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Posted by: Schnell944 Mar 16 2003, 07:54 PM

hey. Im putting in a new later sideshift tranny and was wondering if a short throw kit was available for these. figure i may as well put this on while things are apart. if they are offered, what would you guys reccomend in your experiences. thnx.

Ryan Z

Posted by: Aaron Cox Mar 16 2003, 08:05 PM

yes, they are available.....
have heard: "They offer less resolution in gear selection than a stock one, like using a throttle pedal with 1 inch of travel...."i think that was DD who said that!

I know weltmeister makes one......

lets see what the rest of the group has to say

Posted by: Dave Cawdrey Mar 16 2003, 08:10 PM

Just got me one, 70 bucks on the bay

Posted by: Schnell944 Mar 16 2003, 08:36 PM

less resolution in gear selection? that doesnt sound too beneficial

Posted by: J P Stein Mar 17 2003, 12:32 AM

Dear Sir or Madam:

Please excuse this form letter.

With properly rebushed/adjusted linkage and with the trans guts in good shape, the short shifter is a good thing....far superior to the stock set up...in all respects.

With none of the above, it makes a bad situation gawd awful. :toilet:

So, if your shift forks are bent, dog teeth/sliders toast, linkage bushings shot.....don't put one in. It won't cure those problems.

Posted by: Dave Cawdrey Mar 17 2003, 04:02 AM

Tranny is out of the car, and motor is in milk crates (need__cw__crank)

I'll keep y'all posted

Posted by: Dave_Darling Mar 17 2003, 08:47 AM

I dunno about "better in all respects"...

The thing, to me, is: The 914 transmission really hates to be shifted quickly. It'll do it, but it doesn't like to and will usually reward that behavior by wearing out much faster. So it is usually a good idea to take your time with gear shifts. Now, what is the point of using a short-shift kit? To change gears quicker. Seems counterproductive, to me.

Now, if you merely wanted shorter throws and still were willing to move the gearshift lever slowly...

And the SS kit will cause problems when the bushings and all of those are in bad shape. From the sound of it, things will be even worse than with the stock shifter and bad bushings.

Most of your favorite aftermarket parts places sell the Weltmeister short shift kit.

--DD

Posted by: J P Stein Mar 17 2003, 01:57 PM

Who cares what it "likes" or "hates"? I'm more interested in what it will do......same with the motor, tires, brakes....yada. I realize that not all of us are into abusing our cars on a regular basis, but I built mine for that.

Shifting gears is something of an art form, practiced with both feet and one hand. I did my apprenticeship in drag cars back in the 60's and all my cars since have been 4 or 5 speeds....I practice daily. Each trans has it limits. One learns them and acts accordingly. I haven't blown a trans since my T-10 days. The best shifting trans I ever used was a T-10 "crash box". Powershifted up smooth as glass, but don't even think of trying a down shift.



With the SS, my 901 will shift more quickly, mine is more positive across the gate. I can down shift into first at any speed I've tried...no graunches,any gear, up or down.

I do baby it when the trans is cold, however. That is the only time it is reluctant to drop into a gear. One is more likey to force it with the higher leverage of the stock shifter, me thinks. A certain amount of mechanical sympathy will get you along ways. Forcing gears is the best way to booger up any trans. Shifting quickly doesn't hurt a thing....as long as you make it.

Posted by: Schnell944 Mar 17 2003, 03:26 PM

well, Im getting a "new" tranny and bushings, so i think ill try it

Posted by: Aaron Cox Mar 17 2003, 05:30 PM

sounds like a plan then! keep us posted! "oh, crap was that first or third- reverse! where'd that come from"

Posted by: Dave_Darling Mar 18 2003, 04:11 PM

I care. Mostly because I don't want to have to see the inside of another gearbox for a good long time... Kinda sucks when the damn thing won't stay in some gears when you get on the throttle!

Reminds me of a conversation I had with Ken Mitchell (multiple-time national SCCA autoX champion). He had a 914 that he autoXed for a good long while. He used to "semi-speed-shift" it--that is, he'd pop it out of gear without bothering with the clutch, then only push the clutch down about halfway to get into the next gear. He claimed it saved him a tenth or two of time spent off the throttle. "It's the only way to do it!"

He did admit that when he sold the car, about two years later, it would only stay in 2nd gear if he held the gear shift there.

Sure, Ken.... Sure, JP.... But you'll pardon me if I laugh when you break the tranny and start bitching that the 901 just can't cope with a 2.7 motor...

--DD

Posted by: J P Stein Mar 19 2003, 03:31 AM

Dave, I'm positive your transmission will live longer than mine. Mine will have had more fun, while yours will continue to be comatose from boredom

Laugh if you will when (not if) mine breaks, but I will fix *my* 914. :finger2:

Posted by: KenH Mar 19 2003, 10:18 AM

This keeps you out of 1st & Reverse.

Ken

Hope picture comes thru.

OK HOW DO I ADD A PICTURE????

Posted by: SirAndy Mar 19 2003, 10:40 AM

you need to have at least 10 posts before you can attach pictures ...
soooo, just post some meaningless stuff, like in http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?act=ST&f=2&t=762&st=0

Posted by: KenH Mar 19 2003, 11:00 AM

Thanks for the picture info.

It is a picture of a POSITIVE lockout for 1st & rev.

Thought the group would be interseted, I but I do not have time time send a bunch of meaningless replies.

Ken