Short shift kit, opinions wanted Options

[thomasotten]

Any thoughts on "short shift kits" for the 914? Mine has always had one, it looks like one of the cheaper ones, it sits on nuts to elevate the shifter (unlike the welmeister which has a plate). It is not presenting a problem, but Now I am trying to fit a center console in. Are these just gimmicks? It does shorten the throw but was any 914 variation ever fitted with one?

[PeeGreen 914]

Most of the "kits" I have seen are hard on the transmission. The rennshift is the best alternative I have used and it is very nice.

[messix]

Most of the "kits" I have seen are hard on the transmission. The rennshift is the best alternative I have used and it is very nice.

by changing the ratio of the shift lever knob to the linkage end does not make any thing "harder " on the tranny.
that is what a "short shifter" does, it just changes the leaver action ratio to the linkage. less throw of the knob to get the same movement to the shift linkage.

[Drums66]

In my opinion they are just a Fad(joy stick) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/popcorn[1].gif)

[poorsche914]

Cut a few inches off the top of the lever and you get shortened throws. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/driving.gif)

[Mountain914]

Had one for a couple of years, got rid of it. Hard on the linkage (not to argue with messix, but I feel if you are changing the fulcrum point you are getting more strength when you manhandle the shifter - I had to adjust my linkage more often to keep things smooth where the non-short shifter I haven't had to touch since I put it back in) . I also "felt" the short-shifter was harder to shift ( not that I am any good shifting a 914 anyway (IMG:style_emoticons/default/poke.gif) ).
You need to do what feels right for you, though. If you have a good (short) shifter now, don't mess with it. If you can swap things in and out, do so (easy to do, but hard to adjust correctly).
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif) I don't see where the console would be affected by the type of shifter - but I never had a console and a shorty at the same time.
If you want to keep it similar, do what poorsche914 says, shorten off the top and you don't change the pivot point but you do shorten the throw. That assumes that only a "standard" shifter fits in the console.
Pics might help with a console fitment for those more in-the-know. Is it a factory console ?

[ahdoman]

I just installed the "level 1" kit from JWest (and it's even on sale) and I love it. I let a couple of people drive my car today at the G&R and one of them commented that it was the best shifting 914 they ever drove. You need to do a little fabricating and understand the shift geometry but if you do it right the improvment is remarkable. Oh, and I'm still using my stock shifter. It's the best $200 I've spent on the car.

[sean_v8_914]

the short shift only accentuates a poor setup elsewhere. if something feels wrong with the short shifter in place it is because it is wrong elsewhere and the shorter throw is less tolerant of a sloppy setup or wrong setup. it is just telling you that you should have already fixed it BEFORE you put a short shift in there.

...its like 914 brakes: if they are not right with the 17mm MC a 19 will make it worse. fix the problem


I really like short shifter kits in a 914

[914Sixer]

Thomas,
I have a short shift set ready to go. It is one that I had to change out the ball unit, no spacer needed. Come on over and you can put it in your car and give it a try.

[Mountain914]

Maybe I should add the only short shifter I have seen had a plate, so I am guessing yours sticks "up" hence interferes with the console ? Then I guess it's a matter of which you want more, but you are considering getting a new shifter rather than not running a console ?

[Tom]

Like Jon, I have the renn shift from J West. It alone will not make your 914 shift well. I went thru all of the bushing replacement and found standard off the shelf bushings wanting ( they were stock bushings). Problem was, they fit too loose on the shift rod. Ended up making my own bushings. My 914 now shifts better than any previous one I had driven. That said. I don't know how it would fit with a console. There is a thread on my install if you want to search.
Tom

[nsr-jamie]

What year is your car? Do you have a tail shifter or side shifter?

I have a 72 originally tail shifter converted to the later style side shifter with new bushings and a weltmeister shift kit and I have to say that was a huge improvement and makes the car a lot of fun and I can shift gears somewhat quick but not nothing like a new modern sports car....someday when I have the extra cash I want to rebuild the whole gearbox and add the Jwest full kit and linkage. I just ordered some solid transmission mounts that might help. Wish me luck!! Cheers!! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)

[turboman808]

Went to great lengths to get mine working right. new rods, wevo shifter, patrick motor sports firewall bushing. Tangerine racing installed the 916 kit last week. The shifting is very tight now. Feels about as good as your gonna get a 35 year old transmission.

[underthetire]

What year is your car? Do you have a tail shifter or side shifter?

I have a 72 originally tail shifter converted to the later style side shifter with new bushings and a weltmeister shift kit and I have to say that was a huge improvement and makes the car a lot of fun and I can shift gears somewhat quick but not nothing like a new modern sports car....someday when I have the extra cash I want to rebuild the whole gearbox and add the Jwest full kit and linkage. I just ordered some solid transmission mounts that might help. Wish me luck!! Cheers!! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)

Trans mounts helped mine a bunch, went with sport mounts. I do feel a little more (IMG:style_emoticons/default/w00t1.gif) though. I agree with the stock bushing replacements, was better but still kinda sloppy. Anyone find anything better to use other than the Jwest set-up? I'm not gonna spring for one of those after my tax bill.

[dr914@autoatlanta.com]

Any thoughts on "short shift kits" for the 914? Mine has always had one, it looks like one of the cheaper ones, it sits on nuts to elevate the shifter (unlike the welmeister which has a plate). It is not presenting a problem, but Now I am trying to fit a center console in. Are these just gimmicks? It does shorten the throw but was any 914 variation ever fitted with one?

