Short Shift kit?

[JmuRiz]

I just got a '73 and I was wondering if a short shift kit is a good/bad idea. I seem to remember seeing something on this a while ago. Any input or experiences w/ such kits would be great, thanks.

[HMeeder]

I have driven a '71 with the short shift kit and it was tricky for a while. Even after a bit it was still quite easy to blow the 1-2 shift. (I'm assuming you are talking tail-shifter here) My '72 has no kit and is very sloppy. Sometimes feels like I'm churning butter when I get in the twisties. My gut feeling is that no short shift kit will cure what is the real problem with these linkages.

If you look on the Tech Articles section of this site, you will find an article about one guy's experience in trying to overcome the slop. From what I hear and have seen with the examples I have driven, a shift kit seems to accentuate the problem, until the worn bits are beefed up to their former state.

Good Luck

Herb

[oredith]

the answer.. depends..

the short shifter really does what it says.. reduces the throw by quite a bit, and will take a day or two to get used to, but once you do get used to it, any other 914 will seem to have an amazingly long throw..

the downside, if your shifting (the physical shift, not your shifting *skill*) isn't so good, the short shifter will amplify that, making it HORRIBLE to drive.. so .. choose accordingly..

for my buck, it was money well spent.

Jeff

[Keith V]

I installed the Weltmiester kit in my '73 several years ago and have been very happy with it. The shorter lever takes slightly more effort, but the trade off of NEVER nicking reverse when going to second,and the shorter throw is well worth it.

[JmuRiz]

Thanks for the info...are the welt lock-out springs worth it too (the ones that make it tougher to get into first and reverse, therefore not nicking those gears) Thanks

[John Rogers]

The springs are most definately worth the cost and effort to install. Just be careful with the drill bit as it is super hard and brittle. As for a short shift kit, I would recommend against it as a 901 transmission is not meant to shift fast, but to shift smoothly and firmly. I'd also recommend all bushings and set screws be replaced yearly. If you auto-x regularly, check the set screws for tightness before each session. Good luck.

[djs]

I used the short shift kit in my '75 for about a year or so. It definitely shortens the throw, but the trade off is decreased leverage, which causes more resistance to shifting the gears. And, I found that for me, because of my particular build, I had to lean forward slightly to shift into 2nd and 4th because the shift lever was farther away. This, and the slightly increased shifting effort required, caused me to put the stock shifter back in for comparison.

I have to say that, after some time using both, I prefer the stock shifter. This is a purely subjective opinion, of course, and I don't do the type of driving where I need to shift quickly. IMO, the stock shifter is fine on the later side-shifter trans if all bushings and linkages are tight and in good shape. For the earlier tail shifters, the short-shift kit may be a real improvement. Don't know, haven't ever driven one of those.

Dan

[campbellcj]

I just removed the short shifter from my 911 (with 901 trans) and returned it to stock, which I thought would be a temporary thing, but I must say I like the lighter touch and decreased "notchiness". As John R. says the 901 (and 915 too) are not mean to be shifted fast, but rather deliberately and carefully -- at least if you want them to last more than a couple thousand miles.

FWIW I had a short shift on my (former) E36 M3 as well, and it was IMHO a more suitable upgrade on that type of car than an early Porsche. That is a "snick-snick" type of shift mechanism with an ~8" shift lever and a throw of only a few inches. The kit used factory parts too, so quality was great.

Just my .02,
Chris C.