Transmission, Manual

Shortening the Shifter

#1
I just bought a new shift boot for my 80 shark. I took the advice of a fellow list member and cut
one inch off of the stick. I used a dremel tool with several cuttoff discs. The Boot fits much
better and shifting also feels better. This is definitely a MUST if you are changing your boot!
The only way you can get the new boot on is to twist and pull (grunt and groan) on the rubber
ball and pull it off the shaft. Take the cap off with the shift pattern on it- just pry it off. Getting
the leather to pull around the ball and getting the cap back on is somewhat of a pain -the cap
holds the leather. Should take around an hour for the whole thing.

Barry Scott
1980 928

#2
I shortened my shifter (MY 79) by 1-5/8" total with the dremel tool method. I used the original
leather shift boot with the following modifications. I had to cut approximately 1-1/4" off of the
rubber shift knob at the bottom. This deletes the grooved lip that is supposed to hold on to the
shift boot. To fix that I used two small tie-wraps to attach the boot to the shift knob. I inverted
the shift boot (inside out) and pulled it up onto the shortened knob as far as it would go. I then
tightened the tie-wraps around the boot around the knob as close to the knob end as possible.
After turning it right side out again I installed the new stuff back on the shortened shift lever.
When it's done the top of the boot rides right under the top of the knob. It feels great and no
getting out of your seat to reach fourth anymore. The reverse first lockout spring is noticeably
stronger now but it is well worth the change in how the shifting feels. My car felt like a 70's
muscle car with the tall shifter. Now it feels like the fine Eurobred Roadware that it is. Definitely
the cheapest and easiest way to make you feel more comfortable in the saddle. Several people at
the Frenzy sat in my car and commented how good the shifter felt compared to their own cars. I
highly recommend this mod to anyone especially those with early model year cars. If I would
change anything I would use some glue to hold the boot to the knob as it came off once since
the mod.

Enthusiastically yours,

Jay F. Kempf
'79 US 5 speed silbermetallische


#3
Hey, you guys are making this harder than it really is. All you need to do is cut the shaft at what
ever desired length. I cut mine a inch shorter. There is no need to put the notches back in
either. You will need to trim some of the rubber shaft on the ball. That's it. I put a new boot on
mine and the only pain was getting the leather under the cap and getting the cap on right - you
need three hands.

Barry Scott
1980 928


#4
the low down on my shifter trimming is as follows. i just snapped the base of the shifter off,
pulled firmly but gently to slide the boot off the shifter handle, but the shifter with a Dremmel
moto tool, with a reinforced fiberglass cutting wheel, these make a very clean even cut, but hold
the handle with a pair of pliers or something because it heats up the handle to the point that it
will burn you if you touch it. cover everything you can in the car with rags, towels whatever,
because the metal and fiberglass dust get everywhere....wear eye protection too. don't worry

about the two little indents at the top, you don't need to duplicate them. the rubber part
underneath the boot will have to be trimmed, i just used a sharp knife. The boot is just held on
by the tight fitting rubber part of the knob, no need for screws or anything. if the cut isn't
totally even, don't worry....it won't affect anything. so thats my story...its a very easy straight
forward process. just one more thing, remember that its easier to take more off than to put some
back on, so only cut off a small amount at first, see how you like it and go from there. good
luck.

Bobby W
'85 928 S 5spd