Porsche G87.21 cable shift mechanism on Audi 02A gearboxes

[Alexander M]

Can the cable shifter of the Porsche G87.21 be mounted on Audi 02A gearboxes? What about 01E gearboxes?

Here the 02A. Has anyone done that?

The housings seem to be a little different and the Audi housing may not have the mounting points for this cable shifter. The Audi versions are shifted with a lever. I wonder if anyone has done that conversion?

Somebody tried this here - but no mention if it was successful.

Audi 0A2 into base 986 - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners

Just before the summer I bought an old 97 Boxster base model with the intention of (in due time) swapping in a Audi V8 (BBK engine is what my eye is

986forum.com

Here my post on the 01E and the 02A versions of the turbo Diesels:

C

Post in thread 'Audi 2.7TDI transaxle'

Dec 27, 2024

I have gathered some more information here.

The 2WD 01E gearbox codes with the tall Diesel ratios are (as was posted here before):

01E DQS (01-02)
01E ELQ (01-02)
01E FRF (02)
Gearbox ratios (DQS/ELQ/FRF all the same)
Final 31:8 = 3.875
1st: 28:8 = 3.5
2nd: 34:18 = 1.889
3rd: 32:26 = 1.231
4th: 27:31 = 0.871
5th: 26:39 = 0.667
6th: 23:41 = 0.561
Rev: 38:11 = 3.455

These have the cast iron center housing:

The successor to this gearbox is the 0A2. The gearbox codes for 2WD are:

0A2 FZJ (04-04)
0A2 HMC (04-05)...

• CTCH

 

[Sebastian]

Alex, great post and great idea! I am using the 0A2 in my GT40 build as well and was starting to engineer the shift mechanism. There are a couple of mechanisms existing but none of them got my liking so far.

This one fits the bill as it is light and simple, just as I intended it.

What shifter are you planning to use? Cables all the way or half rod and half cable?

Sebastian

 

[Alexander M]

I would use the Porsche Boxter shifting mechanism (same for 996, year around 2000). I already have that here. Should only need a couple of additional brackets to make this work.

 

[Alexander M]

Cannot find the Porsche part numbers. What website do I use best?

Also found this one here:

D

Thread 'Those with LHD and the Audi 01E...'

Apr 18, 2013

What gear shift mechanism are you using? What donor car did it come from and how did you end up routing everything to get it to shift? Some sort of cable setup?

Thanks!

• darrinps
• Replies: 23
• Forum: GT40 Tech - Powertrain/Transaxles

 

[Marc]

Hi, Just found my own post (on 986 forum) linked here, so thought I would reply here. I think I had put some more info on the 986 forum in the meantime, but it might have been in my build thread instead of that post.

Anyway, some findings:
- The picture above of the Porsche gearbox is not the regular G87.20/21. It is sometimes referred to as the G87.40 although I fail to find official references of that number. In any case there are two main Porsche versions. The G87.20 comes in the 987 Boxster S, the G87.21 in the Cayman. Both of these are first generation 987. The picture shown is a gearbox from a later (2nd gen) 987 or a 981.
- The 0A2 does not hold the castings for the brackets shown above, nor for the steel 'inertia wheel'. Also it lacks the four holes at the back where the Boxster / Cayman exhaust bolts to.
- However, the 0A2 can fit the cable shift mechanism of the G87.20/21. This bolts on.
- Little catch here is that the 0A2 doesn't have the 'heavy spring' for selecting reverse. I guess the Audi shifter has a mechanical lock-out. I don't yet know whether this is in the selector shaft or whether a detend spring is missing on the 0A2. The Porsche variant does have a specific Porsche number for the selector shaft.
- The linkage and mounting plate can be sourced new from Porsche. However, they are really expensive. I would either fab up something myself or buy a G87.20, take the shift mechanism off and sell the box itself again.
- On shift lever, do not get the 986 / 996 shifter. Do get the 987 / 997 instead. I upgraded to the 987 and it is a lot more direct (less play). Cables connect directly.
- Depending on cable length you could get Porsche cables. Original Porsche routing is over the engine, than back to the gearbox. This tends to break them on the G87 variants. Get aftermarket cables instead or choose a better routing ;-)


All that said, the 0A2 is much cheaper than the Porsche boxes and should have better gearing for a V8 engine. I can still find new 0A2 boxes for around 600 Euro.

For now I have an original G87.21 in my Boxster which I intend to replace with the new 0A2 I have waiting here. I am still to decide whether I transfer the linkage or build new (as I don't like the over-the-engine shift cable routing).

 

[Alexander M]

Hi Marc,

Thank you so much for your reply. I have decided to go with the actual 01E gearbox - I talked to many sources, and several gearbox repair shops. They all had experiences with the 0A2 and they all mentioned that the 01E is superior in quality and torque capability. The following 01Es have the "long gearing":

01E DQS (01-02)
01E ELQ (01-02)
01E FRF (02)

Can you help me with a cable shift mechanism for that? Which versions of these 0A2 cable shifts can be adopted? I can weld and many anything myself, but ideally we list some part numbers (and some images) here of brackets that can just be used.

Can you help?

shift calbes, custom lengths:

CAE Shift Cables (Porsche Boxster/Cayman) - Hack Engineering

CAE shift cables for Boxster/Cayman. Replacement for stock shift cables., designed for the high loads associated with motor sport. Buy at Hack Engineering!

www.hackengineering.co.uk

 

[Alexander M]

another picture of a shift mechanism found

 

[Jim Dewar]

My setup

 

[Tige vellone]

Lots of moving parts on all these setups, thats a recipe for disaster as more movement more adjustment and failure points i use cableshift out of arizona in the USA. NO MOVING POINTS ONLY AT CABLE CONNECTION.

 

[Tige vellone]

Contact Jim at cableshift

 

[Marc]

Interesting to read that they think the 01E is superior. I have no personal experience with the 01E, but to my understanding the shift quality of the 0A2 is supposed to be superior and it is not known of being weak.

That said, if the 01E shift is similar to the 0A2 (as it seems from the pictures above), maybe parts of the G87 transmissions can be used. You asked for part numbers, this would be a good start:
nemigaparts

You would be looking for the Boxster 987 / 987 2nd gen and 981.
Then find your way to 'Hand levers pedal cluster' and 'transmission control manual transmission' In there you will find an exploded view and part numbers, like this:
Exploded diagram 987

Mind that you'd be looking for the I480 mentioning as that is the 6 speed we are looking at.

 

[Marc]

Also one other thing I didn't mention before. The Audi 0A2 has different drive shaft flanges (for Tripod joints) than the Porsche G87 variants (for CV joints). They swap right over.