Which shortshift kit: Weltmeister or Porsche?

[Jdub]

Showing my ignorance once again. Which kit is better, the Weltmeister short shift kit or the one made by Porsche?

Thanks in advance,
Jw

[Automahn]

I asked this exact question to one of our local members who also runs a porsche repair shop in town...he said the porsche kit he has one in his 911...hope this helps

[GeorgeK]

I asked my mechanic the same. He prepares race cars as a significant part of his work. He also mentionned that the only one worth the money is the factory kit.
Beware that on a 915, you might not want to rush shifts, negating the need for such a kit.
GeorgeK

[atr911]

There seems to be lots of support for the factory kit but I don't believe that the added money is necessary. I have heard from many people that the Weltmeister kit is just fine. Thats the one i'll probably go with.

As was mentioned though, get used to 915 shifting first, or you'll likely drop some teeth if you not cautious.

Adam Roseneck

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1978 911SC 3.0
roseneck@cyberbeach.net

[Pillow]

I am torn myself.

Pelican has the Porsche short shift installation procedure very well documented.

The Porsche kit looks much more complicated than the Welt kit. Apparently the p-kit was a factory option in the later models.

Welt is of a very basic principle of moving the fulcrum point up higher which makes for a shorter throw, but requires more arm force. Welt also suggests that the p-kit can break under hard use, but I do not understand why? I am assuming the p-kit will require the same arm force as the stock set up. The Welt kit should reduce the throw more than the p-kit, I think 41% vs 32%.

I am sure people on the list have done this conversion... User opinions please!

Thanks,

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Adrian Pillow
1979 911 SC
1966 VW Microbus
PCA - Peachstate Region

[Jdub]

Thanks so much you guys!

I am getting very, very good at shifting a balky 915. The short shift kit is a pure exercise in making life easier for my transmission, and not to provide a quicker shift. I am a grandmother when I shift: the gate must open easily before I let the lever fall into the gear. This is part of my plan to upgrade all the parts external to the transmission that might help the trans shift better. If it continues to give me trouble into 2nd (1st gear synchro is shot), then I will be looking at rebuilding the transmission.

Here's hoping on the cheap fixes!

Jw

[Automahn]

I think the price difference is only about 20-30..for that little amount I think the factory kit would be the way to go.There is a huge difference between the factory short shift and the stock 915 shifter plus I think the porsche engineers wouldnt offer a short shift kit and put it in their cars if it didnt work well...just my .02c...

[Kurt B]

I got the factory kit. It's a 20-30 minute installation at most. Cake. Definitely makes a difference from 1st to 2nd for those stop light races.


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Kurt B
1984 911 Carrera Cabriolet

[pbs911]

I installed the Weltmeister kit in my 78SC. I like the feel of the shifting. I am just carefull not to rush the shifting since the short throw will put extra pressure on the gears. Just remember, with an exception for Juan's turbo, a P-Car is not a dragster. As you probably know, the 915 takes a little getting used to in the shifting department. The short shifter will also take some getting used to. I have no experiece with the Porsche kit but find the Weltmeister kit well made and it performs well.
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Paul
78 SC Targa

[This message has been edited by pbs911 (edited 03-01-2001).]

[Chris Bunker]

Do either of these kits effect the height of the shift knob relative to the driver?
Being one of above average height, the knob is already a reach.

Chris B
78 SC

[lsolon]

In regurds to the height issue, yes the weltmeister kit has a shorter shift lever. If your tall like myself and have to put the seat way back and recline it, it can be a little bit of a reach. Worth it though. Be carefull when you first install it. You will have the desire to bang gears like i did. Makes a wonderfull noise.

[RLJ]

Buy the factory one. I'm positive that Weltmeister has not spent the money on enginering that the factory has.

Randy Jones
1971 911

[plano25]

I installed the Porsche Short Shift kit on my 80 SC with 915 and it works well. No install problems and no usage problems in the last year.

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Donald Weintraub
1980 Porsche Red 911SC Coupe

[Nickshu]

Jw,

If you are concerned about what is best for your transmission, rather than the throw of the lever, it may be best to leave it alone.

I believe that the short shift kit causes hard, forced shifts in the transmission and has been associated with premature synchro wear. You don't feel it at the lever, but you are actually shifting harder in the transmission due to the leverage produced by the kit.

I think that the Weltmeister kit is worse in this regard than the factory. I have the factory kit installed by the prev. owner, and it seems to work fine, but I have no comparison.

Hope this helps.
Nick.

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_ ______ _
Nick Shumaker
1982 911SC Coupe

[cmorelan]

I am going against the crowd on this one. I have an '86 with the factory short shift, and a '77 with the standard shifter. Both have the 915.

I don't like the short shift. It takes much more force to move the shifter.

No I am not a whimp.

I can shift '77 fast and positive, the '86 is a battle. I don't think the extra couple of inches of throw slow down my shifts one bit. Ask any racer and they will tell you that smooth is fast, not quick slams of the shifter anyway.

Now granted they are two different cars and so there exist other variables. But if you have not driven a short shift car you might want to before you make the conversion.

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'86 Cab, '77 Targa, '85 toyota 4wd rain mobile

[chuckr]

I have the Factory Shift Kit in my 83SC.
I used the article here in tech articles section for instructions and found it easy and fun ! I also replaced my bushings and went with a tall Momo shift knob.I'm a tall guy so I needed a bit more height on my shifter and the Momo knob did the trick !

[Chris Bunker]

So I got the factory shift kit, it went into the shift housing like a breeze...I replaced the ball cup and shift rod bushings as well.
The problem is I can't seem to get the f'n' shifter assy bolted up to the tunnel and be able to select differnent gears without it feeling like something is binding. Actually, got it bolted down once, then depressed the clutch and tried to get first gear. The lever went forward, but I could not get it back into neutral!

There has got to be a better way to get the first two 5mm cheese head bolts into place (the ones that attach to the shift shaft bushing bracket. I find in very difficult to get these started. The bracket does sandwich the shifter and the sheetmetal right - shifter/sheetmetal/bracket?

Do I need to loosen up the shift coupler in back? I've read over the Pelican procedure and it doesn't mention anything like that.

What a PITA, this shouldn't be this hard. What am I doing wrong?????

Chris Bunker
78 SC


[This message has been edited by Chris Bunker (edited 06-02-2001).]

[kamikazepilot]

The factory kit does not shorten the Gate only the throw of the shifter. So Gates are easier to find.

I had a Welt. kit in my 914, and the gate was VERY close, and easier to hit the wrong gate.

I have the factory kit on the way, I will let you all know how it works out...

Randy

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Friends don't let friends drive RICE!

1978 911 SC

[Chris Bunker]

OK, problem solved, I am a dumbass.
The shift shaft bushing bracket goes on top of the tunnel, not underneath like geniusboy was trying to do.

Nevermind!

CB
78 SC

[Mika]

Had a Weltmeister short shift kit fitted in my ī86 911 about a year ago and hated it!

Very short and heavy movements both in longitudinal & lateral directions. Shifts were crunchy too and felt like putting a lot of stress to the box.

Refitting the original shifter (after about 100 miles with Weltmeister) with new bushings and coupling was a real revelation; as light and smooth as itīs probably ever going to be with a 915 transmission.

So I donīt recommend Weltmeister, havenīt got any experience with factory kit.


Mika


P.S. I understand, that ī86 has 10% shorter shifter than earlier models and the factory short shift kit if further 10% shorter.