997 Shifter Install

[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".

[Adam]

Any of you guys have a pic of the 997 assembly? Is this bolt in with no modifications?

[John V]

Yes, there is less side to side play. Although a new factory BOXSTER shifter probably has less side to side play than the one in most of you guys' cars - the shifters just aren't well made and wear out with time.

I don't have a picture, but the 997 shifter moves the fore-aft pivot point upward (shortening the throw) while maintaining the same side to side pivot point. The problem with the B+M is that it moves both pivots, and it moves them way too much. The result is that it's hard to distinguish the 3-4 gate from the 5-6 gate. Not an issue with the 997 shifter.

The 997 shifter is a bit more robustly built than the 986/996 parts. It also moves the location of the cable mounts upwards a bit, giving them a straighter shot from the back of the shifter. The entire shift console gets replaced. It's a drop in for the 986 / 996 cars. It's painfully easy to do.

Again you don't need a "source" for this. It's a standard issue 997 part that you can buy from Sunset imports (or any dealer). Sunset charged my buddy about $155.

[geoff]

My writeup after I installed the 997 short shifter is at http://www.renntech.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=7371&hl= I am still happy with it after 2+ years and have had zero problems.

When I installed the 997 short shifter in my '01 Boxster, I didn't measure the side-to-side difference, just the forward-backward (I measured about 25% front to back reduction). I would expect the side-to-side difference would be about the same, since the pivot point moved to the same point. I don't notice much side-to-side slop.

See http://www.carnewal-europe.com/cpx_p96139.htm for an ad with picture

[blue2000s]

Originally Posted by geoff

My writeup after I installed the 997 short shifter is at http://www.renntech.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=7371&hl= I am still happy with it after 2+ years and have had zero problems.

When I installed the 997 short shifter in my '01 Boxster, I didn't measure the side-to-side difference, just the forward-backward (I measured about 25% front to back reduction). I would expect the side-to-side difference would be about the same, since the pivot point moved to the same point. I don't notice much side-to-side slop.

See http://www.carnewal-europe.com/cpx_p96139.htm for an ad with picture

Just to confuse things, I believe goeff's is the actual 997 short shift kit 997-424-983-00. Which is different from the one that blinkwatt, john v and I have installed 997-424-010-00 . Ours is the standard 997 shifter, which happens to be noticeably shorter than the standard 986 shifter. Geoff's is a shorter throw than the standard 997 but longer than the B&M.

So in order of shift distance, longest to shortest:

Stock 986/996
Stock 987/997
Factory Short Shift Kit 997
Schnell
B&M/factory short shift 996/B&M clone

This is also the order of notchiness, least notchy first. I'm not sure where the swift-shift kit that extends the bottom of the 986/996 shift ball falls. There hasn't been much information shared on it.