I was just minding my own business, and I unexpectedly found myself making modifications to my beloved '99 996 - minor alterations that I was able to complete with the help of a friend or by myself.

My friend Jeff and I installed a factory short shift kit on Sunday morning, and I installed SRP Racing aluminum pedals this evening - black anodized finish.

Next modifications, I'm dropping my 996 off in 2 weeks to have the ROW M030 suspension and the Fister D mufflers installed. Then it's off to Drivers Ed at VIR.

Here are some photos:

- The orig. shifter from 1998
- The new 997 short shifter (the green piece is the centering tool to ensure that neutral is in the center - included with the OEM part)
- The installed short shifter before re-installing the center console
- The original factory pedals
- The new aluminum SRP Racing pedals (easier heel-toe)

For those who noticed that the foot rest on the left is slightly crooked, I'll be adjusting that tomorrow.

This modification feeling could get out of hand very easily....I should have learned from you guys who told me that this might happen.

Bob

 

sweet !!

 

Nice.

How easy/hard was the short shifter install?

 

It was very straightforward, but I had the help of a friend who had installed a dozen of them in the past.

Also, we had a tech session that focused on short shifter installation. So, it was a lot less intimidating for me to take apart the center console than it might have been had I never seen it before.

I took photos of every step, if you'd like me to send them to you. I can also post them to this thread, if you'd prefer.0

It's worth the effort.

Bob

 

Whatever is easier for you.

 

On a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being the most difficult, installing the short shifter is a 2 or 3. It will take you about 2 hours, the first time and about 1 hour if you were to do it a second time.

 

I did the short shift mod, very easy. Hardest part was to get the **** **** out the way... but after a trick picked up on an old thread, it was very easy.

BTW, the trick was to use two screw drivers, place them horizontally, at the bottom o each side of the ****, then you can pull vertically by putting your hand on the **** extremities. If not pulling the **** is hard because the more you pull, the more you compress it, thus making it gripping even more to the rod.

Anyways, easy and fun to do.

BTW(2), I did not had the little green thingy to keep the shift **** to neutral and I had no problem to adjust the cables to that all gears would shift properly, it is quite easy to test and adjust, before mounting back the center console.

go for it !

BTW(3), you should do the exhaust install yourself, it is quite easy and very fun as well.

 

nice, dig the pedals, how was it using those for the first time?

 

Thanks for the encouragement on the muffler installation, Phil. I've been very tempted, but I haven't had a lot of time. Labor Day weekend may be the perfect time. I"ve looked for a DIY guide, but I couldn't find one.

Also, taking the shift **** off the shifter was extremely easy in my 1999 996 - I pulled up on the leather boot, and pulled the rest of it up - Jeff told me that the later 996s have a more challenging construct.

Also, the instructions for the B&M short shifter kit were excellent (http://www.bmracing.com/PRODUCTS/Por...-Sport-Shifter). They walk you through with photos all the way. The biggest diff. between the OEM part and the B&M seems to be that the OEM part gives you the neutral positioning tool and the entire base is included (makes it kind of a plug and play process). But, I wish the OEM part had full metal construction like the B&M - admittedly, a novice's POV.

The only point at which we questioned what we were doing was at the point we were installing the cables on the new shifter. We marked the cables to ensure the same setting on the shifter. The passenger side cable needed it. The driver side cable only had 1 way to go in (with the neutral centering tool on the shifter) - didn't match the mark we made based on the original shifter. When I tested the shifter, it was perfect. So, I assume the new 997 short shifter must be pre-set to the correct setting on that one cable.

One other thing - when I removed the little brass clips from the cables, I pulled them off while the cables were still in the base of the shifter - tried to re-install them with the cables in the new base. Not easy. I realized you can remove/install the brass clips once the cables have been pulled from the base - much easier.

Last advice - check the prices for the OEM part online. Your Porsche dealer might price-match the best price you find. Leith Porsche in Cary did. Saved several of us PCA guys about $100 each.

GNR996 - I'll be trying the pedals today for the first time. I'll let you know how it goes.

Bob

 

BTW, you can see the brass clips I referred to in my previous post in the lower right hand corner of the last photo above.

Bob

 

Bob,

Here is a link to a post I made about the muffler install!

Muffler Install

 

Hey RK:

I posted a question to the group, thread was entitled "Muffler Change" and I beleive Dennis C wrote back the 5 or six "simple" steps to swapping out the mufflers....while it isn't a video it does seem pretty "doable." the post was earlier this week. Like you, I have a firend on his way in, we are doing some mods this weekend.........all i know is that this is a slippery slope, once you start.......it doens't seem to end....but the results are better and better. GL with the swap out.

 

Always nice to see another 'mod' performed...congrats.

 

Is the 997 shifter the regular 997 shifter which gives a reduction of about 15% over the regular 996 shifter? This is about $180. Or is it the 997 sport shifter that's closer to $500?

If it's the $180 I'm curious to hear your feedback on how it feels.

 

I had a 997 shifter in my car and really didnt think my old one was bad....until I replaced it with that!!

OMG they are sweet!

I picked it up for free and threw it on the shelf for 6 months, then people told me toinstall it and reluctantly I listened THANKFULLY !!!

You can get a stock 7 shift assy and put in a SSK.... these pop up all the time ALOT cheaper than $180