To Short Shift Or Not To Short Shift?, That Is The Question… Options

[Lucky9146]

I believe the spacer looking thing under my shifter base plate is a Weltmeister Short Shift adapter/ spacer. Anyone have experience with a Weltmeister?



I Googled “short shift 914” and came up with a chat on Pelican Parts from several years ago. This led me to look on the PP site to see what they currently offer and apparently the one for later 914’s is no longer available. My belief, based on a similar one they do offer for early 914’s for $77.00, is that it was not a particularly expensive piece compared to the Rennshift ones offered for $560.00 and maybe you get what you pay for.



Looking for any info from anyone on the Weltmeister if you have/had one OR short shift kits in general. I doubt if I will be tracking this car.

Trying to decide if I should leave it or remove it. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif)
My build thread is here. http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?showtopic=261197

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[mepstein]

Remove it but don’t hesitate to spend the money on a rennshifter.

[Lucky9146]

Remove it but don’t hesitate to spend the money on a rennshifter.

Appreciate the quick response but can you elaborate on why I should remove it.
Thanks
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[Racer]

Keep it (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif) I didn't read your thread because I am lazy, but I saw the first pic. Flares, 3.0l engine etc.. even if you don't track, you may like the improved feel of shifting the car with the kit installed. Having gone from a tailshifter, to sider shifter, to side shifter with short shift kit, I prefer the last one listed best.

[Mblizzard]

There are better kits out ther for sure. But compared to stock even a mild improvement is worth keeping.

[Rand]

I've heard it said many times that short shifters are hard on our 901 trannys. Is that a myth?

[mepstein]

I've heard it said many times that short shifters are hard on our 901 trannys. Is that a myth?

No, it’s not a myth. If you overshift the syncros you wear them out faster.

[snakemain]

Purely anecdotal from my experience with 2 914s, but my current one with a Remmshifter and all the goodies to stabilize the shift rod equal 0 mis-shifts over the past couple years since it was built. Slightly longer throws than my other modern cars, but very accurate compared to my old stocker even with new bushings.

[Rand]

Rennshifter is spelled with Ns and I completely agree it's the best. But this isn't what Lucky should be dealing with right now.

[Cracker]

Mark: Just to clarify...what does installing a short-shifter have to do with over-shifting? I replaced my original shifter with a Weltmiester SS and really enjoyed the improvement. I am sure (but do not know firsthand) the Rennshifter would be even better but solely based upon what I have heard.

Tony

I've heard it said many times that short shifters are hard on our 901 trannys. Is that a myth?

No, it’s not a myth. If you overshift the syncros you wear them out faster.

[Montreal914]

When I bought my car it had the Weltmeister and I hated it.

I put everything back to stock (side shift) with new bushings everywhere and it shifts easily with little play and allows the synchros to do their job as you gently rest against the gear before engaging. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/driving.gif)

At some point I will upgrade to the Rennshift because the of way it's engineered. Far better than the cost effective Porsche original design. You get what you pay for.

[Dave_Darling]

At least some of the Weltmeister kits require you to cut the linkage at one point and epoxy it back together again. The quality of that joint can vary immensely.

Short shift kits tend to be harder on your transmission if you use them to shift gears faster. Which most people do. That means less time to get the RPMs of the gears to match, which means more work for the synchro brake bands to do. Which tends to wear them more.

They can also exaggerate existing shifting problems. If you go through the linkage and make sure everything is tight, and you shift nice and slowly, it should work just fine.

--DD

[Lucky9146]

I appreciate all the replies so far and hope more weigh in. I have some time to consider the options but I was looking at installing a 914-6 hand throttle and don't want to have to undo too much depending on decision. Rennshift is out of the picture for right now.

Just so I am clear I would need a stock gear shift lever if I were to go back to original? Right? I believe the concept is the longer through of a short shift is generated down in the tunnel thus the need for spacer under the shift base plate to lift it up to provide the room.

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[GeorgeRud]

All that it does is moves the gearshift pivot point so a movement at thegearshift knob creates a greater amount of movement in the linkage. The spacer is there to create room in the center tunnel for the enlongated pivoting arm. I’d agree that renewed bushings are the best improvement, but you can shiftthesejust fine if you use fitness and not just jam the transmission into gear.

[Dr Evil]

I love the simplicity, cost, and action of the short shifter kits. I have them on all of my cars ever since my first with the exception of the Rennshift which was gifted to me and is in my last remaining 914. Dave had it right, they exaggerate and exacerbate pre existing conditions. On a fresh build, I love the things. Also, I have seen no corroborating evidence over 300+ builds and even more autopsies to back up the claim that they cause premature wear on transmissions other than those with other obvious problems (contributing, not cause).

[mepstein]

Mark: Just to clarify...what does installing a short-shifter have to do with over-shifting? I replaced my original shifter with a Weltmiester SS and really enjoyed the improvement. I am sure (but do not know firsthand) the Rennshifter would be even better but solely based upon what I have heard.

Tony

I've heard it said many times that short shifters are hard on our 901 trannys. Is that a myth?

No, it’s not a myth. If you overshift the syncros you wear them out faster.

Because most people use them to try to shift faster. A 901 or 915 syncros will only go at its speed.

[IronHillRestorations]

My friend, mentor, and Porsche specialist says they are OK for a street car, but won't put one on a competition car

[Mark Henry]

I'm sorting through my shifter right now, even with a Rennshifter there's a lot of adjustments and you have to have good bushings, etc., to get it right.

[ChrisFoley]

At least some of the Weltmeister kits require you to cut the linkage at one point and epoxy it back together again. The quality of that joint can vary immensely.

You mean the factory epoxy joint?
The only reason to cut the lever is to make it even shorter.

[ChrisFoley]

I appreciate all the replies so far and hope more weigh in. I have some time to consider the options but I was looking at installing a 914-6 hand throttle and don't want to have to undo too much depending on decision.

I make a hand throttle kit that mounts differently from the 914-6 unit.
You wouldn't need to change your shift lever assembly.