GlenL

Getting into my winter projects now and one is to fix the giant shifter. (What were they thinking?)

Looking at the pics (Thx, V!) I'm concerned that the short shifter for the early cars will be too short. 80mm shorter is over 3 inches. Some pics show the **** pretty low like it's swirling around in the console.

Anyone have an opinion on the results? Is it that low? Pics?

Are all short shifter levers (for an '80) about the same?

I understand that there's two type available: DEVEK and "the rest." True?

laneskelton

cut your stock shifter down and see how you like it then if its still too tall cut a little more off. I cut about an inch off at first then drove around for about a week, then decided to cut another inch off and I liked it a lot better. Then a few days ago I got a new nylar bushing and when I went to put it in I noticed that it was just a damper for the springs in the shifter to sit against, so I didnt use it and I took out the springs. This made a huge improvement. The shifter is much easier now without the springs, I dont have to force it into gear as much (not that it was ever that bad) but a big improvement. I drove it back to back with one of out 944's and the shifters are about the same length and it is now much closer to the feel of the 944, but not quite as slick. This is the best improvement I have made and it was very satisfying considering it didnt cost a cent and it took a total of 20 minutes.

Garth S

Glen,
There's my '80 lever chopped down to the GT lever length: stock pivot spacing is ~35mm, and with a couple of inches lopped off, it is much better. You can do it in the car; however, if removed, I would reinstall the springs after greasing the pins - it keeps the unit tight. Shifts are very smooooth.
Note the safety wire on the compressed springs - that's the only way they can go back in: once they are safely recaptured by the clips, you may have mastered the colourful vocabulary of a seafaring man .... I did!
The finished look follows ( if I clicked the correct thumbnail pic)

laneskelton

try it without the springs, you'll like it

GlenL

Thanks, Lane and Garth.

Sounds like a plan: Take off 6cm.

I'll look into the spring issue. Will be putting in new plastic bushings to quell some shifter buzzing and looseness.

And another great set of pics, Garth. Very instructive!

JKelly

Garth,

If you don't also file down the boot stop (the area on the lever where the thicker part narrows down to the thinner part, which goes up into the shift ****) the **** will not slide onto the shifter all of the way.

Garth S

See the two black rubber bits at the lower right .... and the hole drilled through the shifter? Well .... ... I -ah - (gulp) modified the inside of the **** ..... and inserted a rolled pin through the two important pieces. Were I to do it again, yours would be the method to follow.

Chuck Schreiber

I did my 79 several years back and used a GTS shifter to compare and measure. The linkage holes are obviously different lengths apart, but I decided to meaure the top hole of the GTS shifter, to the end of the shifter. This came to approx. 6 13/16 inches. I then cut my stock shifter to 6 inches even from the top hole to the tip of the shifter. It came out pretty damn short, but I've loved it. It is now more of a flick of the wrist. I topped it off with a GTS shift boot. Made driving it seem light years ahead.

laneskelton

To fit my shift **** back on I just used a hack saw to cut the bottom of the **** so that it can slide all the way down.

gruffalo

What I would like is a full length bromm handle, with the upgraded lower end (49mm spacing an no springs). That would keep the **** close to the wheel, while reducing travel and slop.

Race cars have the lever close to the wheel, I think a long handle looks more racy, you don't wanna move your hand too far from the wheel.

Imo000

Yeas, but those types of handles are only on the WRC cars and they all have sequential gear boxes. So the driver only have to push the handle up or down, unlike the standard H pattern of the 928. The long handle would look like a school bus and even if the throw ratio is reduced, I’m sure the shifting patter would be like one too. A short lever with an increased ratio is the way to go.

Garth S

With a super long broomhandle, you would only be close to the wheel in reverse ..... and you'd need to buy a bus ticket to get into 5th ... : Wny not go all the way? .. and put some DC servo drives below actuated by a F1 style paddle shifter .. no more broomhandle ....

gruffalo

I'm gonna buy a used broom handle and modify it to my own odd taste, you guys are just mean to me, go on, pick on the foreign guy, like he has no feelings...

Garth S

Heartless Yankees! Hey, wait ... I'm too far north to be a Yankee ....

lorenolson888

Hi All,

A few months ago I had a friend with a CNC shop cut 3 shift levers. They are made to work with any of the momo *****. I have tested one of the short ones and it works and feels great. Anyone .. (preferably local to SF bay area) want to fit a momo **** with a nice solid shift lever?

The already available shift ***** are great for the stock style boot and ****. but when I fitted one the set screws on the momo **** kept biting into the aluminum bar shaft and it would start to come loose. So had them cut.

I asked Randy if it was OK to ask for help on this and he OKed.

I will posts some pictures later of the two I have left (one short one long) both with shortened throw angle.

Please PM or reply if interested.

Thanks,

LO