10mm Wrench
17mm Wrench
13mm Socket
19mm Socket (to remove wheel)
Swivel Extension
Short Extension
Long Extension
Procedure:
Below is an excellent video a gracious customer made to show how to install the short shifter. It’s top notch and follows our instructions perfectly. Thanks Ryan L. for taking the time to make a great video!
1. Jack up the left side of the car and put a jack stand under the car (for safety). Place a block under the front wheels to keep the car from rolling. Don’t rely on the emergency break to keep the car from rolling.
2. Remove the left rear wheel.(19mm)
3. Put car in neutral.
4. Optional step for early cars (82-85). To make installation a little easier you can remove the left side transmission mount, but it’s not required. Place a jack under the transmission to support the transmission. The jack shouldn’t be putting force on the transmission, just holding it where it is. Once the jack is under the transmission you can remove all 4 bolts on the mount. Keep the jack in place supporting the transmission until you are finished and reinstall the mount.
5. Now you can remove the old shift linkage. Remove the two bolts that hold the linkage onto the car. One is behind the black rubber boot. Pull the boot back to reveal the head of the bolt. Use a 10mm wrench to remove the bolt on the shift shaft(A), and use a 13mm socket with a long extension to remove the front bolt.(B)
6. Now it will be easier to remove the last bolt.(C) Use a 17mm wrench to hold the back of the bolt and a 13mm socket to remove the nut on the front. Once you remove this bolt the old shift linkage will be completely removed.
6.5. Sometimes the original linkage can get corroded onto the transmission shaft. The best and safest way to remove a stuck linkage is with a small gear puller. The Harbor Freight (or similar) 3 inch gear puller works great for this. The puller arms will hold the linkage and the center bolt will push on the transmission shaft pulling the stuck linkage right off.
7. Now you can install the short shift linkage. First slide the linkage on the shift shaft. Then slide the linkage into the black rod coming from the front of the car.
8. Use the supplied loctite on both bolts for the shift linkage. Install the small bolt to hold the linkage onto the shift shaft, then the bolt that goes onto the black shift rod. Make sure they are lined up with the notch in the linkage and the notch in the shift shaft. Try to line them up visually first before putting the bolt in. The bolt will help line the two parts up if they are close. Another way to do this is put the bolt in and slowly tighten the bolt while rotating the shift linkage a little. You will be able to feel when the bolt finds the notch on the shaft. Then you can tighten the bolt the rest of the way.
9. Now use the loctite on the nut for the last bolt. This is on the top of the short shifter, where the linkage arm attaches to it. Use the 17mm wrench and the 13mm socket with the swivel extension to install the last bolt.
This bolt will also align the shifter inside the car from side to side. If the shifter isn’t aligned side to side then it will hit the inside of the car. This will make it hard/impossible to shift into 1st and 2nd, or 5th and rev.
With the car in neutral, the shifter should be straight up and down with equal distances on both sides, or leaning just a little towards the driver. Here is how to center the shifter.
The slotted hole in the top of the short shifter is what centers the shifter inside the car. Start with the car in neutral. Then make sure the top bolt in the short shifter is slightly loose. Then get someone to sit inside the car and hold the shifter in the center, straight up and down with equal distance on both sides. Then tighten this bolt. Now your shifter should be aligned and you are finished.
10. If you have an early 944 then you can now reinstall the transmission mount. Reinstall and tighten all the bolts. Once they are tight then you can remove the jack from under the transmission.
11. As long as all the bolts are tight on the shift linkage you can reinstall the rear wheel. Make sure the rear wheel is tight and remove the jack stand and jack. Now you can enjoy smoother and faster shifting.
