Short Shift kits - any preferences?

[ian996]

Hi All, I am interested in getting a short shift kit, after having test driven a Cayman S with the short shift option. I have looked around at several options but i'm not sure which one to go for. I spoke with a guy who has a 997 Turbo with the 997 short shift kit and he let me have a sit in and play and it felt good, and a really short throw. Is this available anywhere apart from OPC? Any other suggestions? I've read the tech article and like the sound of the B&M one, apart from the fact that you have to cut some plastic tabs off. I'd prefer to keep the car without any mods if possible.
Ian

 

[Mark_Bennett]

The B&M and Porsche versions are suspiciously similar... Just a change in anodising colour!

You have to cut the clamping bushings on the Porsche one as well:
"3.1 Knock off clamping pegs (A) on the front and rear pilot
bushing with a chisel.
Note:
The pilot bushings cannot be removed without destroying
them.
3.2 Pull the pilot"

 

[PGAdamopoulos]

See: http://www.porscheclubgbforum.com/tm.asp?m=371977
[][][]

 

[richard hall]

I originally had a 996 short shifter in my car although the car was only 4 years old it felt terribly sloppy going up from 2nd to 3rd
I took it to Tony Wright he had look at the internals and felt that there was an inherant design problem causing this
Ultimately after lots of thought and reviewing the american websites(toolpants seems to be the resident expert)
I purchased the 997 short shifter its throw is less extreme than the 996 one and it looks and feels better built
In action it feels smoother and I am happy
the 996 one very closely resembles the b and w one
the 997 one appears to have been completely designed by porsche
talking with tony wright afterwards he explained the turbo boxes cant as such be hustled (you should pause momentarilly from 2-3 to allow the lever to centralise)
something i am used to on the golf and part of my disatisfaction with the 996 shifter was how i was trying to change gear
anyway new technique and new shifter = contentment

 

[PGAdamopoulos]

ditto

 

[paulus]

I've just fitted the 997 standard gear shift kit into my 2004 C2 in place of the standard 996 gear shift.
Superb improvement, without excessive increase in effort or notchiness & "only" £115 inc Porsche Club discount from the local OPC.
Shift travel is reduced by a measured 15 ~ 17% ( 10mm reduction in travel between Neutral & 3rd & Neutral to 4th).

A big advantage over some of the aftermarket kits is that it comes fully assembled in the shifter housing, with no need to destroy any standard components to fit it (so if you don't like it or want to swop it it another car you can just re-fit the original).

Obviously the effort to change gear also increases by the same 15~17% - but feels OK / acceptable.
I think the effort to change gear with some of the more extreme kits could be become wearing after a while - but maybe a good way of keeping the wife / girlfriend out of the car !

I was initially afraid there may be no difference between the 996 & 997 parts as the part no. was almost identitical except for the initial part (996.424.010 vs 997.424.010).
However, looking at them both, it easy to see that the pivot is raised on the 997 version & there is a metal plate supporting the pivot which moves the cable for left to right gear lever movement compared to plastic in the 996 part

Paul

2004 C2 Anniversary
(345Hp engine, M030 Sports Suspension, LSD, 18 in wheels etc)