DDK - Die Deutschen Klassiker

Looking for some advice on what gear shifter to use for my 901 dog leg box in my Karmann Ghia. Modified for standard Porsche bolt pattern and couplings, rods etc

The OEM shifter I have, unfortunately is for standard H pattern, hence need to replace. Reverse lock out is in the wrong place.

Quick summary of options I have found below. The only options that seems to work are OEM or Numeric racing shifter. Does anyone have any real life experience/ what is best option?


OEM £400 ish 50+ years old including wear

Rennshift Jwest £600
Extended length shifter closer to s/wheel
Short shift throw reduced 20 to 33%
Does not state for Dog Leg box
H Pattern only?

Numeric shifter £750
Works with dog leg 901 box
Steel bearings not plastic
Short shift throw reduced 30 to 40%

Wevo No 901 dog leg option?
Stomski H pattern only?
CAE shifter H pattern only?

Appreciate any help

Ref Rennshift
I'm sure they do one for the 901
Feel is far tighter and I think needs a good condition box for all to work well
Imho avoid the 33% short shift.
The extended lever is nice, I raised the knob on my 73T by 50mm which eases the shift effort, and eases the short shift effect a touch.
Had my Rennshift for many years.

Hope this helps

As always thanks for your help. Interesting that you don't like the 33% short shift. I ran a short shifter in a beetle years ago it always seemed notchy but efficient.

I have sent the question off to J West engineering, see what they come back with.

These things are down to personal feel I find.
Raising the knob that 50 mm made driving much nicer.
I now have a stock shifter but have added the 50mm extension.
If you are a fast driver, the RennShift is nice, it will add to the excitement, but those days are behind me now!

Standard Porsche shifter is fine by me, new bushings etc. Obviously there is a delay between one gear and the next as you ease it in but that will be the same whatever. The dog leg box is one of my favourite features of the car.

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J West do (or at least used to) make a 901 shifter, console for the side shift 901 box featuring bronze bushes plus a complete linkage with universal joints.

Having tried countless variants in my 914, I found the best of all them to be;

- Gearbox end console ( worked like a rifle shot)
- Shifter with UJs
- Standard 901 shifter

I had it all on semi solid mounts, and I also used the spherical bearing on the bulkhead where the central shift rod passes into the engine bay. These things were all trying to solve problems you don’t have in the Ghia - creating a connection around an engine!

With the shifter too it was all too tight for me. I think it needs a certain amount of play to work, and the whole lot felt a step too far.

Their standard shifter has a reduced throw, the shortest option was almost impossible to use. A stock 901 shifter is not exactly a long throw affair, and you can replace the springs to help reduce the chance of a miss shift.

I would prob go stock especially as you will have a short shift rod and direct connection in the Ghia.

Appreciate a good deal does not apply but hope my experience helps in some way

Cheers
Wayne


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Thanks everyone for sharing experiences.

Does anyone know if you can convert a standard 901 shifter with reverse bottom right to top left lock out?

I have a really nice original shifter but the lock out is in the wrong position.