We call them short "sh*t kits as those who install them (except for the racers) are usually trying to make up for other problems in the shift linkage.

[PeeGreen 914]

Most of the "kits" I have seen are hard on the transmission. The rennshift is the best alternative I have used and it is very nice.

by changing the ratio of the shift lever knob to the linkage end does not make any thing "harder " on the tranny.
that is what a "short shifter" does, it just changes the leaver action ratio to the linkage. less throw of the knob to get the same movement to the shift linkage.

Not true. If you are only changing the amount of throw sure. However, in a 914, you have the long linkage with bushings and other factors to worry about. The Weltmeister has a plate that lifts up the base of the shift console making the linkage do things a touch different than it is suppose to. It can cause gears to grind.

Now, if you do it correctly the short shift can be nice. The Rennshift or Wevo set ups with all new bushings and the proper allignment makes it as smooth as you will get.

You can even go further and do the JWest linkage which is about the best I have seen for a 914 901 gear box.

[messix]

Most of the "kits" I have seen are hard on the transmission. The rennshift is the best alternative I have used and it is very nice.

by changing the ratio of the shift lever knob to the linkage end does not make any thing "harder " on the tranny.
that is what a "short shifter" does, it just changes the leaver action ratio to the linkage. less throw of the knob to get the same movement to the shift linkage.

Not true. If you are only changing the amount of throw sure. However, in a 914, you have the long linkage with bushings and other factors to worry about. The Weltmeister has a plate that lifts up the base of the shift console making the linkage do things a touch different than it is suppose to. It can cause gears to grind.

Now, if you do it correctly the short shift can be nice. The Rennshift or Wevo set ups with all new bushings and the proper allignment makes it as smooth as you will get.

You can even go further and do the JWest linkage which is about the best I have seen for a 914 901 gear box.

you mean the plate that is necessary because the pivot ball to linkage coupler is now longer and would hit the bottom in side the tunnel?
well that is what makes it a short shifter. either that or cut the shift leaver down at the knob.

it is just fulcrum location that changes. if you are implyinh that the longer section creates too much angle from the shifter to the first bushing? that would be possible with worn out bushings.
and not many of us have the $500. blow on shifters.

[Katmanken]

Worked with a guy that was a Porsche nut and he drove a 96 turbo.

He jumped all over me one day when we were driving to lunch. It seems I was speed shifting which he explained doesn't give the synchros time to speed up. That forcing the issue causes excess tranny part wear. He said the proper way was to shift out of gear, wait for the synchros to speed up, and and then shift into gear. It's not as smooth as speed shifting, but gives more life to what you have.

He also said a number of his Porsche driving friends speed shifted and all had tranny problems.

So, if he is right, a speed shifter is just another way to trash your tranny....

After going to Evil's tranny clinic, I found the first gear dog teeth trashed in both of my trannys from brute force shifting.....

Shift away, there are only so many trannys and tranny parts....

[Eric_Shea]

Some of this stuff isn't making sense:

It is one that I had to change out the ball unit, no spacer needed.

If you change the ball you are changing the depth of the ball in the tunnel. If you do that, you need the spacer to bring it back up to the stock parallel geometry. Otherwise it rubs the bottom of the tunnel and binds in the rear bushing... no? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif)

Likewise:

The Weltmeister has a plate that lifts up the base of the shift console making the linkage do things a touch different than it is suppose to.

The plate is the depth of the new ball so, the plate does not make the linkage do anything different than it is suppose to. It makes it go back to doing what it is suppose to. Add the ball = Linkage now angles down. Add the plate = Linkage is back to where it's suppose to be. No? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif)

Regarding:

I don't see where the console would be affected by the type of shifter - but I never had a console and a shorty at the same time.

The factory center console is fitted right along the left side of the shifter base. The Weltmeister spacer has a buldge along that side that would have to be machined (ground) off in order for it to work with a factory console.

After going to Evil's tranny clinic, I found the first gear dog teeth trashed in both of my trannys from brute force shifting.....

I think kwales hit's the nail on the head except, these aren't "speed shifters" they just shorten the throw. These came to market with years of people complaining about the long vague shift motion associated with these shift consoles. If anything these short shifters reduce the leverage exerted on the tranny and linkage... they just engourage bad behavior.

The real issue is the nut holding the steering wheel, people do not shift a 901/911/915 the way they were intended as he mentions. It's common and could be one of the most important pieces of information in this thread or on this site regarding saving your tranny. As new drivers are introduced to these old cars, this seems to be a lost art. Speed shifting an early syncromesh tranny involves double clutching which speeds up the syncros faster than the mechanism itself does. When installing a short shift kit it simply tends to accentuate the fact that people do not shift them properly. Most will get in their car after the mod and head down the street to see how fast they can hit the next gear. Bad.

Do what he mentions (I'll modify this a tad):

Shift out of gear, press the lever to the gate of the next gear (engaging the syncros), wait for the synchros to speed up, and and then shift into gear.

...and your tranny will probably outlive you (short shift kit or not).

[rnellums]

I know the throws on the rennshift are shorter but is the shaft shorter too? I'm 6'5" and am tired of shifting under my knee.