GBox 2nd gear detent install question - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners

Oldcarguy · 01-13-2018, 04:50 AM

Good morning everyone,

Do I leave the transmission in neutral when installing the GBox second gear detent?

Couldn’t find the answer in an online search or in the install instructions, and transmissions are my weak link from a knowledge standpoint. Intuitively it seems correct to have the trans in neutral for the install.

Thanks in advance for answers and any additional install tips.

Oldcarguy · 01-14-2018, 02:36 PM

Just received a response from GBox to my questions. I’ve decided to leave the gearbox in neutral for the install. They are a company of few words, but they did respond quickly on a Sunday. Here are my questions and Gbox’s responses:
———————————————-
Subject: Re: Install question - GBox 986 2nd gear detent install
Reply-To: ***************

the gear doesn't matter, or oil.
———————————————
On Sunday, January 14, 2018 6:01 AM, ************ wrote:

Hi GBox,

I’m ready to install my recently purchased GBox 2nd gear detent and I just need your confirmation that the transmission should be in neutral for the install. Also, should I lightly oil the detent surface prior to install or install it dry?

Thanks in advance for you replies.

Best Regards, Fred

Ciao · 01-14-2018, 02:57 PM

What is a Gbox?

Oldcarguy · 01-14-2018, 03:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ciao

What is a Gbox?

Gbox is a company that specializes in Porsche gearboxes (among other things). They make a modified 2nd gear detent for the 986 6spd that is proported to limit 2nd gear popouts if the transmission is in good condition at install. Google ‘GBox 986 detent’ and you will find them on the web. There is also a forum member (Erik) who produces a modified detent.

I don’t have a 2nd gear popout problem, but I’m installing the detent as PM while I have the car on the Quickjack for brakes, AOS and Pedro’s technoBrace.

Ciao · 01-14-2018, 04:22 PM

Interesting!

Cheers, Oldcarguy!

I'll research it

thstone · 01-14-2018, 09:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oldcarguy

Just received a response from GBox to my questions.

I give them huge props for responding on a Sunday! At least they told you enough so you can get on with the work.

Geof3 · 01-14-2018, 09:21 PM

That thing has to be absolutely perfect to line up. Overall, the job is reletively easy, unless you need to pull it back out and twist it. It goes in farther than you think as well.

Oldcarguy · 01-25-2018, 07:47 AM

GBox 2nd gear detent installed yesterday. Took less than an hour. Tools used were 8 inch 3/8” swivel head ratchet, 3/8” 15 inch breaker bar, 8mm allen head male socket, 13mm box head wrench, and 7mm flat end (not ball head) allen wrench.

- Use of the 7mm allen wrench as the extract tool was brilliant as suggested in the post below. I did not have clearance to use either of my flex head magnets and they would not have worked as well anyway (if at all).

2nd Gear Detent Replacement,

- I did the install with the transmission in 1st gear to move the counterweight out of the way. The little L shaped heat shield cover was MIA on my car. Will add to my Sunset parts list for order.

- I think the Borla exhaust gave me the room to use the 15” breaker bar. The 8mm plug came lose with no problems.

- I lightly oiled the new detent with Mobil 1 0w-40. Even though I was very careful to align the detent, I did have to rotate it slightly to seat it correctly. I heard and felt it when it “dropped” into place

Haven’t had a chance to drive it due to weather, but it static shifts ok into all gears and reverse. Here’re a few pics:

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

maytag · 07-11-2018, 06:51 PM

so.... "2nd gear popout".... would that describe what appears to an onlooker as a missed shift to 2nd-gear? In other words: it sure FEELS like it's engaged, and then it's not..... sunnuva..... (grrrr)

it's not like it engages, and I'm accelerating when it pops-out.... it just "clicks in", but doesn't engage..... making my wife snicker at me 'cuz it seems I can't find 2nd gear half the time now....

sunnuva.....

Geof3 · 07-11-2018, 10:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by maytag

so.... "2nd gear popout".... would that describe what appears to an onlooker as a missed shift to 2nd-gear? In other words: it sure FEELS like it's engaged, and then it's not..... sunnuva..... (grrrr)

it's not like it engages, and I'm accelerating when it pops-out.... it just "clicks in", but doesn't engage..... making my wife snicker at me 'cuz it seems I can't find 2nd gear half the time now....

sunnuva.....

