Wevo or Rennshift?

[reedminor]

All,

After what seems to be years of pontificating I plan to soon take the plunge with one of these units

So - convince me. Do I really need one? I've had this advice from more than one person.

Let me know why you ended up selecting your unit, and also list possible gripes.

[Fishcop]

Justin, either are 500% better than stock and worth the investment.

I have a Wevo

[e72phil]

Justin, I assume you are using a 901 box ? How worn is the shift mechanism ? I assume its the older style , crimped metal housing and not the later alloy housing shift ?

The older style really wear and become sloppy and theres not a lot you can do to improve them. Assuming your lower nylon cup that engages the shift lever to the linkage in the tunnel, and your rear linkage bushes are also OK (under the inspection plate in the rear pass. compartment), then a new shifter will still give you a far more positive feel for each gear position. If your bushes are worn, replace them and if you fit a new shifter, you wont believe the difference.

Shift throw also is reduced substantially making lever movement far less. On the Rennshifter, its adjustable, Also the spring tension that centres the shift in the 2-3 plain (on a 901 box) can be adjusted to your personal preference.

Rennshifter now has 2 lengths of shaft allowing a longer lever length if this suits your driving/seating position.

However the main difference is a Rennshifter bolts straight in whereas you need to buy the later model alloy housing and refit the Wevo bits to it. A lot more mucking about.

The Rennshifter does come with a rubber shift boot but you can also use the std Porsche rubber boot as used on the 73 onwards cars which completely covers up the mechanism and looks standard, or you can have the exposed look which some people like.

You can also use your std shift knob (shaft is same dia as factory) or buy an alloy round or teardrop screw on knob.

You will need a new crush sleeve if you want to reuse your existing shift knob.

And Rennshifter works for with either 901 or 915 boxes, you just rotate the shift housing 180 degrees on the base plate to change the shift pattern.

Hope all this helps you decide.

[OBRUT]

justin

i have a rennshifter in my 69E. the shift action is much better than stock - especially nuetral to 1st or 2nd to 1st. however, it does take a little getting used to as its much more spring biased than a stock unit. eg. you can't really 'palm' the shift into the 4-5 plane.

my main gripe is all the allen screws are imperial (really really annoying in an otherwise metric car...) and quite a few continually back out. i may end up locktighting them all.

[CamBiscuit]

A new shifter will make a huge amount of difference. Having driven Rich's car with the original shifter, back from Phillip Island last year the difference is night & day.

I have a Seine Systems Gateshifter in mine. If I was going to buy one now I'd go for the Rennshifter.

[griffiths_r]

am i correct in assuming they are pretty similar at bit less than A$1K?

[alexwebster]

Well, I don't have anything but a stock shifter with a harder lock out on first, and I categorically LOVE my shift. I have raced for 3 years with it, had a couple of adjustments required during that time, but otherwise, it has been brilliant.

Many of the racing guys find that these shifters don't allow you to 'feel in the heat of the moment' if you are in say 2nd vs 4th, and that when you do disengage the clutch, it is too late, especially when racing! With my shift, I almost never mis shift, and if I do, I know it straight away.

I guess the real question is why are you changing the shifter? Once you ascertain that, then you may be able to find a cheaper way around it but changing all the bushes etc as Phil already said. With it all done correctly, and the 1st gate spring upgraded as I have (about $140), it is great.

Jason Carroll and Marcus have both driven my car, Ryan has felt the shift (I think Cam has as well). They all think it is great.... BUT....

It is what YOU want in the end!!!

[T-DUB]

Rennshifter

Justin,

I have just installed the Rennshifter and it is absolutely awesome.

Positive feel, direct, tight and fast. It has transformed the whole feel of the car, even when just cruising around it is a huge improvement - at pace it's even better.

I've only set mine at a 25% reduction in throw (33% maximum), it also sits further back in the car which has fixed a problem of reach that I had with the original shifter when harnessed in.

Go for it!