Short Shift opinions wanted

[Lynn-75]

Hello All,

Is there a "best" short shift kit for the 915 transmission, or is it a matter of personal preferances?

Thanks,

Lynn

[arcsine]

The general message is the factory short shift is preferred. The Wevo system is nice but the cost is significantly more.

[dfink]

What year is your car. I think starting in 85 they already had a reduced shift. Instead of the 25% reduction in throw you only get a 10% reduction with a shift kit. If I am wrong on this I am sure someone will chime in.

[Bill Verburg]

factory unless you have a bunch of spare change for a Wevo

but the connectior and bushes should also be tightened up.

the '84 and '85 had a semi shortshift stock.

[cab83_750]

The 2nd, if not 3rd, project on my SC was improving the throw. I am a computer geek by profession and did not know anything about geometry/engineering. In an attempt, I 'cut' or shortened the factory shift lever by hacksawing it. I was delighted!

3 weeks ago, I installed the factory ssk. To my amazement, the length of the ssk lever was exactly the same length as my shortened lever. blah! blah! blah!

Anyway, in my opinion, the 1st and 2nd gear was very much noticeable, 3rd, 4th and 5th was somewhat noticeable. Bottom line.....well worth it.

I thought I read that the Welt sometimes breaks; I ended up not buying the WEVO, not because of the cost, but I preferred the factory look.

[sportdoc]

I've installed the Weltmeister short shift kit in my 83 targa. In my opinon it works well and as advertised. Of course, you will have to increase the effort in shifting with any kit that shortens the throw. Also did shifter bushings when I installed the kit.

[cab83_750]

I thought that the effort was much less nowadays on the ssk.

[Joe Bob]

I've had the Welt, the factory and the Wevo....Wevo hands down.

[Steve@Rennsport]

Mike is right on,......The WEVO is simply in a class by itself,...

One note,...anyone trying to improve their 915 shifting really must replace the shift coupler bushings, the shift shaft bushing and the plastic "cup" at the forward end of the shaft for everything to work properly.

For "Cab83_750", the WEVO shifter is available in the Classic version which retains the OEM shifter for a stock look.

[aigel]

I had the Weltmeister and went to the factory short shift. The Weltmeister's travel is too short. It makes no sense. You can easily get lost, because travel is not only short in and out of the gears but also between the gears (left to right). As stated above, you also need more force to shift. I think if you do not want to spend the big bucks for a Wevo, you should go with the factory short shifter and replace all the bushings.

George

[rlh930]

I installed the Weltmeister on my 930 soon after I got it. After four years of driving it I am convinced it was a waste of money (though small change, Porsche-wise). If I weren't so lazy I would put the factory shifter back on. You have to shift the 915 and 930 boxes deliberately anyway. What difference does the throw make? You can certainly move your arm as fast as you need to to shift a 915, and the mechanical advantage of the original shifter gives better feel IMHO.

The Wevo is another matter entirely. It's worth evey penny. The advantage is that it positions the shifter in exactly the right plane to make an accurate shift. But the racers use the extended shift knob, which puts it in exactly the right position to reach from a racing seat. With the extended knob, the Wevo is not really a short shifter; if anything it's longer than stock.

I say all this knowing full well that you'll probably do exactly what I did and install the shifter regardless. It's cheap fun, and if it increases your involvement with your car, it's worth the money as entertainment. But from a practical standpoint the money would probably be better spent redoing the suspension bushings or something like that.

[Porschekid962]

My old man's car has the factory SC RS short shift kit and its very nice, changed all the bushings at the same time. I think the Wevo is a bit overkill and overpriced for what you get. For myself I am fabricating a one off shift system. The working prototype needs some tweaks but the future holds bright things hopefully.

If you really need a gate to find your gears for you then buy a ferrari, while the wevo can save some people i think its overdone. I am all for making things simpler, more efficient and cheaper.

[drsimonwong]

I found the Wevo to be too tight/short at 30%. I have the JWest's Rennshift which is also sprung loaded and has a variable adjustment which I left at 20%. Cheaper than Wevo's too.
Simon

[aigel]

The wevo shifter seems to only make sense if you also get their other 915 products. Internal gate, coupler and what not. Their products are great. Yes they are pricey, but you will be hard pressed to engineer and produce something like that for less. It's all made here in the US with relatively small production numbers.

Thinking about it a bit more, I'd go as far as saying that you should get their internal gate mod and their coupler first, before getting their shifter.

The above is all important if you drive competitive on a track. If it saves you from a money-misshift, it was worth it.

George

[yelcab1]

Among the non-wevo kits, the factory short shift kit is the best.
If money is no object, wevo I hear is the best.

[Porschekid962]

Save the money and the wevo and go for a g50 no? Doesnt that have all the goodies everyone wants? Change the clutch setup to a race type and go at it. I am leaning that way even though I have a cherry 72 mag case 915.

FWIW I have seen the wevo reinforced main bearing plate and the plate from other companies, the others seem to be beefier with a small hit on weight and also cheaper. Buy a factory later/reinforced sideplate cover and you can rock and roll. I heard from a reputable source that even with a reinforced sideplate cover the studs on a 915 can pull out. Anyone else seen this?

[Jesset100]

I chose the Wevo. I don't have to lift my back to shift to 5th gear and reverse is locked out. You have to want to shift into reverse.

[rrsrsr]

Originally posted by Jesset100
I chose the Wevo. I don't have to lift my back to shift to 5th gear and reverse is locked out. You have to want to shift into reverse.

Reverse is locked out on the stock 915 shifter as well.

[cab83_750]

Comparing the old shifter to the new, the mechanisms are different. Yeah, I think the reverse is locked-out from fifth (in some way).