Best short shift kit

[g_priest]

What is the best short shift kit. I have a 78sc and it is in bad need of a shifter upgrade.

[moazam]

Someone posted this a couple of days ago...I have not tried it yet though.

WooHoo this set-up rocks. Pics too

This is actually more a shifter upgrade than just a short shifter. When I do this upgrade, I won't install a short shifter as I don't think it'll really accomplish anything.

[Chuck Moreland]

Define shifter upgrade.

Short shift kits don't really solve any shift problems. They do make the shift lever heavier.

IMHO they only make sense for people who have trouble reaching the 5th gear (short arms) or if the shifter is hitting your aftermarket seat.

Otherwise, they do nothing except increase the effort. That extra inch of throw isn't what slows down shifts.

[tmctguer]

chuck is right..........you need to determine what you are trying to accomplish.

if you are looking for smoother shifting, you might try to replace all the bushings in the shifting linkage (search the threads for this -- tons of them). if you are looking for shorter shifter throws (e.g., just installed a racing seat and you need the shorter throw for clearance), then a short shift kit might be what you need. if you are looking for protection from accidental downshifts from 5th into 2nd, then a shift gate mechanism (e.g., robotek) might be what you are looking for.

solve the right problem..............

[campbellcj]

If I had a 915 and wanted the ultimate shifting "experience"...Wevo all the way.

I have a Rennshifter on my 914 (Wevo does not make a unit for the 901/914 sideshift trans), and am very pleased with it -- it has most of the benefits of the other aftermarket shifters at a good price point.

I am not a fan of add-on short shift kits; in fact I have had them on previous cars and ended up removing them and going back to stock.

[Jack Olsen]

A short-shift kit is going to shorten the life of your syncros. It will not improve your shifting, only shorten the throw distance -- unless you do the peripheral upgrades (bushings, linkage, adjustment, Swepco) at the same time.

[Wayne 962]

I have a brand new factory short-shift kit for sale that is currently installed in a shifter housing. This is perfect, because you can swap the shifter in and out if you don't like the feel. Otherwise, once you take your original shifter out, you're sortof screwed, as it is very difficult to swap out the parts again. This also allows you to keep your original shifter (or sell it) in case the next owner of your car doesn't like the short shift kit.

$200 including free shipping...

-Wayne

[chuckr]

If you do the Short Shift only use the Factory Kit...
Waynes' deal is fantastic... If I did not already have one in my 83SC I'd jump on that !! Jack also has a good point, while you are in there do it all.

[Joe Bob]

The Weltmeister short shift kit gave me fits when driving spirtedly and trying to find third gear on the up shift only....I now use the Wevo and love it.

[Slider79SC]

Take a look at one of these too. Less expensive than the Wevo and I really have enjoyed the one I have. Several members of our club are now running them to. I can send you pics and such if you'd like.

www.rennshift.com

[g_priest]

I have ordered the bushing kit but my wife can not drive the car her legs are so short when the seat is forward the shifter hits the seat.

[911longhorn]

Get the factory short shifter

[Chuck Moreland]

Originally posted by g_priest
.....but my wife can not drive the car .....

And this is bad because......?????

[Slider79SC]

Sounds familiar. My wife is 5 ft even and has the seat all the way up with a pillow behind her. With the 20% reduction rennshift shifter there is still plenty of clearance and my wife loves this one compared to everything else that I have tried in the car.

[thulsadoom]

"If you do the Short Shift only use the Factory Kit..."

ditto..

Someone posted that the welmeister shortens by something like 10% and the factory kit by 15% or thereabouts. Either way the factory one shortens the throw further.

I did this recently and it does make a difference - in the feel. It takes less shoulder and reaching for downshifting. It will also apparently not hit the seats if it did before.

Jack - how does it "shorten the life of the sychros??" What can one expect to find over time?

Thanks!

PS - if you havent done turbo tie rods, that's a cheap upgrade that made a real difference on handling feel of my 1980 SC.

[lateapex911]

I presume that Jack is referring to the incresed shifting speed in the transmission (presuming the same hand speed before and after short shifter installation), and the resultant syncro wear. Of course, slowing down the hand and being more deliberate with the shifts would help that!

[thulsadoom]

I've found it near impossible to "quick-shift" the 915 transmission anyhow, it seems to want the slightest hesitation or semi-pause in the neutral zone. It's no "one-finger-shifter" MR2 Spyder, that's for sure!!

I assume this is just the way it is (?).

[911pcars]

With a short shifter, you cannot force faster shifts without creating more synchro wear, so drivers have to be aware of their shifting habits.

Because the pivot point of the shift lever moves upward in a short shifter, there is actually less leverage to move into gear, thus the slightly higher force needed to shift.

The Weltmeister (WM) short shifter reduces the throws by 39% over the factory shifter. The Factory Short Shifter (FSS) reduces the throws by 25%. But you have to give up something to gain something. IMO, the WM gives up too much (increased shifting effort) in exchange for shorter throws and thus a tendency to rush the synchros. In addition, the factory lever is 20mm OD and the WM is 19mm. The smaller OD of the WM lever results in too much play in the fork (pivot box) within the shift housing. Some folks don't mind and are happy with it. Others prefer the FSS.


top, factory lever
middle, FSS
bottom, WM

I'm not convinced the $500+ price tag is worth it for these other short shift alternatives.

Sherwood Lee
http://members.rennlist.org/911pcars
also www.seinesystems.com

[Matt Holcomb]

I vote for the WEVO short shift kit.

www.wevo.com


Matt Holcomb
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1974 911 Carrera 2.7 (RoW)
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[g_priest]

I think i'll try the bushings first and see what that is like first.