I don't think this should discourage anyone doing an install themselves. I just misread an instruction, and the solution is pretty simple.

Besides - makes a good story.

 

Maybe the Porsche way is better after all....

 

After Tool Pants' your post, I decided to install the SSK the Porsche way. With this method, you do not remove the cables from their adjusters, and so your shifter cannot be misadjusted.

It worked fine except for one problem caused by my lack of experience and poor near eyesight. I thought others might benefit from my describing the problem.

The driver's side cable fitting (the one you don't take off the shifter in the B&M method) is attached with a black plastic plug. It was really hard to see while still in the car. I pulled on the cable end and it popped off the shifter. During reassembly, I put the plug back in, but after complete reassembly, the shifter was not operating correctly, so I took it all apart to discover that the left cable end had come off, and there was obviously more than the black plug originally holding it on, although I couldn't find the lost part anywhere. It did not help that I had no idea what I was looking for. Upon further reflection, it could also be that I just did not push the plug in far enough. I don't know.

There were a couple of washers in the OEM SSK kit with no explanation. I figured maybe that is what at least one of them was for. Anyway, the washer fit and with the plug back in place, all seems well. We will see if I end up being stranded by the side of the road.

If I were doing this again, I would not remove the left cable attachment until I removed the four bolts holding the plastic shifter assembly to the car and lifted the plastic assembly the toward the driver's side where you can see what you need to disassemble.

 

This does not sound right.

The B&M comes with 2 metal washers. They go inside the shells that house the plastic bushings. When you adjust the set screw the screw pushes against one of these washers so that the set screw is not pushing into plastic. There really is not reason for B&M to supply 2 washers, but they do.

That black plastic plug keeps the left cable connector from falling off. But under that plug is a small white bushing. That bushing fits both ways, but only one way is correct. If you install the bushing the wrong way the cable connector will fall off even after you have put the plug back in.

It sounds like you took one of the B&M metal washers and put it under the plug because you lost the small white bushing that goes under the plug.

 

Yep. Thanks for the picture. At least now I know what I am looking for.

I used the OEM kit. The bushings were not put together, and there was nothing in the TSB about how to put them together. I see now that I should take it apart and put the washers in the bushing. Now I just have to find that plastic plug. Thanks for your help.

 

I did not know until now you used the Porsche short shift. I assumed it was the B&M.

With B&M the bushings are already put together so most people do not even know that there is a metal washer already inside each bushing.

With Porsche all their parts are loose in a plastic bag. I looked at the Porsche TSB and like you said, the washers are not shown or mentioned. I wonder how many of the Porsche short shifts were put in without the washers. I knew where the washers in the plastic bag went because I had put in so many B&Ms.

Good luck trying to find that small round white bushing for the cable connector that goes under the black plug. I once lost the plug in a car with black carpet and it took forever to find it.

If you find the small bushing remember that it can go in both ways, but there is only 1 correct way or the cable connector will come off. The end of the bushing with the ridge is held in place by the plug. That ridge keeps the connector from coming off when you shift.

 

Just thought I would update this after taking everything apart again to insert the washers in the bushings.

I had downloaded the B&M instructions some months ago, and did not bother to update them. When I got the Porsche kit, I assumed that the unassembled bushings were unique to the OEM kit. In looking at the current instructions, it appears that B&M now delivers the bushings unassembled. The newer B&M instructions show how to put the washers in. The TSB has yet to be updated.

As to the Porsche method, it probably produces a more reliable result because there is no chance of misadjusting the cables, but unless you have a little more guidance than the TSB, you can put the driver's side cable on so that it is not attached. I did not lose the white bushing like I thought. The bushing stayed inside the cable fitting. When I reintalled, I had simply rotated the fitting 180 degrees so that when I reattached the cable I did not realize it was unsecured. A lateral tug on the cable would have told me that something was wrong, but I didn't have any reason to suspect that something might be wrong.

Thanks to Tool Pants for the picture of the cable assembly and advice. I would not have been able to figure it out without his assistance.

 

DCP - gladyo got that worked out! Good info, Tool Pants!