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I have a CSP shifter and it's works great, with one exception.  For some strange reason the reach for the shifter in my IM is longer than it should be.  I thought it was just me, but Henry (owner of Intermeccanica) mentioned the same thing.  This is not a slam on CSP shifters.  They produce a quality product and I know there are at least a few happy speedster owners on this forum with CSP shifters and they all like their shifters a lot.  For me the shifting is great-the reach not so much.

So, I've been on the lookout for a quick shifter with a bit more bend in the shaft to decrease my reach.  I came across the Vintage Speedster shifter and thought,"This could be it!" except the shaft was too long, at 11.5". 

 

11.5 inch

 

So, I emailed someone at Vintage and asked them if I could have the shaft shortened 1", like their 10.5" model.  They said, "yes."

Then, I asked them if they could give the shaft an ivory coating and ivory colored shift knob, and they said, "Yes, but it will take a few weeks."

Extra cost....none

 

Now, this is service!


Needless to say, I ordered one.

 

 

1959 Intermeccanica(Convertible D)

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  • 11.5 inch
Last edited by Ron O
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I have yet to see a set of larger, aftermarket heater boxes that anything but any empty core.

I had a set of custom 1  5/8" heater boxes made before anyone made aftermarket heater boxes.  The fabricator ended up using the stock heater box's outer skin over 1  5/8" pipe.  Unfortunately, there was no way the stock aluminum core could be altered to accept a larger diameter pipe, because the heater box pipe is square, not round.

I do get some heat from my heater boxes, but it is only mildly warm-never hot. The mildly warm air was enough to keep the cabin temperature tolerable when I drove the car home from Intermeccanica, with the temperature around -2 C degree.

So, I keep on asking myself, "Do I need heat?"  The answer is, "Sometimes."

The next question is can I live without any heat?

I'm not sure of that answer, but I really do like the Vintage merged system.

My shortened VS shifter broke out almost at the base where it's welded. I went ahead and ordered an old Bug curved shifter which is long and has a larger diameter although the same type of cream colored knob. It looks cooler (and very similar to the original article on 356's) and actually shifts better because it's longer and has better mechanical advantage.

 

Anyway; now that we talk about Vintage Speed and their exhausts; has anyone installed any of these?:

 

http://store.vintagespeed.com....cchk=1&Itemid=80

Well, my VS I ordered in 2004 so it's waaaay out of the warranty period. I also figured the longer shifter works better and it does. Not only does it look closer to the original Porsche item but no modification is needed (the VS ones seem to be modified shortened units); I wonder why Kirk doesn't just install the old style curved Beetle shifters.

 

Re the exhaust; did you get the unit for 356 Replicas and how was the fit?

Impala, when you say VS shifter are you referring to Vintage Speed?

I ordered the 10.5" shaft because I found the 11.5 on my CSP shifter to be a bit too long, and I don't mind the extra shifting effort.

The first time I owned my IM I had a Gene Berg 9.5" 60% rapid shifter.  The thing was stupid fast. 

Extra effort?  Oh yes.

Fast shifts?  Holy crap they were fast. 

Actually, the shifts were so short it took me a long time to trust the shifter and believe I was in the next gear.

I figure the 40% shifter with a slightly shorter shaft should be a good compromise.

Originally Posted by Terry Nuckels:

Ricardo,

When I bought my VintageSpeed shifter from Ming at Bugorama several years ago it came with the billet aluminum base as on the Black Mamba shifter. The base is so nice I couldn't cover it up with a boot.

I'm sure if you request the billet base they'll have no problem accommodating you.

Hi Terry; it looks like a great shifter and I'm sure it is but still the high tech looking base throws me off a little; like I said this thing is actually 90% there for my taste. Funnily enough when I had to replace the stock shifter from VS the car came with an old curved Beetle shifter I noticed how much better the car shifts now, definitely due to the greater mechanical advantage achieved with a longer unit. When I installed it I just packed that thing with wheel bearing grease to the gills! Works flawlessly. 

Here's a comparison between the CSP and the Vintage Speed shifters

 

P1000963

 

Here are two photos of the shifters in the car.

 

P1000961

 

 

P1000967

 

Since the engine is out I've only been able to sit in the car and row the shifter.  It definitely feels better.  The shifter is bent back enough that I don't have to reach for 1st and 3rd gears like I had to with the CSP shifter.

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  • P1000963
  • P1000961
  • P1000967

I think my arms are a normal length.  for some strange reason I had to really reach to put the tranny in 1st and 3rd.  Henry, at IM, had the same problem, so it wasn't just me.  The Vintage Speed shifter is bent back just a bit more, but it's enough to make a noticeable difference.

Mango, I had Vintage Speed do some custom work on their Speedster model shifter.  I had it shortened one inch and painted ivory.  The shifter is very well made (as is the CSP shifter) and they didn't charge me any extra for the modifications.

Flyenby, I don't plan on selling my CSP shifter.

Originally Posted by Ron O:

I think my arms are a normal length.  for some strange reason I had to really reach to put the tranny in 1st and 3rd.  Henry, at IM, had the same problem, so it wasn't just me.  The Vintage Speed shifter is bent back just a bit more, but it's enough to make a noticeable difference.

Mango, I had Vintage Speed do some custom work on their Speedster model shifter.  I had it shortened one inch and painted ivory.  The shifter is very well made (as is the CSP shifter) and they didn't charge me any extra for the modifications.

Flyenby, I don't plan on selling my CSP shifter.

crap!  i didnt even think to ask if they would mod it for me.

 

oh well - i'll have to mod my own.

 

thanks Ron.

I wonder how easy it might be to gently bend the shift lever shaft on an exhaust pipe bender?  I shouldn't take a lot to bend it a few degrees and the radius could be selected from the stock bend radius blocks for different size pipes.  Just a small bend would give you an inch or two difference in the knob position and greatly increase your comfort from a shortened reach.  We used to do this with 356B shift levers which were much thicker than a stock VW shift lever - more like a Berg shifter shaft and bending the 356B version was easy. Just take it slow and try it a few times until it feels right.

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