Factory short shift kit installation comments & questions
 

Hi,

I recently installed a factory short shift kit for a '74 911. This is the kit I ordered from Pelican & installed which is listed as "OEM", but there is another option listed as "Porsche" for $14 more...: 1974 Porsche 911 Base Coupe/Targa - Shift Linkage - Page 3

The shift housing I used is original to the car (I assume) & is the earlier style w/out the allen bolt & locknut at the front end of the pivot axis. I also modified the housing to keep the previously installed Seine Systems gate shift kit.

I was surprised that the new carrier is essentially a piece of cut/shaped 25mm X 60mm X 14ga rectangular tube & not something more substantial & machined. I was also surprised at the fit of the parts which was VERY loose and required adding washers as spacers to take up the slack. I had to add washers in both the front-to-back axis and side-to-side axis. This was kind of a pain because I had to make some washers out of sheetmetal stock & grind down some others to make the fit perfect & take out the slop.

My main question is - is that normal? Seemed like a lot of work & I did read through a bunch of threads here beforehand and none of them mentioned going to those lengths to get a good fit. The powder coating on the pivot pin thru-hole on the new shift shaft also had to be sanded off slightly so the pin would fit through the hole, but that's something I'd expected from reading through the threads.

Finally, the new U-shaped piece that works against the springs for the 5th gear/reverse gate has really sharp edges where the pivot pin contacts it. I eased them a little with a file, but it's sharp enough to put marks in the pivot pin. This also seems like it'd be NOT ok... is this something others have run into?

Thanks for the input.

Tom

Here's some photos of the finished shifter. A few show the washers I added...

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1457969242.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1457969279.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1457969297.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1457969316.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1457969343.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1457969364.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1457969383.jpg

I went over my notes but don't remember any play issues on mine. Pretty sure the fore/aft slop is adjusted by a large bolt and jam nut you can see by the ball cup in this photo:

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-U2ldUxVEeL...0/IMAG0583.jpg

Though that may have been a running change, my car is an 84. I can't for the life of me remember is there was a side-to-side play or shimming required, but I don't think so.

That large bolt & jam nut is not present in earlier shift towers. I don't know when they started using them, but my shift tower uses 2 roll pins instead of 1 roll pin & the bolt. I can see how the bolt would make the fore-aft adjustment much easier though...

Thanks for posting.

Tom

My understanding is OEM brand is exactly that - an aftermarket brand that produces parts similar to Genuine Porsche. There are some things that might not be a problem for an aftermarket product, but others that you may want to stick to the real thing. This sounds like it might be one that you need the real deal?

I'm not sure. The carrier in my kit looks identical to Driven97s. See the heat mark in his photo - it's rectangular tube too. Nothing special...

I had installed the OEM factory short shifter a few years ago before switching to the JWest shifter. I don't remember any loose play in it and I certainly didn't have to install any extra washers. I just didn't like the reduction in leverage I got from it.

I wonder if something is wrong with the one you received.