Ball bearing short shifter !
 

Okay, I need to update that post!

Let's talk about shifters!

What is a short shifter?
A short shifter replaces part of/completely your shifter mechanism:
https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/06...g?v=1440594868

In order to shorten the distance between gears or "throw", and usually reduce the play for a more precise engagement.
You can see a before and after on the suncoast website: Suncoast Porsche Parts & Accessories Porsche Short Shift Kit

It is not just a shortened lever, and the actual correct name is a Short Throw Shifter.
Externally, when everything is back together, it looks just like before (unless you go cray like me and peel you shift boot and cut your shift knob...


What do I do with those shifters?

First, I don't completely make them from scratch, I use the regular Short shifters that you can buy on eBay. Why ? Because the shifting mechanism isn't subjected to high loads, and the material they use in 10 time stronger than what's needed (what proof ? look at how the cables are attached ;) ). And also, having to completely make them would cost three times the price... not the goal here!

What makes them different then?
When I receive the base shifters, I take them completely apart, check them, grease them with proper high pressure grease. Then I put them back together correctly (they come backward...), while making sure that they function freely and smoothly.

Then, I have the bushing holders (or cup, as I call them) and side cylinders machined to accept 4 ball bearings.
Why 4? Simply because it is the best compromise between machining cost/ball bearing cost/strength.

Do the ball bearings really make a difference?
Yes, I'll talk about it again after, but the ball bearing do make a real difference in feel.
Hard bushings always have some play, or end up with some play once they start to wear. The ball bearings won't wear nearly as fast, and if they do, just replace them with new ones for less than 5$!
On the other hand, good luck finding new bushings! You most likely will need a whole new shifter!

How do they compare?
I had the opportunity to try some other big brand shifters on 996, 986 and a 987.
While they are beautiful part, and definitely worth their price as far as quality goes, the feeling, is still different.
None of them had the same "rifle bolt action" when engaging a gear, and that feeling comes from the ball bearing due to their metal to metal contacts.

What about reliability?
So far, I only had one guy that had a really non-human problem with one of the shifters. I since changed the grease I use to a thicker, stickier one.
I recommend to check them every once in a while, to ensure that everything is still doing it's job properly.

What do they fit on?
Any manual transmission on 9x6 and 9x7 Porsche models.

How hard is it to install?
Pelicanpart has a pretty good write-up on how to install one, and there are a lot more available online!
It is not really hard to install, though there are some tricks, and if you don't feel comfortable, get it installed by someone who already did one, or a shop!
Or me if you want to drive by.

Why do I do this?
It's fun, and very rewarding! I learned a ton of things, and met very nice people doing this!

How to get one?
Check the last pages of this thread, I usually post a message when I'm ready to start.
I'm not a shop, I don't have a stock, I might have one or two laying around from people who canceled theirs, but not often.
You can send me a private message at any time, and I'll put you on my list for the next ones! That means that I will contact you as soon as I'm ready to do more.


You can also PM me if you have any question or need help, even if you got a shifter from somewhere else, no prob :)

Some pictures:
http://nsa38.casimages.com/img/2016/...3822348879.jpg
http://nsa38.casimages.com/img/2016/...3822609507.jpg
http://nsa38.casimages.com/img/2016/...3825135231.jpg
http://nsa38.casimages.com/img/2016/...3827673010.jpg

I think I covered pretty much everything?

Bye!

Ben.

Well done on this.

I made my own BB cup style shifter too here in the UK....not one person was interested...so i hope you get better luck!

I'm intrigued...

I am interested, but naturaly final price matters. I just installed 997 SS í my 65 K mile 01S and it ís like a new car. Newer want it to go back to these sloppy sifts again.....

Sorry for the late answer, my parents were visiting me this week so I was busy carrying them around :)

I'm getting used to the stiffness of the new shifter and I love it !

If I can get 10 persons in, I think I can have them between 100 and 120$ (shipping, lithium grease, and ball bearings included )

as always the more we are, the less we pay :)

Ben

I'm interested in a set... where are you located in FL?

Yes how much ?

I'm in South Florida, Delray beach :)

as I said, I plan on 100 to 120$ per shifter with shipping. That's little more than the ebay ones, but a lot less than the "prenium" ones (but with the same specs ... so :) )

Im in
 

Im in, count me in

cool :)
I pm you

Dijinn you're in too ? Pm me

Pm' d I'm in.

Nice :)

Come on, a few more and we are good ;)

Come on we need just one more so everyone can have his shifter :)
If you don't have one on your car it's time, you won't regret it !


