abbeydog

Well after 15 years of 944's, I finally got my first 911. 1984 red turbo look,BBS wheels, and only 69,000 miles. Love the car, hate the shifter! I believe it is
called the 915 unit and shifts just like my mother's 1972 Gremlin!
My mechanic tells me that's the way it goes. We installed a Weltmeister short
shift kit to cut down on the throw and it was an imrovement. I bought a Seine
gated shift kit but haven't installed it yet.
So, what's the best way to go? What could be worn and replaced when we
install the Seine shifter? Or, is there a better shifter kit out there? What have
you done with yours?
Like I said, love the car.
Thanks, Scott

ivangene

welcome

post pics of the car or none of us will remember how to help you

seriously, there is a cup and ball (plastic) socket in the bottom of the shift assy and there are plastic buchings in the coupler (rear seat floor) - if you replace those with freash parts and get the coupler ajusted correctly.... then put a few months of driving to it, you might find its a good fit for the 915 they way it is....there is a rythum to shifting the 915 and going any shorter/faster messes with that...

if you cannot deal with it, the WEVO entire shift assy is described as the "best" (at about $600 IIRC, maybe slightly more/less)

I made round delrin bushings for my coupler (the stock ones were worn out and are oval from the factory)

theiceman

it's part of the Lore of owning a classic Porsche .. learn how to drive it smoohly after the above mentioned fixes and you will learn to love it ..
On the other hand there is a permanent fix to tight precise shifts ..... go buy a Honda ..

g-50cab

Seine Shifter is fine - and probably one of the better options for the money. If you have too much money laying around - WEVO or the Rennshift

http://www.jwesteng.com/porsche/911/rennshift_911.htm

ivangene

LOL
coming from a GT3 shift assy in my 996 I can tell you I was really trying to "fix" the 86' before understanding it....glad now I kept it stock... I would do the Seine Shifter (and plan to) but that is all...

funny how now when I get in a 996 for a drive I do 2 things...almost push my foot thru the floor depressing the depressingly light clutch... and shove the shifter thru the dash -- wait that's all the further it goes? - (they also have a wierd rotation point that I have trouble using now...)

Get used to a fresh - stock 915 shifter... its worth it - slow it down a tad and smile more

rusnak

All very good points. The 915 is a very good, light package that is also very sensitive to adjustment of the shift mechanism. It takes awhile to get the adjustment right. You have to know what you're doing. And the nylon parts (bushings and cup) must be not worn out.

I am a fan of the Wevo shifter, and I think it simply transforms the shifting feel into "shift by thought" level of responsiveness.

whalebird

There is a second bushing locating the front shift rod/linkage just behind the ball/socket at the front. Don't forget that one. These bushings are very cheap...the weltmeister coupler bushings are great. They have the slight oblong pin bore that is perscribed from the factory as ivangene references.
Get rid of the short shifter, it will make things worse.
A 915 is a great gear box and will shift wonderfully when you learn it. It is part of the "dance" you must learn to get the most from a 911.

2Utes

do not forget about changing the transmission oil. my shifting got smoother after changing whatever oil the PO had in it to Swepco. I know there is debate about what is best, so i chose to take advice from Steve Weiner here in Portland.
+1 on the rythem of shifting a 915, especially compared to a 996's transmission.

whalebird

The cable shifters in the 996/986 are one of the profound disappointments of the newer cars. I'll take a 915 anyday. A 944 (and a miata) have some of the best shifting I can think of.

Ed Hughes

I'd lose the Weltmeister short shifter before it does some damage, spend the $30 on the bushings, and install the Seine kit. Unless you have issues internally, it will be a good setup.

Welcome to 911land!

Peter Zimmermann

Scott; in response to an above post in your thread...

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsc...ght=swepco+oil

It's a very long read, but worthwhile. Then go out and practice the two-part shift, and never use more than 4500 revs in 1st gear! Regarding short shift kits, you might look into factory replacement parts for a 1985 Carrera. The '85 uses a shifter that is 10% shorter than '84 and earlier cars, compared to the "super-short" 20% shorter shifter, available in 1986, which also had a marked increase in shifting effort at no extra charge.

w00tPORSCHE

The stalwarts have chimed in. I don't know much about the mechanics but will tell you this. The next time you are in the PNW area let me know. I'll introduce you to one of the joys of classic 911 ownership which is driving a car equipped with a "proper" 915 gearbox. One that was used by owners who knew how to use it. As the one and only Pete Z mentioned, there is a two part shift to it's operation. Please mend it and enjoy it .... don't hate it. It's a sincere request.

ivangene

Pete.... I read some of your stuff on PP... I have long believed Kendall to be great stuff but thought they had become obsolete too...

so right now I have Swepco 201 (blue) in the box (86' 915)
according to what I read you would reccommend NOT ghaving that and switching ASAP to Kendall Three Star 80W/90 Dino gear oil (which you have a link in post #374 )


RIGHT??

abbeydog

Thanks guys, I know the shifter is a vintage item and mastering it is part of the game. However it was
quite a shock from my 89 944s2. Still didn't have to think twice about buying the 911 instead. I think I will have them install the Seine (since I already have it) and put in the cup and other parts from Weltmeister and call it a day.
I will post pix soon.
Thanks, Scott

w00tPORSCHE

Yes that is right Ed.