Short shift kits shorten tranny(915) life?

[Frostie]

I was talking to my Porsche mechanic about short shift kits stock and after market and he told me that he will not warranty any tranny he rebuilds that is in a car with one of these short shift kits. He explained the 915 were never intended to be shifted that quickly and the snycro will prematurely wear out. This was news too me so I thought I’d get some more feed back from my fellow Pelicans

John Walker told me he hates to see short shifters on trannies he rebuilds.

[Westy]

A few day ago there was a whole thread on these tranny's. I didn't search for it, but it on Monday or tuesday, I think. In fact, I think I started it. Getting old SUX!!!!

[maxnine11]

a short-shifter should be thought of as a device that shortens the length of the shift throw between gears, NOT shortening the time it takes to shift gears.

my 2 cents.

max

[911pcars]

Max,
Good point.

Sherwood

[JackT]

Wasn't the short shifter an option and then standard on the 1984 to 1987 Carrera?

[Scooter]

This has been discussed numerous times in the past, so I would do a search. I have a factory short shift in my car, and I love it. I agree with Max that a short shifter should not be viewed as a quicker shifter, but rather a shorter throw. I am not a quick shifter anyway, so I like to think that I am not harming the syncros, and I like the feel of the shorter throw. I am taking my chances, because I enjoy driving the car more with the factory short shifter.

[MIK911]

DrewT--the factory 10% shorter shifter was standard from '86-->on. There is a Porsche short shift kit that can also be used on these 3.2 Carrera's, as well as an aftermarket one sold by Weltmeister.

Does anyone LIKE their Porscshe short shift kit or Weltmeister aftermarket short shifter on 915? Does it make shifts on a 915 'more difficult' to find the gears?

Mike
'86 coupe

[Frostie]

Good question Mike,

[bit]

Hi guys,

One of very first upgrades I did on my car after I bought it was install the factory ssk and shifter bushings. I did not like the long "truck like" shifting with the stock shifter and it made a considerable difference for me. I needed to replace my 1st gear dogteeth which were well worn, and just had my tranny rebuilt about 3000kms ago (it had 100000kms on the tranny) and have had no problems shifting ever since. Smooth like butta. No grinding, minimal balking, and the 10 or so percent difference made in the throw is quite noticble versus many other 915 based cars I've driven. I'm certainly not going back. I guess only time will tell how is wears the gearbox. I hope to get at least another 100000kms out of this rebuild, if I take care of it and be civilized (most of the time anyway).

My 2 bits..

.Steven
1980 911SC

[911pcars]

I wouldn't use the few opinions in this thread as a true indication of who likes the short shifter (factory type) and who doesn't. I'm sure Porsche has sold a bunch, and if people didn't like them, they'd be up on sale here or on Ebay.

I use one and I like it, but that's just me. Others prefer the stock shifter. Maybe it also has to do with the condition of the gearbox its used with or the (incorrect) manner in which the short shifter is used.

On numerious other threads, I have advocated using the double-clutch technique when downshifting. This brings the gears to be meshed up to the same relative speed and minimizes the work the synchromesh assembly must do (and the resultant wear). If done correctly, it shouldn't matter how fast the shift lever moves from gear to gear.

Sherwood

[Hetmann]

I have been beat over the head for this before. I have the Weltmeister and I like it. Beats the heck out of the bus style shift pattern I had before. I'm gentle with it and don't force it. My tranny is 26 years old after all. I have heard the other aftermarket shifters are better, but I like mine just the way it is.

[jpahemi]

Hello,
Does the WEVO shifter kit fall into the short shift category?
Not many posts regarding the feel of it. Those that ahve posted, love it. It seems to keep one from clipping REVERSE in the 5-4 shift.
Any opinions?
Regards,
J.P.
NY

[Scooter]

Not to hijack the thread, but since we are discussing the short shifter, has anyone cut the shift lever down to make the throw even shorter? I think I have seen one person do this, but I want to ask others if this is a good/bad thing to do.

[Frostie]

I don't see any reason why that wouldn't work Scott, lot cheaper then buying a new stick.

Please correct me if I’m wrong but doesn’t the short shift kit slightly move the fulcrum (pivot point) to further shorten the shifting motion? I’m not sure I’m just going by the picture.

[maxnine11]

Brian, that was the point that I was trying to make..... sorry if my wording was poor.

[speeder]

This has been covered pretty extensively in the past here, so a search might be helpful. The bottom line is this: It doesn't matter if you have the factory "long shifter", short-shift kit, or "medium shifter", (my favorite, the standard shifter in '85-'86), if you attempt to engage a gear faster than the speed of the "gear matching" system, ("beat the synchros" in the race to engage), you will prematurely wear out your transmission.

It is just easier to be a bad driver w/ increased leverage in the shifter. It's a non-issue if you know how to drive. I've had them all, I currently have a new factory short-shift kit in the box that has been sitting in my tool box for 2 years. It is not a performance improvement, just a matter of personal preference.

[no substitute]

JW ribbed me about my short shifter kit, but I never rush a shift, just enjoy the shorter throw. My tranny has lasted 200,000+ miles, without incident. If one speedshifts, however, I suspect JW's concerns would be well founded.