Porsche 997 or Porsche short shift

[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.

[jaykay]

Thanks this is exactly what I was after.

So how do you like the factory SSK over the standard 9x7 or in general; or as compared to the B+M? Is it worth it for the driving feel? I want to stay away form notchiness this time around.

Where is the best place to buy either one. It strange that suncoast shows the standard shifter as a different part number; I will ask Suncoast what the deal is.

J

[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.

[Banana S]

Originally Posted by 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.

Must just be a thing with the 2002 Boxster S's.

[blue2000s]

Originally Posted by 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.

I think it's mostly a matter of taste. I had the B&M on the same car as you do and was perfectly happy until I installed the 997 mechanism and liked it much more. I like the advise of trying it out in someone else's car to see if you like it, you just have to try it in a moving car with the same transmission as the one you're going to put the lever in to.

[Blue-S]

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.

I cannot fathom why Spec Boxster racers would run the stock 986 shifter, when they could be running a properly engineered unit such as the 987/997 Tequipment short shifter. I guess they don't mind the long, flowing arm motions that the stock shifter provides. Maybe after buying wheels ($$$), tires ($$$$) suspension ($$$$$$$), etc they don't have any car prep budget left. My view on competition cars is that any action you take to make the driver more comfortable, or reduce the driver's workload, is a positive thing as long as it doesn't impact the speed or durability of the car. A short shifter is a driver ease and comfort enhancement as far as I am concerned. I used to race in SCCA's Showroom Stock C class, and I would have run a (factory accessory) short shifter if it were allowed by the rules.

The downsides to a correctly engineered (not notchy, works smoothly) short shifter are:

1. more effort is required on the lever

2. can cause more rapid synchro component wear, because you are expecting the synchro to do the same amount of work in less time

Issue #2 is not terribly relevant on a track car, because the driver is moving the lever quickly anyway - they just have to move the stock shifter faster to achieve the same result as the short shifter.

Stated differently: If the 986/996 shifter is ideal, why did Porsche change the design to shorten the throw on 987/997 cars? Why do they sell the short shifter?