shift kits

Whats the best shift kit for my VS. Does the Empi trigger shifter work well and is it a good choice for my car. Does it tighten up the shifting ?

Buy the Empi shifter. The difference is astounding.

Ditto




Gclarke "The Vacaville Guy"

I put in the Empi shifter as well, difference from stock is amazing

I always heard the $200. Gene Berg was all that and a bucket of chips? Is it a waste of cash? I was going to hold out for the Gene berg, but now maybe not.

Dick,

The Empi Trigger Shift for your ar offers two Shifter "Lengths".

A "Tall Shifter and a Short Shifter".

I prefer the Short Version due to the car's interior dimentions and Driver Position.

The Shift Knob is "Round" whereas the majority of the other "Shifters" have a "Tee Handle".

If you wish to utilize the shifter already installed, you can purchase a "Slick Shift" adapter. This will shorten the "Throw" of the shifter. I believe they are <$10.

Best Regards,

Jack Blake

I have a Gene Berg and I love it. Installed it with a new tunnel bushing and new rear coupler at the same time and it's crisper shifting than my old Austin Healey and my son's Eclipse.

I've never used an EMPI so cannot comment, but, yes, the Berg is expensive but is very well made and super-rugged. I would certainly get another one, but I would opt for the reverse lock-out next time.

Gene Berg all the way. I've used his products throughout my engine as well as transmission components. When it came time for the shifter, it had to be the BERG locker. Sure it's expensive ($450), but it's not a question of if it's worth it, it's a question of Is my car worth it? You can also choose between 40-60% reduction in throw, with or without locker feature, postion & style of handle and you can choose the style & size of the shift shaft itself. Very helpful for those with long/short arms or legs.

Like most things, its a value proposition. It it worth $40 or $450? Only you can decide.

Any of you guys ever try the "Quick Shift Kit" from Aircooled.net or other similar products ?
Inexpensive plastic or aluminum fulcrum ball and plate that installs on VW shifters and is supposed to reduce throw by 40 % .......??

See them here:
www.aircooled.net/new-bin/viewproductdetail.php?keyword2=CFS0002&cartid=

I'm interested in your experiences.

Had a stock shifter, then bought an Empi shifter....very nice. Then, I ordered a GB rapid shifter with reverse lockout. WOW!!! Unless you've driven a speedster with a GB rapid shifter you'll never really know how much better they are than ALL of the rest. As the picture below shows, I even had them put the 'Porsche' script on it. It's a little bit notchy (very short rapid shifter lever), but very, very fast. I use the reverse lock every time I park the car. To me, that alone if worth the money. Lots of money...yes, but just think, on an average drive, how many times you shift.
Ron

Beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeerrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrg,. oh sorry some bout that. What I ment to say was Berg. There is no other choice. Scat, not too exciting, the Empi knock off if ok too. Or get a real Hurst, but besides that,..........................BERG! It also allows easy set up for you line lock button if you decide to install that option some day.

I just don't like the Berg "T" handle. It is butt ugly even if it is a well-engineered piece. It may look proper on a drag Vw but less so on a McSpeedster, IMO.

Couldn't you cut off the T handle and cut a thread that would fit a regular shift knob?
ed

the empi shifter is great over stock, but what can we do about the ugly plastic "boot" that covers the shifting mechanism? what type of leather boot can i get that would fit over it? would it have to be custom?

also, the round knob is a unique variety with a recessed space for the trigger lockout. i'm having a woody made by "Mainely Custom By Design" with a porsche crest. they look very quality IMHO.

Bryant,I installed a "Quick Shift Kit" with the aluminum fulcrum ball right after purchasing my Speedster two tears ago. It is a vast improvement over the stock VW shifter having a much shorter throw and tighter feel. It only took me 10-15 min. to install it using the directions that came with the kit. I have no expierence with the Empi or Gene Berg shifters so am unable to compare.

P.S. The shop I bought my kit from strongly recommended the aluminum over plastic. They said they had complaints about the plastic ones wearing out.

Bryant Irish- Yes, you can use just the quick shift kits ($3) with the standard VW shifter. It does reduce the throw, but the sloppy feeling will still be retained. If you're ok with the feel of the VW shifter, it's a great piece.

Antonio,

Talk to Henry at Intermeccanica- he set me up with an Empi shifter with a nice leather boot and the "8 ball" knob painted ivory. It looks as good as an Empi shifter can, and works like a dream. And doesn't cost $400. And doesn't have a T-handle.

I love my Empi shifter. I bought the shorter version. The difference is
amazing! And it didn't cost an arm and a leg. Well worth it.

BD

I have the $3 short throw kit. I don

Hi all

Thanks for all the great information. I tried the quick shift and it wouldn't work because of the shifter my VS came with. I'm having a hard time with the looks of the Gene Berg and the cost ,if it had a round ball nob I might go with it. The Empi looks like the one for me and it only cost 50 bucks, its worth a try. I hope I can get the nob in Ivory? Oh by the way if anyone in the Redwood City area and needs any work done I would give Greg VW a try he's really been great.

Thanx for your input on the $3 wonder ! Sounds too good to be true for the dough, but a good upgrade since I want to keep an original looking shifter in there. I'll give it a whirl !

Dick,

For the ivory handle, you'll have to have it painted. I saw pictures of cars with them- always Intermeccanicas, so I called henry to ask where he got them. He paints them there. The leather boots are also something that seem to be stiched around the shifter stalk- I can see no other way to slip it on the shifter over the reverse lock-out knob.

Call him, the cost was reasonable, and the part was ready to install right out of the box.

I bought a shift boot on Ebay the other day. It had an elastic around the bottom ( said it would fit over sa 5" circle)It fit perfectly over the black plastic base on my empi shifter. The top of the boot had a velcro closure, so that you could open it to fit over the reverse-lock-out ring, and then reclose it. The shift boot only came in black, red, and blue. Although the black does not match my "Camel" interior,,,,,,,it works, and fits


Gclarke "The vacaville Guy"

Thanks Stan

I called Henry and he said he would paint a nob and send me a boot, nice guy.

Thanks once again and what a great site this is, great job Theron!

I just had my 1st drive with my empi shifter and what a diffrence !!!
I really like how it works just wish I could find a diffrent nob. Ivory. My Interior is back and just think it would look better if it was ivory. Wish it had a better finish but for 49 bucks not bad. I would pay twice as much if it was made in the good old USA instead of China, but if the that was the case of verything in the car the car would cost 40,000 instead of 20,000.