]

I'm not sure I fully understand what you are hoping to discuss here. But my DD is a matching-numbers '69T and I race a '67 911. Both have 2.0L S-spec engines, and both have 5-speed 901 transmissions, though of course with entirely different gearsets (except for 1st, as you point out). In my experience, for both street and track driving, 3rd gear is by far the most important gear. So, when you say that your 4-speed 901 is basically a 5-speed missing 3rd gear, I think that would be absolutely awful! I can see no advantage to a 4-speed over a 5-speed trannie.