997 Shifter Install

[dmenn]

Hi all - Just wanted to follow up again on this thread. I went ahead and purchased a stock 997 shifter from the contact Blinkwatt provided me (thank you Robert!).

The part # is 997-424-010-00 as I mentioned in an earlier post. Switching out the stock 986 shifter with this stock 997 shifter was very straight forward and pretty easy to do. I did some measuring before and after so we have some hard facts to work with.

On my 2000S 986 shifter the distance between 1st and 2nd gears was 6 1/8 inches. After the 997 shifter was installed, the distance between 1st and 2nd was reduced to 5 1/4 inches. That is approximately 14%. Not bad!

The shifter is smooth and feels great. I've never tried a B&M before, so I can't comment on how that feels or how short that is, but use my data as a reference point when comparing the percentage the shift throw is reduced. If you're at all thinking about going the short shift route and are hesitant about messing with your shifter mechanism, I recommend this!

Any questions - let me know!

[90red]

Blinkwatt-
Sent you a PM regarding the contact for the shifter...

[blinkwatt]

Originally Posted by 90red

Blinkwatt-
Sent you a PM regarding the contact for the shifter...

Sorry but the guy is out of stock.

[John V]

I did this mod (standard 997 shifter) a while back to a buddy's car. All I can say is that this blows the B+M out of the water on a 6speed car. It's much more "precise" than the stock 986 shifter, and it's not so unbearably notchy like the B+M. The throws are indeed slightly shorter but the shift action is the big improvement. Very silky.

Call up Sunset Imports and order yourself one. It's $155. Well worth it and comes with everything you need.

[Keith Newby]

I have to chime in at this point. I bought one of the 997 shifters from Blinkwatt's source and changed out the shifter on my 2000 6-speed. To tell you the truth I wasn't expecting much of a change but as JohnV stated the effort is much more precise and has a decided gated effect. No more "did I just shift into third or fifth". Each generation of cars brings with it a host of changes, and this was a good one to bring to my 986.

[CJ_Boxster]

Hey guys, i have a question regarding the 997 shifter assembly... Assuming you are getting the entire shifter assembly, is there less "left to right" slop in the 997 assembly?

If so, Would installing a short shift kit in the 997 assembly work/feel better than a short shift kit in a 986 assembly?

[Keith Newby]

Yes, we're talking about replacing the entire assembly not just the internal pieces as you would do with a short shift kit. I didn't compare the 986 assembly against the 997 when performing the installation so I don't know how the set ups differ. As mentioned above, the shift fore and aft is shorter by a little over three quarters of an inch if my math is correct. I believe side to side travel is the same although it feels more slotted / gated. My installation was a standard issue 997 shifter as there were no 997 short shift assemblies available from the source. I have no experience with any short shift kit, aftermarket or OEM. I would think that an aftermarket installation would perform the same regardless if it were put in either a 986 or 997 "carrier".