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YOUR RESEARCHDo you need an alignment tool for the 997 shifter swap?
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Replace stock 986 console
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Albeit I drive a Boxster, not a 996, I swapped my stock 986 console for a 997 console and it was a dramatic difference.
Do you need an alignment tool for the 997 shifter swap?
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Leading evidence: 'Replace stock 986 console' (no explicit attributable resolution; this is a reported action or suggestion). Across 1 matching discussions, the most frequently mentioned possible cause is 'good idea' (1 discussions; 0 report identifying it and 1 suggest it). The most frequently discussed action is 'Replace linkages' (1 discussions). For that action, 0 discussions report a resolution and 0 report an unsuccessful attempt. No action has an explicit, attributable resolution report under the current rules. These are forum reports and suggestions, not a confirmed diagnosis.
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Probably a good idea to use the alignment tool whenever replacing the shifter or cables, and for a $10 part, it's really a no brainer.
Do you need an alignment tool for the 997 shifter swap?
Replace linkages
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Suggestion
Meant to say mark the cables if replacing the linkages
Do you need an alignment tool for the 997 shifter swap?
Replace plastic linkages also
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Do you need an alignment tool for the 997 shifter swap?
Replace shifter or cables
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Suggestion
Probably a good idea to use the alignment tool whenever replacing the shifter or cables, and for a $10 part, it's really a no brainer.
Do you need an alignment tool for the 997 shifter swap?
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When I bought my C4S a few years back it had a B&M shifter in it, and it worked pretty well in warm weather and once the gearbox warmed up, but in a cool climate I felt it was too notchy and too high an effort when cold.
I'm interested in doing the 997 shifter swap, but am wondering how complicated the install is. I looked at the B&M short shifter instructions and it looks like a
LOT
of steps.
Can someone tell me how long does it takes to do the 997 swap and do I need an alignment tool to do it?
Yes, you should use the alignment tool. Its $12 on ebay.
Install isn't bad. remove the console, pull the cables out of the shifter, 4 nuts and its out. install the shifter, connect the cables, and put the console back on.
The 997 shifter has about 20% reduction in throws over the 997 unit and some argue slightly smoother engagement.
Probably a good idea to use the alignment tool whenever replacing the shifter or cables, and for a $10 part, it's really a no brainer. The number of steps may look daunting at first, but it all goes pretty fast. I recall it took me under two hours working very slowly. I think the 997 standard shifter is a good upgrade. When I bought my C4S a few years back it had a B&M shifter in it, and it worked pretty well in warm weather and once the gearbox warmed up, but in a cool climate I felt it was too notchy and too high an effort when cold. I replaced it with the standard 997 shifter and couldn't be happier. While the throw is slightly longer than the short shifters, it is so much smoother in all temperature ranges.
Based on what? Oh, I see. It's based on your 'thinking'. Great data to support your claim.
Having owned both 996 and a 997 with stock shifters I can tell you it's not. The 997 shifter is smoother, less notchy feeling and has shorter throws. It's a vast improvement over the stock 996 whiter mechanism.
Spinout is correct. Albeit I drive a Boxster, not a 996, I swapped my stock 986 console for a 997 console and it was a dramatic difference. Then, I changed out to a Numeric console and cables. Another dramatic change. Considering how often you are shifting, upgrading the console, whether it is to a 997, a 997 GT3 or a Numeric it is a worthwhile investment.
Notchy feeling is usually a result of how the shifter acts on the forks that are actually moving the shift hubs.
The 997 shifter appears to have a better lever axis than the 996 shifter but is very similar to the B&M/Porsche Sport shifter. The advantage of the B&M that I see is the aluminum support of the lever pivot point.
The cable end such as the agency power unit or numeric cables would help with feel by simply making the lever action at the lever is accurately transferred to the shift lever.
I haven't done this mod, so can't speak from experience, but there are a ton of threads on RL about it and I haven't seen anybody that's done the 997 upgrade and not seen a very significant improvement in shifting smoothness (and there is no debate that the shifts are about 15% shorter). I had no question about the effectiveness of the swap, was just wondering how difficult it was to do.
Most of the threads say the 997 feels better than the B&M as well (though I think the B&M has shorter throws than the 997 shifter).
I know that many of us are weight conscious but a heavier **** will help smoothen the "feel" of the shifter. It's a very common addition with a lot of other performance cars.
Shorter throws have me interested because that 1/4" could make the difference between first and last....and you know what they say, if you're not first, you're last
I'm not sure what your point is. But I doubt that any of these shifters make you faster. It's just for better feel, maybe getting your hand back to the steering wheel faster. Nothing wrong with that. But the limitation on shift speeds in my car isn't throw, it's engaging the synchros.
I just purchased a 997 standard shifter because my 996 shifter has a fair bit of play in it. Also plan to replace the plastic linkages also. Made sense to upgrade to a newer shifter. There was also the option of the 997 SSK but I didnt like the fact that it states may be hard to engage 1st when cold so the standard 997 seemed like the most logical upgrade.
Good luck with it!
Actually no marking cable is necessary. Just use the alignment tool to lock the 997 shifter first then connect the two cables to it once the shifter is bolted down and you're good to go. The whole point of the alignment tool is to make sure the alignment of the NEW shifter is correct. The alignmnent of the old shifter is irrelevant.
