early shifter conversion help needed

[jimbeaux911]

Ok, so thanks in advance for any and all advice! you guys are awesome!

I have a 71 914 I am restoring and installing a sideshift tranny.

I upgraded the firewall bushing which is AWESOME! now i am replacing all of the plastic bushings along the entire shifter. trying hard to get solid shifting her.

Here is the question:

Pelican diagrams indicated there is a bushing just behind the shifter in the tunnel. I dont have one, nor is there the metal braket to insert the bushing into. I am thinking it must have been a design improvement for later years, perhaps along with the sideshifter. so is this braket available? can it be added to a 71? the diagrams imply it would attach to the rear end of the shifer base? if possible I want to add one, so what do you think?

and where to get one? it is part # 14 in the Pelican diagram!

thanks!
Jim

[beatnavy]

Again, I think you're looking at tail-shift parts when you need to look at '73 and beyond side-shift. To do the conversion you essentially need to switch EVERYTHING from the gear shifter on back. So I'm pretty sure you don't need part 14 anymore.

I'd also recommend going ahead and getting Chris' other product for this - the precision shift adjuster for side shift: Tangerine Racing Transmission/Rear Axle Products.

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

Beatnavy, I believe he is keeping the tail-shifter. If not, then you are quite right.

I believe that all of the tail-shifters should have that bracket and bushing. I haven't really dealt with them much, though, so I am not completely sure. But I wouldn't be surprised to hear that a missing bracket is the source of some slop.

I think the bracket does bolt to the bottom of the shift lever--or rather, it goes under the top of the tunnel and the rear bolts that hold the lever on hold it as well. But I'm not completely certain on that.

--DD

[beatnavy]

What did I miss? I thought he was installing a side-shifter.

[jimbeaux911]

I am CONVERTING a 71 rear shifter to a side shifter.

when I search for shift bushings on pelicans catalog, the tunnel support bracket only shows up for 73-75 914s. so I was thinking it might help to ADD this bracket as part of the conversion, since the later models seem to have it, and my 71 does not. seems like side shifters have it and tail shifters do not? but that is me interpreting from the pelican catalog.

If the side shifter doesnt need it, Im fine with that, but if it would help, I am all for adding it. jsut trying to get it the best possible.

I am trying to stick with mostly original parts Navy or I would add the Tangerine shifter. Maybe after I sell this one I can modify the next one and actually keep it!

[John Rogers]

Here is the Pelican article on the conversion you are working on: Pelican Technical Article: 914 Shifting Improvements

The original side shifts do NOT have a bracket in the tunnel area. If you want to make the shifting much better you can do the following: replace the firewall bushing with Jim Patrick's heavy duty bolt in available from Patrick Motorsports in Phoenix, then replace the coupler with one of the sealed aircraft U-joints that race shops have been converting for Porsches for years and finally replace the rear bushing with either a bronze or heavy duty nylon one.

No longer available I hear are the J West shifters which are worth their weight in gold but there might be one available somewhere. Jim also made a complete bolt in shifter assembly but I just used his shifter and with the other mods I mentioned above I could shift into 1st at 25 MPH during races and never miss a shift!

[jimbeaux911]

Thanks John. I have read this article several times.

I have already replaced the firewall bushing with the one from TANGERINE racing, and it is AWESOME!

I am interested in the two parts you mention, the aircraft coupler and the rear bronze bushing.

I have not seen a rear bronze bushing, nor the aircraft coupler. Can you point me in the right direction?

Thanks!
JIm

[jimbeaux911]

so here are the pics of the old plastic firewall bushing replaced with the new heavy duty one! oh yeah ! just a little bit of an improvement.

[John Rogers]

The flex joint I got many years ago and the guy's name started with a "Z" is all I can remember? Here is what one looks like: Fortin Sealed U-Joint 1/2" Dia. - Kartek Off-Road and is made by Fortin who also makes sequential transmissions that will pop right into a 914.......for lots of $$$$$$. Search for Fortin parts and that will get you going.

[jimbeaux911]

thanks John. for now im gonna stick with mostly stock and see how it goes. but next time, for my keeper, that looks great!

Jim

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

I guess I missed that this was a side-shift conversion. In that case, you do not want the bracket and bushing in the tunnel. The rod is supposed to move side to side a little bit as it rotates. Restricting that will put the linkage in a (slight) bind.

If you go side-shifter, use all side-shifter parts. The bracket in the tunnel is tail-shifter only.

--DD

[porschetub]

Originally Posted by jimbeaux911

so here are the pics of the old plastic firewall bushing replaced with the new heavy duty one! oh yeah ! just a little bit of an improvement.

great choice on the firewall bush,I fitted a stock bush and was unhappy with the slop,the TR bush works as the shift shaft moves and needs no slop to work like the original.....clever piece.