Rebuilding a 901 transaxle is easier than it should be.

[Brad]

This past weekend, I spent a Saturday taking an extraordinarily informative transmission rebuild clinic. I do not own anything with a 901 in it, I just thought it would be fun to learn what the inside of one looks like, and how to get it done!

Thank you to Dr. Evil, and the rest of the crew, for allowing me to tag along. I had a great time, learned a lot, and enjoyed some delicious Pizza.

Here is the writeup of the amazing time I had.

I hope I wasn't too intrusive, and my huge ego didn't get in anyone's way.

For more pictures, click this link

[TomViers]

Very cool Brad! How do I get ahold of Dr. Evil or find out about his schedule, buy his DVD, etc?

[Brad]

He usually hangs out over on 914World. This is the thread in which he is hawking his DVDs.

[304065]

In Praise of Dr Evil's DVD

The unmistakable hallmark of true experts is that they make it look easy.

DR. EVIL KNOWS his way around the inside of a Porsche gearbox, and for about two hours, is your guide for a personal tour of demystification with the confidence of somebody who has been there before, hundreds of times in fact.

He doesn't beat around the bush or waffle or spend a lot of time contemplating the mysteries of the universe on camera-- he shows you how to open, disassemble, inspect, reassemble and adjust the 901 transmission in simple, easy to understand detail, long on visuals and short on excess verbiage. If this guy were a writer for the New York Times they could have it down to one double sided, single-spaced page, and you would actually get more value from it than the family parrot does.

What the factory takes at least 58 pages to describe, Dr. Evil takes you through step-by-step, pointing out all the common pitfalls and traps for the unwary along the way. In a manner recalling the late Harry Pellow, he points out how certain features, such as gear damage caused by improper disassembly are the result of prior incorrect repairs over the decades, saving particular disdain for RTV silicone.

Owners of rear-engined cars that displace 2195cc or less will feel slighted by the attention given to all the variations of 914 shifters-- side shifters, tail shifters and the like, until you realize that our cars use a "nose shifter" which is actually simpler than the ones our mid-engined cousins have. And on the inside, they're the same, which is really what matters, and what makes Dr. Evil's DVD so useful.

And did I mention entertaining? Demystification doesn't have to be painful, and the patter as he whacks the gearstack with a five pound sledgehammer, or precisely dissects the detent balls, more recalls an orthopaedic surgeon than a high school sophomore, despite the mystery brunette's admonition up front. That occurs right after a disclaimer so elegantly worded that it should appear as a warning label on the side of, well, just about everything.

One word of warning: The unmistakable hallmark of true experts is that they make it look easy. So easy, in fact, that one is tempted to get up from the Barcalounger, go out to the garage and start tearing into the box. Home improvement shows that condense a three month, six-figure renovation into 22 minutes before commercial breaks are past masters at this-- showing only the beginning and the end, and not the doldrums in the middle.

Fortunately for us, Dr. Evil hosts workshops around the country, offering his expertise for a very modest fee, and sourcing used parts for participants, subject to availability. Other than Bruce Anderson, I don't know anybody in the mobile demystification business, so we need to take Dr. Evil up on his generosity and get one of these going on the NY Metro area, which appears underrepresented on the back of the satin tour jacket.

Until we get that together, which knowing how hard it is to organize a McSorley's beer outing, will probably involve logistics that make Desert Shield look like a ski trip to the Catskills, there is the DVD, which I highly recommend. One more run through and I'm picking up the 13mm socket.

[Reza]

you're not a bad poet yourself John, as the above demonstrates

[68911+1]

Having spent close to 20 hours over 2 days with the Evil Dr. a couple of years a go in Sonoma, CA, the video really makes sense. Find one of his clinics and make the time to go before he is too afraid to damage his valuable MD hands banging around in these gear boxes.

How else can one get their hands on 5-10 gear boxes in so short of a time. With so many individuals protecting their valuable "knowledge" regarding these mysterious transmissions, the Dr. teaches by the show one, do one, teach one method that gets all involved.

Get your gonzo on with the Dr.

[Dr Evil]

Howdy folks! I hope to live up to the accolades that I have received The DVD is still in production and should be until long after I am dead. Contact me for a copy if you like. I am also always available for technical questions vie email at Make My 914 Go at Yahoo.com (no spaces). No purchase necessary, valid in all 50 states, territories, countries, and outhouses. As for clinics, I am willing to hold them wherever there are enough people to cover the cost, and a place to host.

Man, that is a very unflattering pic....I gotta watch myself a little more

[Dr Evil]

Oh ya, as I am pretty busy most hours of the day, if there is a question posted on the forum about transmission related stuff and anyone wants my input please do not hesitate to send me a link and I will gladly weigh in.

[Garya]

Oh ya, as I am pretty busy most hours of the day, if there is a question posted on the forum about transmission related stuff and anyone wants my input please do not hesitate to send me a link and I will gladly weigh in.

Overhauling my 1965 911 engine, a diy project . Next I want to Go through my transaxle, no problems except some leaks, but might a well check the thing out. Where can I get the Dr Evil DVD.

[Jerry L]

Here is a link that has a contact link that I am not sure is still good or not, I have a copy but honestly cant put my hands on it right now to see if it has better contact on the packaging. Dr Evil = Mike Lesniak with google you should be able to track something down. I know he stopped the local / traveling rebuild classes a "while" back. good luck with search.

http://www.914world.com/bbs2/lofiver...p?t113587.html

Best Regards