Dropping in a Short Shifter

[Larmo63]

I traded for a factory short shifter set up (stock case, short shift kit installed.)

Does this simply drop in? I know, grease in the ball cup, etc, all of my linkage bushings are new and/or good.

Is there going to be any adjustment? Are these SS shifters worth the time to R & R?

[KMoore68]

If it is the factory ss kit, my experience was that the pin that holds the C clips wasn't the correct length and I ended up re-using the old pin and bending the linkage abit to get it to fit.

YMMV

[Otter74]

Mine dropped right in.

[Larmo63]

I've read every thread I could find about the stock SS kit, the Wevo, Seine, and Rennshift. My transmission will get rebuilt this summer too.

I'm gonna try installing it Saturday afternoon.

Will report back.

[bkreigsr]

Originally Posted by Larmo63

....I've read every thread I could find about the stock SS kit, the Wevo, Seine, and Rennshift.....

Seems like you skipped over the threads that advised against the swap.

[Trackrash]

Originally Posted by bkreigsr

Seems like you skipped over the threads that advised against the swap.

What is the problem with the factory SS? I have one and it works great. Perhaps the aftermarket kits are not the best? Or is there a difference between the later factory shifter and the factory update kit?

[Driven97]

I also have the factory one. I had a nice blog post with photos but they all died when Google Plus died. It took me about two hours to swap the guts, including doing the documentation. Basically, the magic is in the box shaped pivot block and the pin position on the lever. Everything drops in, so it *should* be a straight swap if you bought it as a whole assembly already.

The factory one is nice because it only alters the fore / aft throw, it doesn't alter the lateral spacing. And it really was for shorter drivers where the non-short throw lever might interfere with a forward seating position. Since it was a factory option, it works like a factory part. It's not night and day, just a minor tweak. Plus it's pretty cheap.

[bkreigsr]

No problem with the factory SS.
Just passing along some opinions expressed elsewhere by Bill V and J Walker.
I'm not going to get into a discussion on the pro's and con's on someone else's dime.

Bill K

[gtc]

Originally Posted by Driven97

...
The factory one is nice because it only alters the fore / aft throw, it doesn't alter the lateral spacing.
...

That doesn't make any sense. You're changing the length of the lever above and below the pivot point. It will have the same effect on front-back or side-side movement.

[Travis Neff]

I would opt for new springs, pelican sells them for the factory short shifter. I need to swap mine for some fresh ones (the springs help return the shifter to the 3/4 plane). Other than that it shifts great, although it is a bit shorter stick length.

My other car has the jwest extended length shifter and I made it even taller with a top mount wevo knob. Takes a little bit to get used to how different each one is.

[Driven97]

Originally Posted by gtc

That doesn't make any sense. You're changing the length of the lever above and below the pivot point. It will have the same effect on front-back or side-side movement.

You would think so, but the design is more clever than that. There's two pivots, and only one is moved. Which is why I'm disappointed that my photos are gone, because it showed how it works really well.

[Larmo63]

I did read all of the posts BKreigsr, some people like it, some people don't. I have the part so I was going to try it. It seems like more like than dislike.


What do you recommend?

[bkreigsr]

Originally Posted by Larmo63

What do you recommend?

Recommend the factory standard shifter that was specified for you car.

[archstanton]

Originally Posted by Driven97

You would think so, but the design is more clever than that. There's two pivots, and only one is moved. Which is why I'm disappointed that my photos are gone, because it showed how it works really well.

yes that's absolutely right

[Discseven]

Originally Posted by Larmo63

I traded for a factory short shifter set up (stock case, short shift kit installed.)

Does this simply drop in? I know, grease in the ball cup, etc, all of my linkage bushings are new and/or good.

Is there going to be any adjustment? Are these SS shifters worth the time to R & R?

LARMO... I did same with '80. Was drop in. There is option to adjust tension on shifter's motion. I eased it up slightly. Forgot how but is obvious when you have shifter in hand.
.

[911pcars]

Originally Posted by Discseven

LARMO... I did same with '80. Was drop in. There is option to adjust tension on shifter's motion. I eased it up slightly. Forgot how but is obvious when you have shifter in hand.
.

We’ve installed the factory short shifter on many 915s, both Porsche packaged and those Sold by OEM manufacturers. We’ve only encountered a single OEM kit that had a defect; the holes in the lever box were drilled off-axis.

Suggest any parts you receive be inspected and trial-fitted, if possible, before the return date expires..

Sherwood

[Larmo63]

Originally Posted by bkreigsr

Recommend the factory standard shifter that was specified for you car.

That is what I have now obviously, the throw (into 2nd gear mostly) is quite long.

[Hotshot]

SS was stock after 85. So 85-86. You guys prob know that. It’s all in the 85 SB. My PO got a second SS kit and replaced everything. Looking at the old bushings, it needed it.

I personally have zero issues with the stock SS. I like the uniqueness of it. The Wevo shift my friend has is built amazing and shifts quick, like a JDM. But again, I like the good ol SS.

[Arne2]

I'd expect to have to readjust the coupler after installing it.

My '84 had the factory SS in it when I bought it. Shift quality was rather notchy feeling (even though the synchros and sliders were fresh), and adjusting the coupler was extremely fussy. The sweet spot in fore-aft adjustment on the coupler was exceedingly small, adjust it so that all the gears were easily accessed and the reverse lockout cam wouldn't trip, causing occasional grind when shifting from 5th to 4th. Adjust it so the lockout cam worked properly and then it had problems fully engaging 2nd and 4th.

I eventually gave up and replaced it with the original, non-SS. Couldn't have been happier. Shifting was much smoother, and properly adjusting the coupler was a breeze. I really didn't even notice much increase in travel, the SS does not change it all that much. No way I'll ever install a SS kit again. Normal factory is much better.

[archstanton]

Arne2 my experience with the SS in my '86 is the same as yours. I would expect more effort needed w/ the SS, but smoother shifts & easier adjustment with the non-SS surprises me. I guess you expected to see those improvements when you did the switch. Why was that?