915 short shift kit recommendation

[PK 77 911]

Hello all I’m excited to say I’m back in a Porsche again. I sold my 84 cab and 77 Targa about 10 years ago but recently jumped back in and just picked up an 84 Cabriolet the other day so now I am back on pelican and looking to do a few upgrades.

My first one is a shift kit. There seems to be lots of them out there for sale these days so I thought I’d seek some advice from the forum.

I’m not looking to go racing just some spirited local driving. I don’t like the little short shift levers. I think a stock shift kit is what I am leaning towards, but there seem to be so many manufacturers out there now and at different prices I don’t really know which one might be the best value. I am also open to other ideas.

The car has 95,000 miles on it and it’s going in for a transmission rebuild and new clutch next week so I think replacing all shifter bushings will also be a good idea.

Thanks for any help
Paul

[evan9eleven]

You'll get no shortage of opinions on this, I'm sure.

Personally, I'm very happy with my WEVO setup, which I've been running for about 7 years now. I also have their shift coupler and motor mounts. At a bare minimum you will want to do the bushings as you wrote, but a combination kit with the coupler makes a huge difference.

Welcome back!

[911 Rod]

Why do you want a short shift?
These transmissions are temperamental enough with out the abuse of hard/fast shifts.
You shouldn't go directly from gear to gear anyway. Slight pause in the middle of the shift is best.
Nice car!

[fetus]

You can't go wrong with either Wevo or Rennshift. I personally like Rennshift. It has a left and right shortshift as well as fore and aft. Both make finding gears easier since they center the shifter on the 3rd and 4th center plane. As mentioned, do not use it to shift faster. The synchro's are not designed for that. The stock longer throw gives the synchro's more time to engage.

[john walker's workshop]

Originally Posted by 911 Rod

Why do you want a short shift?
These transmissions are temperamental enough with out the abuse of hard/fast shifts.
You shouldn't go directly from gear to gear anyway. Slight pause in the middle of the shift is best.
Nice car!

Agreed, not needed and I hate them all FWIW.

[pmax]

Originally Posted by PK 77 911

I don’t like the little short shift levers.

Sounds like you want the long shifter.

Look it up.

[H-viken]

Don’t get a short shift for the 915, you’ll do it no favors. It needs the time to operate provided by the factory shifter.

[PK 77 911]

What are the opinions on the factory short shift kit?

[PeteKz]

I have the Porsche short shift kit sold by Pelican. I installed it 5 years ago. It doesn't make the shifting any better, and some will argue that it increases the shifting effort (although I didn't notice much of that), but now I don't have to lean forward to put the stick into 5th gear. I have a 33" inseam, so I put my seat fairly far back, and it's a reach to 5th. .

[PK 77 911]

Originally Posted by PeteKz

I have the Porsche short shift kit sold by Pelican. I installed it 5 years ago. It doesn't make the shifting any better, and some will argue that it increases the shifting effort (although I didn't notice much of that), but now I don't have to lean forward to put the stick into 5th gear. I have a 33" inseam, so I put my seat fairly far back, and it's a reach to 5th. .

When you say isn’t better do you mean it isn’t any smoother or more direct?. It just simply shortens up the throw. Would that sum it up?

[H-viken]

A short shift will not make your gearbox change gears any better

[anglophone1]

Rennshift

[PeteKz]

Originally Posted by PK 77 911

When you say isn’t better do you mean it isn’t any smoother or more direct?. It just simply shortens up the throw. Would that sum it up?

Yes. It feels about the same, maybe a little more effort. The throw is a little shorter, but that's about it. If you cut 3" off the lever, it would be about the same.

The Rennline and JWest shifters are much better shifters, but the 915 tranny synchros still need effort and do not click quickly and neatly into gear like on newer cars (or any American car since the 1950's). It's just the nature of the beast.

[icarp]

I will be uninstalling a new Numeric shifter for a customer in the next month . If you r interested it will be for sale. We will be replacing with the original one
Im with Jonny Walker short shift just causes problems
Ian

[Dan J]

For a street car the factory short shift kit is the best choice

[eastbay]

IMO the best thing you can do is to add a 'Karsten' spring to the shifter.

[PeteKz]

I have the Karsten spring. It pushes the shifter into the 3-4 line, which makes it a bit easier to go from 2 to 3, but does not change the shifting characteristics, IMO.

[gtc]

I have a Wevo and love it, but mostly because it puts the shift knob in a better position for me.
The reverse lockout works well once adjusted, and the spring centering mechanism is nice as well.
I imagine most of the aftermarket shifters would accomplish the same for me.
I'm not sure why anyone would say a short shift lever makes you shift faster... it's your arm that makes it happen faster or slower.

[bkreigsr]

Originally Posted by john walker's workshop

Agreed, not needed and I hate them all FWIW.

Ditto
I converted my last two cars from ss to conventional
Just learn to shift better/smother
Bill K

[theiceman]

Originally Posted by 911 Rod

Why do you want a short shift?
These transmissions are temperamental enough with out the abuse of hard/fast shifts.
You shouldn't go directly from gear to gear anyway. Slight pause in the middle of the shift is best.
Nice car!

Because if you have short legs like me the shifter hits the seat in second lol....

Only reason a bought mine.. seemed easier than restuffing the seats to give their form back. I drive it like an old lady though.