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Have any of you installed "quick shift kits?" I purchased one from
bugzone and was somewhat disheartened that it was made of plastic.
There isn't much to it and it came with no instructions. I guess that
it is supposed to be intuitively obvious to the most casual observer
how to put it in, but the folks at bugzone didn't count on having a
feckless tuner for a customer. It's probably easy enough once it is
clear what you are trying to do, but frankly I'm buffaloed by what I
see and don't have a clue how to install it.
A little help would be greatly appreciated.
John H.
2000 VS

 

 

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Have any of you installed "quick shift kits?" I purchased one from
bugzone and was somewhat disheartened that it was made of plastic.
There isn't much to it and it came with no instructions. I guess that
it is supposed to be intuitively obvious to the most casual observer
how to put it in, but the folks at bugzone didn't count on having a
feckless tuner for a customer. It's probably easy enough once it is
clear what you are trying to do, but frankly I'm buffaloed by what I
see and don't have a clue how to install it.
A little help would be greatly appreciated.
John H.
2000 VS
I purchased one of these but I have been able to use it yet. I
figured if it doesn't work I'm out $2, big deal.

The way I figure it you have to break off the round part. Dis
assemble the shifter, slide the round part, curved surface up, down
the shifter rod, Place the other part between the top plate and
the "stop plate" and bolt down. Easy on the bolts I kind of squished
mine.

I think the thing works by moving the "pivot" of the shifter up about
5/8"


Hope this is correct. Like I said I can't test mine yet.

Jerome
I've never put one in so I don't really know what I'm talking about
here. But, I have read posts on Cal-Look where people did put them
in. That's pretty much how they work. I've heard it said that you
should mark where your shifter was sitting if you don't have a decent
recent mark. I've also heard people talk about fixing misalinged
shifters by losening the two plate bolts, putting the tranny in
reverse and tightenning it back down. I guess they are saying it's
more easily aligned in reverse??? Now, let's hope somebody who has
actually done it will chime in!
Jerome,
I'm puzzled by what the "round part" is supposed to do. I figured
that the "other part" had to be a spacer, which it sounds like it is.
But when you say you slide the round part down the shift lever, do you
mean from the top (ie. from shift knob treads down)? I am having
difficulty understanding the final location of this part after it is
put together and what its purpose is. Help!
Thanks.
John H.
After installing the hockey stick (shift rod) I noticed that because the pivot point is higher it takes about 2x the force to move the shifter. In short...because you move 1/2 as far the force is 2x as much. I think I'll not use the kit, instead a new shifter will be on the wish list in the future.

Jerome
The short shift kit was equally functional, shorter throw but vauge pattern. I moved on to the Empi (Hurst style) short shifter. Has a bent lever that places the ball handle ergonomically in reach. Is spring loaded creating a def H pattern, and has a trigger lock out for reverse. Looks are a draw back but functions as its designed to. Covered the base of it with a leather boot which made it look less 'after-makety'.They can be found for about 35 to 60 $ depending where you look.
happy shifting
I'm beginning to think I threw away a few bucks buying this kit. I may try to install the "round part" to strengthen the lever to ball connection, but that will probably be it. Actually, my shifter is pretty good and not an exceptionally large pattern anyway. It sure beats the 356 SC I drove a couple of weeks ago which was extremely vague......and I mean extremely!
Thanks for the tips. I'll probably settle for a nice gearshift knob instead.
Happy shifting?????
John H.
A friend of mine gave me an original B&M short shift kit made for VW's. Wow, what a difference, before my new/old stock kit was installed downshifting was an embarrassing necessity that made me feel like I was 16 and learning to drive. Now I can drop gears and shit without a thought.
My advice is look for one of these kits if you can, they work great!
Other then that I hear berg makes a killer unit but it is a lot of cash.
A friend of mine gave me an original B&M short shift kit made for VW's. Wow, what a difference, before my new/old stock kit was installed downshifting was an embarrassing necessity that made me feel like I was 16 and learning to drive. Now I can drop gears and Shift without a thought.
My advice is look for one of these kits if you can, they work great!


Shift, I ment to say. Oppps sorry!

For the record these kits do nothing for ones digestive system, so disregard my little mix up on the last post. Again I am very sorry!
Freudian slip, eh Chris. No problem. We all do it sometimes. Actually, I just came in from a short drive and was paying attention to the stick movement. My car actually has a fairly nice tight pattern and shifts up or down quite well. I have decided to leave well enough alone. If the shi(f)ting becomes problematic, I may take your advice. Thanks.
John H.
Came across June '98 VW Trends article by Dave Cormack. "Cure for the Sloppy Shifter". Goes through the type one shifter probs and cures in three pages of photos and detailed steps. When and how to replace couplers and bushings. mentions a shift rod adjuster when the shift rod has been shortened. Products by bugpack etc.
To quote, "the difference is absolutly amazing; there is no slop or play, and the gears are much easier to find. It once again has that nice solid German feel to it."
Hi,
Save yourself some time and don't even try to install it. I've never been able to get one of those things adjusted to the point where you can get all 4 gears AND reverse (with lockout). Usually you have to enlarge the slot in the housing that holds the shifter.(the thing that's bolted to the floor and the shifter comes out of it), and it still won't work 100%.
Instead, buy (even the cheapest ones) a complete shifter. It has the shorter throw built in and usually they have a better reverse lock-out than the stock shifter. Check around on the internet. Every mail order VW parts house sells them. They "bolt in" and are much easier to adjust.
The only compromise is that they don't look like VW or Porsche parts. I have one in my Speedster. It the Hurst style short shifter. It came with a "black ball" gear shift knob. I just used my stock shift knob (had to made a threaded bushing). Now it doesn't look so obvious, like something that belongs in a Chevy.
Bottom line is that they work, and they shorten the shift throw, have a better reverse lock out and have a more positive feel.

Greg B.

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