Yep. Particularly before the car is fully warmed up.

Oldcarguy · 07-12-2018, 04:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by maytag

so.... "2nd gear popout".... would that describe what appears to an onlooker as a missed shift to 2nd-gear? In other words: it sure FEELS like it's engaged, and then it's not..... sunnuva..... (grrrr)

it's not like it engages, and I'm accelerating when it pops-out.... it just "clicks in", but doesn't engage..... making my wife snicker at me 'cuz it seems I can't find 2nd gear half the time now....

sunnuva.....

For me it was not like a missed shift or reluctance of the gearbox to shift into second. In the case I experienced when checking out Boxsters for purchase, I had shifted into second, it engaged no problem and I was lightly accelerating in second and the transmission popped into neutral. For the rest of the test drive I made sure to keep pressure on the lever while I was in second gear. Through the shifter it did feel like second gear had an initial position that “tricked” you into believing second was firmly engaged when in fact it wasn’t. I passed on that car. For the 986 I did purchase, I installed the detent as PM.

BYprodriver · 07-13-2018, 12:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oldcarguy

For me it was not like a missed shift or reluctance of the gearbox to shift into second. In the case I experienced when checking out Boxsters for purchase, I had shifted into second, it engaged no problem and I was lightly accelerating in second and the transmission popped into neutral. For the rest of the test drive I made sure to keep pressure on the lever while I was in second gear. Through the shifter it did feel like second gear had an initial position that “tricked” you into believing second was firmly engaged when in fact it wasn’t. I passed on that car. For the 986 I did purchase, I installed the detent as PM.

CMS shift arrester will improve shifting further into all gears!

https://californiamotorsports.net/collections/porsche-986-boxster-5-speed-transmission-parts/products/cms-996-shift-arrester

jaykay · 07-19-2018, 06:39 PM

I can't immediately picture where this component goes.....do explain

JFP in PA · 07-20-2018, 05:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaykay

I can't immediately picture where this component goes.....do explain

Inside the tail housing.

jaykay · 07-20-2018, 05:44 PM

Thanks.....will look into this.

Muffler down, fluid out and tail cap off and in she goes..?

Geof3 · 07-20-2018, 10:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaykay

Thanks.....will look into this.

Muffler down, fluid out and tail cap off and in she goes..?

If you are talking about the Gbox detent, not even close. Take a look at the Gbox website, or here on the Pelican site there is a good write up. No need to drain, though that is a good “while you are there” project. Also no need to drop the muffler.

maytag · 07-21-2018, 05:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Geof3

If you are talking about the Gbox detent, not even close. Take a look at the Gbox website, or here on the Pelican site there is a good write up. No need to drain, though that is a good “while you are there” project. Also no need to drop the muffler.

If you follow the thread below, I'm pretty sure he's talking about the cms shift arrestor. Not the detent.

Sent from my SM-G930T using Tapatalk

willw · 08-11-2020, 03:44 PM

Can anyone tell me where this detent is on my 2001 6 speed? I have decided to install the Gbox detent. I know it is on the tail, but which side do I access it from? Do I need to remove the bottom plate (or anything else) to get to it? I can't tell from Fred's pictures he kindly attached to this thread. All the other procedures on line seem to be for the 996. My arms are just about healed from my clutch bleed, so I guess I am about ready.
Thanks,
Bill

Roosje · 08-11-2020, 11:28 PM

The GBox detent will not fix a pop out problem if there is already internal damage to the gearbox, but it will certainly help prevent it. You will have to remove the bolt that prevents the detent cover from coming completely out.

Oldcarguy · 08-13-2020, 10:55 AM

Hi Bill, just sent you a PM.

Quote:

Originally Posted by willw

Can anyone tell me where this detent is on my 2001 6 speed? I have decided to install the Gbox detent. I know it is on the tail, but which side do I access it from? Do I need to remove the bottom plate (or anything else) to get to it? I can't tell from Fred's pictures he kindly attached to this thread. All the other procedures on line seem to be for the 996. My arms are just about healed from my clutch bleed, so I guess I am about ready.
Thanks,
Bill