short shift in a 914

Want to be · 04-14-2006, 08:44 PM

Thoughts?

worse
better
waste of money?

please advise. thanks jpc

Jbagel2 · 11:50 PM

i have heard that you end hurting your linkage in the long run because of the extra torque one exibits on a short shifter, do to how weak the stock linkage is, if you were going to do it i would try to beef up the linkage a little mabey at least fully weld the spot welded areas and replace all your bushing before you do. but lots of people do it. some like it, some don't, personaly i wouldn't

Twystd1 · 04-15-2006, 12:53 AM

The JWest short shfter is the absolute bomb.

[URL=http://www.jwesteng.com/rennshift/rennshift.htm]

It works as advertised and is exceptionaly well made.

I installed it in about 1 hour.

And the owner James is just a great guy. He sent me the shifter twice.. ON HIS DIME just to help me out of a bad time frame. (I screwed up address)

Stand up fellow. Stand up product.

You can also buy his shifter from pelican. (i think)

And as for wearing out the linkage because of greater torque on the linkage.

Uhhh... I don't think so.. Based on my conversations with MANY 914 guys from the club that have this shifter. And in my own experiance. It don't happen.

Either way. New bushings will fix that.

Thats my .02 worth.

Regards,
Twystd1

Want to be · 04-15-2006, 08:50 AM

Thanks... any info is good...

Dave at Pelican Parts · Dave at Pelican Parts's Garage

Why do you want a short shifter? Usually, the answer is to speed up your shifting. The 901-based transmission in our cars does not like to be shifted quickly, and you can wind up hearing those lovely "graunch" sounds if you do that often.

If you simply don't want to have to move the lever as far, and are happy with taking your time doing it, a short-shift is a good thing.

The best part of James' Rennshift, though, is that it is very precise and has pretty much zero slop in it. It also has springs that positively push the lever into the 2/3 gate, and is very adjustable. It evidently has less slop in it than even an as-new stock gearshift lever setup! So once you get the linkage tightened up and a Rennshift installed, the only shifter slop you will experience is that which is inside the transmission itself!

And yes, we do carry it.
http://www.pelicanparts.com/catalog/shopcart/9144/POR_9144_Tshift_pg2.htm#item17

--DD

Want to be · 10:57 AM

James kit looks very nice, but pric'ey for my 914. My mechanic has developed his own style positive shift (as a 964) for 901 and 915 on 911's. I actually tried it for the first time on Friday. "driving it" It shifted like a 964, Wow wee what a difference. I doubt he will ever consider making one for a 914.

My older 901 trans, 912 had a short shift kit in it. It helped the sloppy trans considerably, but it did grind 2nd gear if i shifted to quickly.

Oh my other problem was 1st gear is under neath my knee!

While testing another 914 2.0 i did not realize i was taking of in 2nds.

Hmmmmmmm...don't know what to do.

jpc

Jbagel2 · 04-15-2006, 11:05 AM

check all your bushings as they might be worn. reach under your car and wiggle your linkage, there should be very little movement. if there is a lot of movement that could be your slopy shift problem right there. takes about an hour to change out the shift linkage bushings, i would do that before the kit so see if it helps.

zumwoll · 04-15-2006, 03:58 PM

WHen I first got my 914 I was used to the two previous 911s I had wiht the Welmeister SS kits, so I thought the shift was long and sloppy by comparisom.
After a few weeks of driving I found that the 2-3 shift actually looks for itself. Seems like all you have to do is, for the 2-3 shift, push the lever straight ahead and it finds the next gear all on its own. DOwnshift is a little trickier but certainly acceptable. Short shifts can be hard on gear boxes.

SandyI · 04-15-2006, 10:18 PM

When I bought my 914/3.2, I immediately had the short shift kit removed. The kit shortened the throws but the additional friction actually made for longer shift times.

Want to be · 04-16-2006, 07:58 AM

1st gear is tough for me. I am 6'4'' tall... I was hoping to reduce the shift throws because of this. I'll never have the power your 3.2 has. I am sure its a FAST car!

Have you had the chassis stiffen'd. That's a lot of motor!

jpc

SandyI · 04-16-2006, 06:36 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Want to be
1st gear is tough for me. I am 6'4'' tall... I was hoping to reduce the shift throws because of this. I'll never have the power your 3.2 has. I am sure its a FAST car!

Have you had the chassis stiffen'd. That's a lot of motor!

