Aftermarket shifter advice

[mdmiller911]

Hi Pelicans, I am relatively new to Porsches, other than the last 6 mths of research, and I am the proud new owner of a 77 911s with a 3.2, GE40 cams, Webers, and SSIs. The car runs perfect but I hate the way it shifts. My problem isn’t with the 915 tranny, I know they can be notchy. It’s with the shifter itself and how easy it can be to select the wrong gear and blow up the engine.

I basically wanted to get some opinions on Seine Systems Gate Shifter Kit vs. the Wevo kit vs. any other kits I don’t know about. Any you can recommend?

Also, I am new to posting on this forum. What does it mean to “bump”?

Thanks, Mike

[Oh Haha]

Welcome aboard, Mike. You should post some pictures of your 911.

Bump mean to bring a thread back to the top of the list on the forum.

You should do a search on this forum using " shifter" as the key word. There is much to debate about which aftermarket setup is the best. Some even say the factory shortshifter is the way to go. I made my own version using parts from both designs. It's right for me but may not be for others. (Kinda like "Differen't Strokes")

Depending on how much you are willing to spend, you can find a setup just for your style.

oh, make sure all of the bushings are in good shape before investing in shifters.

[JMatta]

Check out the J West Rennshifter...better than the Wevo in my opinion and looks stock.

[mdmiller911]

I am impressed with the amount of info on these forums! Looks like i got some more reading to do... pics to come. Thanks for the input.

[NY65912]

Welcome.......

Love my Rennshift!

[Jeff Alton]

Search for WEVO or RENNSHIFT or HARGETT.... I loved my WEVO but I love my HARGETT even more!!

Cheers

[village idiot]

Originally Posted by Jeff Alton

Search for WEVO or RENNSHIFT or HARGETT.... I loved my WEVO but I love my HARGETT even more!!

Cheers

I love my Hargett as well. I just hope to have the car on the road sometime in the next few months so i can enjoy all goodies I've bought for my car.

[Jeff Alton]

I here you, I have 300 miles on mine, it was off the road for 25 months!!

Cheers

[RWebb]

The cheapest thing is to get the latest model stock shifter (1986, maybe the '85, or 84) and blueprint it using Sherwood's instructions & some new parts.

Also replace all the plastic bearings in the shift coupler and on the shift tube.

That is far far cheaper than the steps above, which you can take if needed. And you need to do the coupler and shift rod bushing in any event.

You may want a Wevo or SRP coupling, or DIY one.

- search on the above terms for more info.

Since you are new to the car, this thread may help in general:
Long term & Commonly Neglected Maintenance

[Jeff Alton]

Randy is right. Make sure it is working properly to begin with. There is big changes going from a worn out linkage to a renewed one.

The Hargett is not for everyone, nor is the WEVO or Rennshift. I have driven a car with the Seine and it was okay too.

Cheers

[mdmiller911]

Thanks to all for the warm welcome. I think I like the idea of rebuilding/blueprinting what I have not only because I can really see and learn the mechanics of it, but also I don't think I can justify spending 600 bucks just yet. Thanks for everyones input...This forum is great, I can see why people are addicted!

[Oh Haha]

You should pick up "101 Projects for your Porsche 911" as well. If you are new to the 911 it can be a great help for the DIY'er.

[drsimonwong]

I changed my engine mounts, coupler and clamp to Wevo items and the whole shifter unit to Rennshift with a longer gear knob. You should consider these items too. Made a huge improvement. Then had my transmission rebuilt/blueprinted. Now it's better than my Madza's shift!!!!!

Beg, borrow or steal the money to upgrade your tranny, otherwise each time you drive you will be annoyed with the gear change.

Simon

[Uber-fanatic]

Originally Posted by mdmiller911

What does it mean to “bump”? Thanks, Mike

mmhhhmmhh...what does it mean to "bump"...mmhhhmmmhh

I guess it all depends upon who's "hump" you're "bumping" into? Eh?

To 'Bump' means to knock everyone else on the board down a notch...

Per the guidelines, we are allowed one 'bump' every three (3) days...so, no extraneous bumping allowed; and certainly no bumping with multiple partners...

[spuggy]

Part of your impression is probably culture shock from driving modern cars, but I'd also guess if it feels that awful, something is probably really, really, shot as well.

I was shocked when I first drove my car with a tired 915 and the factory short-shift, it felt really agricultural, and the lack of precision was frankly scary. Selecting a gear felt like stirring a wooden spoon in a bucket.

It already had new shift coupler and bushes (just can't imagine what it was like before that was done).

I got used to it and it didn't feel so bad. Then I fitted a rebuilt 915 - with the original shifter parts.

The difference was like night and day, all the slop and imprecision was obviously in the 915 itself, because it was just gone. The gate was really tight.

It's still not a modern shifter - but you know what, if I'd wanted to drive one of those, I'd claim the Eclipse back from the SO, rather than turning my 911 into a Civic. YMMV

If it's the original '77 915, it's a mag-cased variant - they aren't the strongest, and probably aren't the best choice for anything making significantly more power than the 2.7. Also, you don't mention how many miles it's done, or how often it's been rebuilt? Mine was extremely tired inside...

It might be a good idea to wangle a drive in a car with a good 915 and a good (factory) shifter setup before you sink money into what might be the wrong problem. Or get someone who knows what 911's should shift like to drive your car and tell you what they think.

What did the PPI say about the transmission?

Oh, and a hot-rodded, bastardised middie? Good choice! We need pics!!!

[mdmiller911]

Its not the prettiest (yet) but it is rust free, straight, and does the job.
77' 911S 3.2, GE40s, 46IDAs, SSIs, short stacked 915 w/LSD, sway bars.....






future plans might include a wide body conversion but who knows....

[mdmiller911]

Thanks for the input spuggy. I have not driven enough 915s to really know if mine is bad. The more I drive it, the more I get used to it though. The tranny (as well as the motor) is from an 85 carrera and has been rebuilt with shorter gears . Like I mentioned in my original post, its not so much the shifting, its the fear of a miss shift and slamming into reverse or worse.... Then again, I am getting the feel of it. I got 101 porsche projects and it does have some shifter projects. During the winter, I'll probably rip into it, maybe put that seine shifter kit on it. $150 isn't much to lose if I don't like it.

Does anyone have the Seine and NOT like it?

[Porsche-O-Phile]

Just ordered a Wevo this past week - should be here Tuesday. I'll let you know how it improves things.

[Gene Wilkes]

Mike welcome to the forum and great looking P-car! I have a seine-shift-gate in my car and it really defines the shift pattern. I also added the wevo shift knuckle. We live in the same general area and you would be welcome to try mine to help in your decision.

[spuggy]

Originally Posted by mdmiller911

Its not the prettiest (yet) but it is rust free, straight, and does the job.
77' 911S 3.2, GE40s, 46IDAs, SSIs, short stacked 915 w/LSD, sway bars.....

future plans might include a wide body conversion but who knows....

Cool! Nice and stealthy, I like sleepers..

I did a double-take on your cockpit shot - you have exactly the same Momo as me, I think, and looks like the same seats as well...

Two words: "SC flares". You can easilly squeeze 255/40/17s under them with room to spare, and 225/45/17's will go in up front if you roll the fenders. I don't think you need more rubber than that...