short shift kit

[jcwade]

The shifting is VERY short (compared to the stock shifter) and I have read the
various threads on this board and others.

What I am wondering is, are there any problems that anyone has experienced
with this kit AND should I keep using it?

I picked up the whole kit from a 72 at the junkyard and the total cost was $11.57
so I have no problem getting rid of it if there are and latent problems.

thanks,

john

[chibone_914]

Make sure you replace ALL the shift rod/linkage bushings first, before putting that short shift kit in.

If you know you haven't replaced the bushing, replace it even if it looks just okay. They are cheap enough and you'd be surprised how just a little bit of bushing slop can translate into a lot of slop at the shift lever.

[schwarb2]

AMEN on the shift rod bushings. They frequently look like they are good, but actually are shot.

They don't cost very much and are a pain in the butt to replace, but once you do you might not even want to install the short shift kit.

[SGB]

I've run a shift kit for years. The only downsides i've noted were the requirement to have good bushings and carefully adjusted kinkage (alright, that was a typo, but it seems so right). The for/aft movement is reduced to maybe 2/3 the stock travel, but the lateral movement is reduced twice that much, so that if there is slop in linkage it is VERY EASY to hit 2nd instead of 4th when downshifting from 5th, and over-rev.

[boogerboy72]

Is the shift kit really worth it? Ive got some money right now and was thinking aobut getting one and just putting it in when we put the engine and tranny in. Can some one give me a price ona kit, and a where to buy?
thanks
clay

[SteveStromberg]

No we do not recccomend them. Steve

[Alfred1]

This Rennshifter is far superior to the short-shift kits.

[SGB]

I would love to have a rennshift- but i'm not disapointed in the Weltmeister kit i have in my car (73). It has been a long time since I drove it without the shift kit installed, but I do think it reduced travel, if that is the goal. The Weltmiester one wasn't very evpensive either, but you have to melt the epoxy holding in the lever and re-glue it. That could be another opportunity for trouble. And like I said, you wanna have evrything else (bushings, etc) sound and the shift bar properly aligned. Think mine came from tweeks (sorry), but PP may have 'em too. I'm curious, Steve, why you have a negative opinion. Bad experience we could learn from?

[SteveStromberg]

The reason is that you lose the "control" of the selector as you are reducing the throw making it harder to precisely select a down shift. Most shifting problems can be solved by replacing the bushings.A properly adjusted shifter and new bushings make a world of differance. steve

[campbellcj]

IMHO the lever on the Weltmeister kit is way too short for most people of "normal" size when your seat and belts are properly adjusted. I tried one for a short time and had to lift my shoulder off the seat to reach 4th gear; that's bad.

I have tried various other non-stock shifters in 911 and 914 cars (all 901-based) and every time I went back to a FULLY REFURBED stock setup. The bushings, coupler, cone screws, and proper adjustment are crucial.

Possibly the only shifters that are truly superior to stock with no compromises are the high-dollar Fabcar and Wevo units for the 911 trannies. Those things are works of art and built like tanks. They do not make 914 units, partly because very few 914 guys would spend $500+ for a shifter

[Alfred1]

Have you tried the Rennshift? I haven't myself but every review that I've read has pretty much raved about it.

[boogerboy72]

i was looking at it, but isnt 300 bucks a little much for a shifter?

[JWest]

Originally posted by boogerboy72
i was looking at it, but isnt 300 bucks a little much for a shifter?

It's true that you can buy a VW bug shifter for less than $100, but complete performance shifters (not the ones that are just a stick) for Asian imports and American cars are in the $200 range and they have a huge market.

The Porsche market is MUCH smaller, and I really should be charging more than $350 (they would still sell) for the time and materials that are into each unit, but I want more people to be able to afford it.

Not everyone NEEDS a RennShift, just like many things with our cars. Some people need to make do with a stock 1.7 while others really want (and can afford) a 3.2 six.

To me, there is a large disparity between the exceptional steering/handling of the 914 and the quality of the transmission controls. That's why I came up with the RennShift. I was not missing shifts all the time, and the stock shifter will not cause your transmission to self destruct, but the RennShift makes shifting better, like a MOMO steering wheel feels better to your hands.

[John Rogers]

Get a Rennshift and you will NEVER be sorry. I have one in the race car and it allowed me to do 5th to 1st and 1st to 5th shifts several times a lap at a recent race in Tijuana with NO worries about missing a shift or grabing the wrong gear and spinning the engine to 10,000 RPM!

[Alfred1]

10,000 rpm?! What's a Type IV motor sound like at that speed?

[Toast]

Quote: 10,000 rpm?! What's a Type IV motor sound like at that speed?

WWWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA (high pitched and loud)!

I like the short throw kit because I have short arms. I dont have to move my upper body as much to reach the second and forth gears. Helps make the drive much more enjoyable.

[Scooter311]

Toast - "WWWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA (high pitched and loud)!"

.......Followed by "BUH-BAAANG - %&%# $#@^& *&%$#!!!!"

Is 10 grand even possible!

Oh yeah- "bushings, bushings, bushings" Also, I like my stock shifter - the shifting quality seems to vary from day to day, sometimes all positions are tight, and then sometimes it flops around. But it's never the same gear, and never the same day. No grinding though, so I leave well-enough alone.....

[Alfred1]

Originally posted by Toast
Quote: 10,000 rpm?! What's a Type IV motor sound like at that speed?

WWWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA (high pitched and loud)!

Lol! Sorta like a Formula 1 engine at idle?

[SGB]

There are two fairly significant shortcomings in our favorite car
1 pushrods
2 shift linkage

You've all driven hondas/toyota/etcas that shift snick, snick, snick. You gotta think about getting a 914 from one gear to the next. i'll bet a device like a Rennshifter removes that distraction. BUT- for the low money (maybe $30 incl shipping), replacing all that stuff is the way to go. I thought mine was in good shape, but new bushings kmade a HUGE difference. guess i'll just need to replace 'em every few years.
It's messy, and under the car work, but there isn't a lot of prep- loosening the shift rod is EZ, old bushings pop right out. New ones, well... they'le get in there, jus keep on tryin'.

[Stock93]

Also inspect your shift rod. When I replaced the bushings in mine the rod was still had to much slop in it. I took it back out and brazed up the rod to build the worn areas back up. Then I worked it back down to just snugly fit in the bushings.

John