Yep. Chassis stiffened. Roll bar. Race seat. 5-point harness. GT flares. 944 brakes up front. Currently running 16" Wheels with 205/245's but 17" Fikses with 235/255 Toyo RA1's to arrive next week! And a stock 901 tranny that shifts like a champ thanks to Otto. And it moves. Man. The look on the driver's face of the '84 911 Turbo who couldn't shake me during my last track outing at Streets of Willow -- priceless!

I really don't think any short shift kit will make shifting into 1st any easier with your height. I found my short shift kit 1st gear position not that much different than the stock position. But if your bushings and linkage are adjusted properly, you should have no trouble shifting to get the max from your engine. To me, that's work best left to the pro's.

Tobra · Tobra's Garage

Have you checked your bushings? shift coupler bushings in particular

drgchapman · 04-19-2006, 10:37 AM

I had a Weltmeister short shifter in a '73 2.0 liter. Hard to reach 4th gear as the shifter is so short, even second gear was a reach. I'm 6 ft tall.

Kevin Powers · 04-21-2006, 11:36 AM

remember, it's a short shift , not a quick shift lever. i took mine out and replaced it with a cleaned up stock one (the under side of the base is usually a mess). the crap builds up on the springs, do the 2 bushings that cradle the pivot ball on the lever, and the detent plate can be worn and it's replaceable. shifting effort is much lighter and less balky with the stocker. i have shoulder problems and the short shift aggrevated them.

k

Tidybuoy · 04-21-2006, 04:19 PM

My car came with a Weltmeister short shift. The shifting was always difficult.

I eventually changed out all the bushings and things improved but I still had ocasional grinding. I replaced the shifter with stock but I replaced the springs with dual havy duty springs.......now I'm happy. The car shifts smoothly everytime and although the throw is a bit long, I can shift just as quick as I need to.

Vern

Want to be · 04-22-2006, 05:08 AM

good info.. thanks

SnowMon77 · 04-23-2006, 11:34 AM

6'4" TALL!!!! woweeee... hard to drive with the convertible on I would imagine.... one of my good friends "test drove" my p914, and he looked like a sardine squished in the can with the top on.

I hear the new VW Beatle has lots of head room *laughing*, just kiddin bout the Beatle comment.... but it has to be a squeez getting in and out.. I am 6'1" and it is hard for me to not knock out a fuse or 4 at times.

I prefer stock though.... the throw may be long.. but as one already said... the gearing up tends to find itself.. except for 4th down to 3rd gear at times... mostly cuz I get sloppy or short myself.

My theory on the 914 is it is about as close to perfection as you are going to get... except the braking.... because it is so light... but a well balanced car, great suspension, tough peppy motor, comfort, luggage space. I have driven alot of porsches... 911, 912, 928, 944 etc etc.. new and old... none that I have driven are as fun to drive as the 914...

Anyway.... just thought I would add that

ZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzooooooooooooooooooooooooooommmmmm

addwestern · 10:23 AM

My latest car came with a short shifter and a complete tranny rebuild, I'm very happy with the way it drives.

That being said- a few observations. No one is going to call me Yao- I'm 5'9" on a good day.

It shifts very nicely- probably due to all of the new bushings, but if you're someone who likes to down shift- 1st definitely locks in to place. I would recommend that all of your bushings be replaced if you were going to go that route- I've got no slop whatsover.

This car was a friend of mine's and it did shift like crap before the rebuild. You may be very happy with just bushings and a linkage adjust.

My two cents- don't change too many deltas at once.

Current project: 72 914 1.7
swapped for my 924S- wanted a real Porsche again!

http://www.ecklerfamily.com/porsche/index.html

Last car 73 914 1.7(I was stupid to sell it)

http://www.ecklerfamily.com/galleri...sche/index.html

Want to be · 04-28-2006, 02:32 PM

Good info... and the VW bettle...never would be caught dead in that car! Unless the small short glass was full high oct. boost... HA!

My 914 i was going to purchase fell to the waste side. The shipping fees almost out weighted the actual car price. I need to find a nice local car in Indiana..

Now i once drove my wifes mazda mitia loooooooong time ago and boy did i look FUNNYYYYYY.

cheers

jpc

Dave at Pelican Parts · Dave at Pelican Parts's Garage

Indy? Be prepared to pay. It might cost more to get a solid low-rust "local" car than to have one shipped in from the west-coast or desert-southwest.

Try Brad Mayeur in East Peoria IL. He should be in the phone book; he should have a line on some "drivers". (I put that in quote because a lot of the Midwest "drivers" would be "parts cars" out here in CA.)

--DD