Annoyed by short shifter...am I the only one?

[octanemaestro]

Am I the only one who finds it annoying to have reach lower to shift a short shifter on a 911SC, and who just generally finds it less comfortable than the original?

Perhaps I am missing the advantages....if so, please inform me.

[Frosticles]

Love the OE Porsche Quick Shift on my 3.2 with the 915. Transforms it completely. When set up correctly it's a joy to use

[RichardNew]

I'm not a fan of the short shifters. Porsche knew what they were doing.

Richard Newton
Historic Racing Images

[john walker's workshop]

Hate'em.

[uwanna]

I have a factory short shifter (SSK) and the Seine shift kit as well, but I have also added the shift stick extension that Sherwood (the Seine guy) makes. The extension eliminates the "stooping down" to reach the rather short stick of the SSK and makes shifting a joy again! Check this thread by Sherwood and perhaps PM him to see if he still offers them for sale.
Yet Another Shifter Thing

[McLaren-TAG]

Originally Posted by uwanna

I have a factory short shifter (SSK) and the Seine shift kit as well, but I have also added the shift stick extension that Sherwood (the Seine guy) makes. The extension eliminates the "stooping down" to reach the rather short stick of the SSK and makes shifting a joy again!

This.

[Cajundaddy]

Never met a SS kit I liked.

[AC78]

I hate my short shifter and am In the process of returning to original. After switching to short shift I have been unable to accurately adjust the shift coupler to a point where I am happy with selecting all gears. It seems the tolerances are much reduced, and my big man hands are unable to find that coupler sweet spot. I never had this problem with stock shifter.

[Cook&Dunning]

I had always thought a Porsche short shift option referred to the length of the throw, not the height of the shifter. Am I missing something here?

[RSTarga]

My factory kit works great. Much better than the longer throws before.

[Arne2]

My car had the factory short travel kit in it when I bought it. I fussed over it for a couple of years. Added a Seine kit, delrin coupler bushings, new linkage bushings, etc.

I found it notchy-feeling, and virtually impossible to adjust the coupler so that all gears were available and the reverse lockout still worked 100% of the time. I then went back to the normal "long" travel shifter, and all my complaints were gone. No more notchy feel. Easier to adjust. Reverse lockout works every time, never nicks reverse during the 5-to-4 shift. Oddly, the transmission itself even seems quieter, although that is probably my imagination.

Oh yeah, the difference in travel is not enough to be noticeable while driving. I'll never put a SS kit back in, the car is much more pleasant to drive now.

[Trackrash]

The shifter to have is the factory short-shifter. Not sure the year they came stock, perhaps in '86. Those work great. It is not the same as the kit.

The Seine kit works great in conjunction.

I find my shift knob to be in the perfect location. Of course my seat has been lowered due to my stature. No complaints, my car shifts great. As a side note, I made my own, aluminum, bushings for the coupler.

There used to be a spacer, someone made, that went under the shifter to raise it up. I had one under my 901 shifter, worked great.

[sugarwood]

Originally Posted by RichardNew

I'm not a fan of the short shifters. Porsche knew what they were doing.

Maybe he's referring to the factory OEM short shift kit?
I know my car has one.

[uwanna]

If I remember correctly, PAG created two different short shifters or SSK for the 915. The earlier
a "semi short shift" and the later a shorter shift one as new car order options. Don't know which years.
I have the later shorter one (shift stroke, not the stick).
I just wish all you naysayers could drive my car to which I have added the shift stick extension that Sherwood (of Seine) sells. I think you would be converted.
The extension places the shift knob in the perfect place just by your right knee where your hand just naturally rests on it. The extension changes the short shift geometry and that removes some of the "shortness of the stroke"" and eliminates the extra force needed to shift into gears. The extension literally transforms the shifter, SSK and all
With this setup and a Seine kit, the whole thing just shifts like Buttah!
Here's before and after pics.

[Rodsrsr]

There has to be a better solution than that hose clamp though.

[juanbenae]

Originally Posted by uwanna

I have a factory short shifter (SSK) and the Seine shift kit as well, but I have also added the shift stick extension that Sherwood (the Seine guy) makes. The extension eliminates the "stooping down" to reach the rather short stick of the SSK and makes shifting a joy again
Yet Another Shifter Thing

I had this set up minus the extension in my racecar & missed it a ton when I moved into an 03TT. the turbo shifted like crap IMO compared to my old set like noted above. I never needed the extension as I have short arms..

I drove a wevo set up and it was very nice, but the factory SS kit & the seine gate was comparable for a fraction of the cost.

wanna, take that assembly to a welder and lose the hose clamp. I used the HC one weekend and it felt much more sloppy than after having it welded. the best hose clamp will flex some under that condition IMO.


t

[uwanna]

Originally Posted by juanbenae

wanna, take that assembly to a welder and lose the hose clamp. I used the HC one weekend and it felt much more sloppy than after having it welded. the best hose clamp will flex some under that condition IMO.


t

I knew it would get some grief about the hose clamp LOL. Those pics are five years old,
fix was done years ago!

[juanbenae]

Originally Posted by uwanna

I knew it would get some grief about the hose clamp LOL. Those pics are five years old,
fix was done years ago!

you may proceed then....

[Brian 162]

I had the factory short shift. I forget the part# but I did get the number from this forum. Once properly set up I never missed a shift on the track. The throw was still long but the gear selection was more defined (less guess work).

[DRACO A5OG]

Originally Posted by octanemaestro

Am I the only one who finds it annoying to have reach lower to shift a short shifter on a 911SC, and who just generally finds it less comfortable than the original?

Perhaps I am missing the advantages....if so, please inform me.

Just Curious?

How is your sitting position?

If you are in the "racing" recommended position, basically up-right, it will give you an all around comfortable feel for the car and your can see better, Nope, it does not look cool like a low rider or boulevard cruiser but it gets the job done with less fatigue.

Please forgive for the assumption but:

While seated, your shoulders are back, spine straight and as you lift your wrist to center of the steering wheel without lifting your shoulder, the wrist should be at the center top of wheel and hand hanging over.

Your clutch knee should be bent even when clutch is fully depressed. Move up until you can accomplish this.

Now check your shifting, I bet it is more comfortable and less effort as opposed to being in a reclined position, your lower back will thank you too.

Mirrors are next but that is another topic