Ben

How much do you think it would cost to post to UK. Would right hand drive make a difference?

Ben
Count me in
Thanks
Van914

For France, it will be around 140$, so I guess it will be the same for UK :) no problem for the RHD !

cool, One more ! let's start so :)
I pm you all.

edit : I will tell you the final price soon, as I said, between 100 and 120 (I will try to keep it as low as possible :) )

Ben

OK count me in

I am very interested. let me know the price..? thanks, reebuck1

PM sent ;)

Hi !

As I said, with thanksgiving, and now christmas, UPS is slower than usually, so I haven't received the shifters yet :/

But don't worry, all will be good ;)

Ben

I have received the shifters !
http://nsa34.casimages.com/img/2014/...0021696287.jpg
http://nsa34.casimages.com/img/2014/...0026272900.jpg

Tomorrow I will get them modified, I just don't know how long it will take !
I haven't the bearings yet but they should arrive soon enough.

then I will ship them to you as soon as possible :)

Thank you :)

Ben

The shafts are at the machine shop, I hope to have them back on monday.
But the ball bearings aren't here yet :/
lets cross our fingers !

Hi everyone :)

I contacted the seller for the bearings, they will not be there before christmas ...
I'm sorry, I didn't choose the better time for a groupbuy ... but don't worry, everything will be great after christmas :)

Ben

Happy new year everyone !

I just got the ball bearings in the mail today :D I'm sorry it took so long :/
I will get the modified shaft from the machine shop monday.
then it may not take too long before I can send them !

More news on Monday ;)

No stress on my part, s *** y weather at the moment so won't be fitting for a while

David

Get-er-done
No problem for the wait
Weather is not good for the Boxster

Shifter
 

Great looking forward to it !!

Thank you for understanding ! :)

Ok I finally got the rods and bearings back :D
the machine job did a pretty good job !
but they charge me more than twice what they told me ...

final price will be 115$ with shipping for USA
and 145$ with shipping for Canada.

I will send you a pm :)

thank you !
Ben

The first two has been sent !
tomorrow another one will be send :)

thanks everyone :)

Ben

Looking forward to getting mine , hope to install after the Ice Age we are having

Do you guys have received my PM ?

Any feedback on how these are working?

I took mine out and looked at it at sadly as we got another 6 inches yesterday. I can say it looks and feels like a very quality piece.

I will report in as soon as I do the install!

If anyone is interested in limiting the down-time for the swap, I have an extra stock shift console available for $75. Prep the new shifter in the warmth of your house & do a quick console swap in the freezing cold.
PM me if interested.

I put mine in and can report that there is zero slop in any direction. Installation was a little tricky because of the tight tolerances with the bearings into the cups, but it went quickly.

Having never used one of these shifters in an unmodified state, I really can't comment if it is an improvement over the shifter with the nylon inserts (or whatever they had originally). For installation instructions I went to the B&M site and downloaded their instructions. This shifter is basically a knock-off of that, but with ball bearings on the longitudinal shafts.

All in all, if you want super short shifter travel and rifle bolt type precision with the accompanying increase in effort, you can't go wrong with this, especially for the price. I would also like to see what the 987/997 shifter is like. I imagine it is not quite as precise, and not quite as short throws, but also less effort.

Thanks for the feed back Qmulus :)

Qmulus,
Test fitting the bearing cups, yes they are tight! How did you get yours on?
Thanks
Van

Follow the directions for the B&M shifter. Do be careful playing with the bearings before you install it. Mark the shift cable positions with a marker or tape before you remove the cables from the retainers. I did mine in with the transmission in neutral and after putting the cables exactly into the retainers the new shifter was dead on with no adjustment needed. After removing the old shifter parts, you drop the main shifter mechanism into the housing, then slide on the cups. Make sure that you match the notches in the cups with the tabs in the holes in the housing. I put a thin coat of white lithium grease inside the cups to make sliding them on the bearings a bit smoother and need to tap them a bit to get the bearings fully seated to where I could install the C clips.. I also put a bit of grease on the ball that goes into the pivot arm. With the set screws, I put them in backed way out then snugged them up, then backed up just to where there was almost no play in them and locked them with the lock nuts. The inside end of the set screws got a touch of grease on the ends as well.

I can't say how long exactly it took to install it, as I probably spent as much time cleaning as I did working. It is always good to vacuum the carpet where it is hard to get with the console installed, as well as to clean the console and clean and condition the shift knob and boot.

HTH!