Yet another 915 gated shifter design.

[Ionizer]

So I drive a 1973 911e with the infamous 915 transmission. I love the car but the feel of the stock shifter ruined some of the fun for me. Most of the time I had to look at the shifter to make sure I was getting the right gear.

Something had to be done. I didn't like the look of the cheap upgrades or the price of the good ones available so i decided to make my own. The goal was to have spring return from both 1-2 and 5-R and to prevent the springs from damaging the shifter forks in the transmission I wanted a classic H-gate. I also wanted the gate to be visible on top of the shifter. No external springs, no hose clamps.

And here is what I came up with.



The prototype isn't quite as shiny but it works.



The spring return uses the stock springs but I added a second slider inside the springs and enlarged the tabs holding them in place.





I just came back from the first test drive and it works great. I'm super pleased. Shifting is faster and I feel confident about getting the right gear. No more looking down to shift.

I just wanted to share the design and maybe inspire someone else. Feedback is always welcome.

[Cevan]

That is sweet! I see a new product coming soon.

[gomezoneill]

Nice job very well done. Are you going to manufacture these?

[Tyson Schmidt]

This was tried and abandoned many years ago by Wevo.

The reason it was abandoned is that you are defining the gates at the shifter, but any movement or twist by the chassis or engine/trans mounts will result in altering the gates in the gearbox.

Better to define the gates in gearbox to avoid getting the wrong gear when shifting during cornering, for example.

[kent olsen]

I've had the Rennshift for many years. It has been adequate and I have replaced the bushings twice I think. I have always wanted something like your design and similar to the shift gates in the Ferrari.

Last spring I saw something similar on another RGRUPPE members car but forgot to write down where he got it, darn. His was just a plate that sat over the shifter. My Rennshift has a little to much lateral movement while in gear for me.

For me it's just a little more positive, just a glance if you need to confirm where you are. Even on the track, which I frequent, the shifting is done before or after the corner so you are already in gear.

[Flojo]

ah! finally! a "ferrari" styled gate!
pls take my money!

[Edoyle]

Originally Posted by Tyson Schmidt

This was tried and abandoned many years ago by Wevo.

The reason it was abandoned is that you are defining the gates at the shifter, but any movement or twist by the chassis or engine/trans mounts will result in altering the gates in the gearbox.

Better to define the gates in gearbox to avoid getting the wrong gear when shifting during cornering, for example.

Makes sense.

I wonder if some solid or stiff trans mounts in conjunction with new bushings all around
would minimize any significant movement to the point that a 915 can be gated at the shifter? If the shifter's shaft was a little smaller and the gate openings a little larger I imagine the lower tolerances would be enough to be a non-issue.

[Ionizer]

Originally Posted by Tyson Schmidt

This was tried and abandoned many years ago by Wevo.

The reason it was abandoned is that you are defining the gates at the shifter, but any movement or twist by the chassis or engine/trans mounts will result in altering the gates in the gearbox.

Better to define the gates in gearbox to avoid getting the wrong gear when shifting during cornering, for example.

The Wevo gate-inside-gearbox thing definitely is a superior solution and anyone willing to spend $900 should get it. And I think it's another $500 to get the Wevo spring return shifter?

Shipped to Sweden it probably closer to $2000..

I still think a gate at the shifter could work good provided it is properly adjusted. And that the biggest disadvantage compare to Wevos gate is that everything has to be tight for my gate to work. Mechanical play in any of the component between the transmission and the gear knob will increase the required throw making the gate too small.

The risk of the spring pushing against the shifter fork is no better or worse than the stock shifter in 5th or reverse.

And before risking getting the wrong gear there would have to be a lot of twist. Perhaps 5 degrees and that would be something like 10cm of engine mount flex.

[Ionizer]

Originally Posted by Edoyle

Makes sense.

I wonder if some solid or stiff trans mounts in conjunction with new bushings all around
would minimize any significant movement to the point that a 915 can be gated at the shifter? If the shifter's shaft was a little smaller and the gate openings a little larger I imagine the lower tolerances would be enough to be a non-issue.

That won't work I'm afraid. The springs pulls the shifter towards neutral so bigger gate openings just means the shifter would rest closer to neutral (in 1, 2, 5, R). And possibly in a position where it could cause wear inside the transmission. I believe the shifter should be held in the center of the selected gear position leaving a little bit of play to both left and right in the bushings and joints to the transmission.

[Ionizer]

Originally Posted by kent olsen

I've had the Rennshift for many years. It has been adequate and I have replaced the bushings twice I think. I have always wanted something like your design and similar to the shift gates in the Ferrari.

Last spring I saw something similar on another RGRUPPE members car but forgot to write down where he got it, darn. His was just a plate that sat over the shifter. My Rennshift has a little to much lateral movement while in gear for me.

For me it's just a little more positive, just a glance if you need to confirm where you are. Even on the track, which I frequent, the shifting is done before or after the corner so you are already in gear.

There is this gated shifter which is also a Wevo design i think?



I just don't like the look if it. The shifter tower is too tall.

[Matt Monson]

Originally Posted by Tyson Schmidt

This was tried and abandoned many years ago by Wevo.

The reason it was abandoned is that you are defining the gates at the shifter, but any movement or twist by the chassis or engine/trans mounts will result in altering the gates in the gearbox.

Better to define the gates in gearbox to avoid getting the wrong gear when shifting during cornering, for example.

I still have a couple. They work fairly well when used with the dog box. I bet on a street hot rod it would work all right. Just not really the best solution for racing, imo.

[Flojo]

oh, this is tall. despite its function, this would not be my "design".

[A horse with no name]

A felllow Pelican, Ed Mitchell -aka - 'ivangene,' had the answer...His couplers and his 'secret shifters' were both excellent products that worked extremely well...Unfortunately, due to his wifes illness he quit making them.



Seine Gate Shifter vs. Secret Shfter

Seine: $150
Secret Shifter: $250
Rennshift: $500-550

[mickey356]

Originally Posted by Matt Monson

I still have a couple. They work fairly well when used with the dog box. I bet on a street hot rod it would work all right. Just not really the best solution for racing, imo.

Uhhhhh, Matt, talk to me about this^^^ I LOVE the look of that gate! Will it work in my 912 5 speed? Where can I get one?

[kent olsen]

That looks like the one I saw in Napa this past spring with RGRUPPE. Any experience on how well it works??

[911pcars]

Road and Race, Los Angeles was selling a very similar (or same) product for years. Looked, but not in their current web store.

Here's an archived link related to the above source:
gated shifter - anyone know about this?

Sherwood

[tobluforu]

Looks like a pewter cocktail glass from way back when, when looking from the side.

[Matt Monson]

Originally Posted by mickey356

Uhhhhh, Matt, talk to me about this^^^ I LOVE the look of that gate! Will it work in my 912 5 speed? Where can I get one?

I don't think the throws would be right for a 901.

[911 Rod]

I like what you have accomplished here, but I wonder if Porsche has done some R & D and decided against it for some reason.

[mickey356]

Showing my ignorance, know very little about the reasons why a gated shifter won’t work in a 915 or 901 all I know is it sucks cuz it looks really cool and I want one