Porsche 997 or Porsche short shift

[Topless]

And you want to do this for improved performance? Aesthetics? Coolness? FWIW most of the Boxster Spec race cars just use a stock 986 shifter and make sure it is adjusted properly and well maintained. The short shifter is more often found in the Cars & Coffee crowd. No judgment here. Just not sure what your end goals are.

[Adam]

I put in a B&M several years back, hated it and got rid of it. A few months ago I got the 987/997 standard shifter and I like it much better. About 15% shorter than stock and maybe a very slight increase in shift effort. A nice upgrade over the 986 shifter especially if it has a few miles on it and getting sloppy.

[blinkwatt]

The majority or short shift kits around are based off the B & M design,as is the OEM short shift kit,eBay clones and the 'in house' brand offered by Suncoast.(not sure about the 9x7 generation thought).

Loved the feel on my 5-spd,99'. HATED the feel on my 01' 6-spd. I will NEVER touch one of those again on a 6-spd,they are much too picky to be messing with. I tried adjusting the cable so many different ways and it just sucked no matter what I did. Too notchy and too hard to find gears.

[Cloudsurfer]

I have the B&M on my 6-speed, and while notchy, I still find it very accurate and don't mind the added effort. However, I think the way to go, if it's within affordability, is the 9X7 short shifter.

[jaykay]

Thanks all for your input. I have 6-speed so it more finicky that the five...I was after performance and driving feel; the fluidity is not there at all. The shifter is a major interface so.....

Yes I am a bit leary of the Porsche SSK being too close the B+M. 2nd to 3rd is nasty! Just wondering if had tried it at 410(suncoast)

[roadracer311]

I've got the short 9X7 shifter in my car and I love it. Got it from Sunset Porsche in Oregon. I think it was around $350.

Prior to this, I had one of the Ebay knock-off shifters installed. The short 9X7 shifter was a huge improvement, in terms of smoothness and slop-reduction vs. the Ebay shifter.

[Pirate50]

I've got the Schnell SSK in my 04 base, took a little to get it right, but love it now. Also, each September, Sunset Porsche has a garage sale. Picked up a take off (used) 997 stock shifter for $10. They had 3 or 4 of them. Try calling them and see if they have any used ones left laying around. You never know.

[yellowboxster01]

Originally Posted by blinkwatt

Loved the feel on my 5-spd,99'. HATED the feel on my 01' 6-spd. I will NEVER touch one of those again on a 6-spd,they are much too picky to be messing with. I tried adjusting the cable so many different ways and it just sucked no matter what I did. Too notchy and too hard to find gears.

My thoughts exactly. I installed a B&M on an S and when I drove it, it was way too notchy and I couldn't tell what gear I was in some of the time. I drove another non S with a short shifter and it was fine. I purchased the Schnell short shift kit with billet linkage. I installed it all at the same time and have since gone back to the stock linkage. I could never get that billet linkage adjusted correctly and now it just sits in my toolbox. My mechanic also told me, he's never seen the stock linkage fail and it smoothes out the shifts. When I went back to stock it was smoother and I actually like the short shift kit I've got now.

[jaykay]

Ahhh this is what was confusing; have a look at this link:

http://www.drivepoint.net/paddock/ShortThrowShifter.html

This porche short shifter looks like a black B+M. Very unlike the blue plastic of the 997SSK???? Are they one and the same?

[Blue-S]

It is my understanding that the Porsche 986/996 short shifter is actually made by B&M. The Porsche 987/997 short shifter appears to be made by whoever makes the stock shifter, but the center section is made from bright blue plastic and has modified geometry for shorter lever travel.

[blue2000s]

Originally Posted by Blue-S

It is my understanding that the Porsche 986/996 short shifter is actually made by B&M. The Porsche 987/997 short shifter appears to be made by whoever makes the stock shifter, but the center section is made from bright blue plastic and has modified geometry for shorter lever travel.

Bingo.

The 9x6 factory ssk is made by b&m and is anadized black aluminum. It is identical in geometry to the b&m. This has a 996 part number. Most of the knock offs are copies of this version. The 9x7 ssk is made from a blue plastic and has a 997 part number.

Everyone should keep in mind, the 6 speed in the 986 is a different transmission than the 987. So the any particular kit may feel differerent whether its in a 5 or 6 speed and 986 or 987.

[clickman]

Originally Posted by jaykay

Ahhh this is what was confusing; have a look at this link:

http://www.drivepoint.net/paddock/ShortThrowShifter.html

This porche short shifter looks like a black B+M. Very unlike the blue plastic of the 997SSK???? Are they one and the same?

Forget the colour! The B&M style, including knockoffs, comes in black, blue, purple and probably other colours.

What you should be asking yourself is:

Do I want a short shifter? TRY THEM OUT if you're not sure.

Which one do I want? The B&M style like in that ad, where I've got to do surgery on my existing shifter tower to install it? Or the stock units for the 9x7 that are easy to install and smoother shifting? And easily reversible if I really can't stand it.

That linked ad price is a joke. If you insist on the B&M style like that, I've seen them on eBay for as low as US$50, but again it's more work to install and notchier than one of the 9x7 stock units. And you can't go back if you don't like it.

I've heard of the stock 9x7 shifter going for around US$150 and I bought my short 9x7 shifter for US$280 on special. One of those will take no more than a couple hours to install, and most of that is getting the centre console off and on.

[clickman]

Originally Posted by jaykay

Ahhh this is what was confusing; have a look at this link:

http://www.drivepoint.net/paddock/ShortThrowShifter.html

This porche short shifter looks like a black B+M.

This ad just burns me up no end. This is a great example of how dealerships get called stealerships. Their "deal" is $670, with 40% off. So the regular price is over $1100!!!

You can buy the knockoffs on ebay for not much more than $50. Even if you bought it from B&M it's no more than $300. You don't have to be that handy to install one yourself; the B&M instructions are excellent.

$1100?? Come on!

[ekam]

Originally Posted by Topless

And you want to do this for improved performance? Aesthetics? Coolness? FWIW most of the Boxster Spec race cars just use a stock 986 shifter and make sure it is adjusted properly and well maintained. The short shifter is more often found in the Cars & Coffee crowd. No judgment here. Just not sure what your end goals are.

Agreed holeheartedly. A lot of people do these mods just to be different or it's "an improvement from stock" but often don't understand what affect aftermarket parts have to the vehicle.

[Bobiam]

Originally Posted by ekam

Agreed holeheartedly. A lot of people do these mods just to be different or it's "an improvement from stock" but often don't understand what affect aftermarket parts have to the vehicle.

So true.......Often in forums we read about guys changing everything and anything to whatever is different or new. They seem to think "different than stock = better". Lots of $s down the crapper, and oftens that devalues the car as well. The beauty of these forums, besides getting good advice from fellow readers, is learning from other's mistakes. Those who share their mistakes here (and we all make 'em) are appreciated by all.
Re shifters, I kept the stock 986 and think it's fine, but because it felt so high, I cut 7/8" off the shifter and it feels so much better....my arm is in a lower more natural and comfortable position when resting on it, and it does effectively shorten the throw as well. Looks more sporty as well, but that's just a plus. Cost=$0.

[Frodo]

Originally Posted by Bobiam

So true.......Often in forums we read about guys changing everything and anything to whatever is different or new. They seem to think "different than stock = better". Lots of $s down the crapper, and oftens that devalues the car as well. The beauty of these forums, besides getting good advice from fellow readers, is learning from other's mistakes. Those who share their mistakes here (and we all make 'em) are appreciated by all.
Re shifters, I kept the stock 986 and think it's fine, but because it felt so high, I cut 7/8" off the shifter and it feels so much better....my arm is in a lower more natural and comfortable position when resting on it, and it does effectively shorten the throw as well. Looks more sporty as well, but that's just a plus. Cost=$0.

I think decisions between stock shifters and the various available short shifters is like asking "What's better, apple pie or pumpkin pie?" Everyone has their own opinion, and nobody is "right". I think Porsche, like all car manufacturers (some doing a better job than others!), tries to assess what's popular or enticing amongst its (potential) purchasers and then go with it. "What's gonna sell more of our cars?" is a question they probably ask themselves on a daily basis. In order to be perceived as innovative and progressive, they no doubt feel pressure to change something (or a number of things) from one model year to the next. In the Boxster, they want to make it "sportier" (whilst being ever mindful they mustn't encroach on 911 territory), at least as perceived by the majority of people at least entertaining the notion of buying one.

Bobiam, your idea is an interesting one. I, like you, am not unhappy with my original shifter. But the idea of shortening the lever arm of the shifter sounds interesting. Never having taken apart a shifter, I'm going to ask a dumb (or naive) question (my second one in the last 20 minutes!): Which end did you shorten? Are there tools other than a hack saw involved? (I suspect so...)

[clickman]

I followed geoff's lead and put in the short 9x7 shifter:

http://www.renntech.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=7371&hl=

[jaykay]

thanks for all the feedback.....like the link clickman fantastic

okay just to be clear...I was originally talking about the porsche factory SSK (99742498300A) which I think has a black metalic bushings/body and looks very much like a B+M. I was not wanting to try the same thing I have (B+M) unless it has been found to be fantastic...! (410 @suncoast)

the fellow in the rennlist link writes about the 9x7 short shifter.....which take to mean the just the regular 9x7(997SCU)....is this correct?? It looks like there are ones with blue plastic as well as black with metal plates on the side

i am getting confused ......is there another specific 997 short shifter that I am missing here??

basically I want it fairly short and smooth

[clickman]

Just remember there are two "stock" Porsche shifters made for the 997 and 987 (hence 9x7) that also fit the 9x6. One is the basic shifter (997-424-010-00) and the other is the short shifter (997-424-983-00) that geoff and I (and many others) have installed.

Both come from Porsche as a complete tower unit, including the alignment tool. The short shifter is more expensive. I bought my short shifter from Suncoast on special.

The B&M and knockoffs require you to use your existing tower and swapping out the stick. It's relatively irreversible as you have to destroy the original bushings.

[jmatta]

I may be digressing here, but I find my B&M coupled to the 6 speed in my S to be very precise; albiet slightly notchy, but I like it that way.

I drive alot of other 98X and 99X cars as an instructor and always felt the throws were long and slightly vague...even driving my friend's new 997 CS.

Maybe I just got lucky, but mine suits me just fine and you're not supposed to slam the gears, anyway. I've tracked 911s for years and learned shifting is always a two step process to the next gear; works the same way in the Box.