Bitten by the Mod Bug

I was just minding my own business, and I unexpectedly found myself making modifications to my beloved '99 996 - minor alterations that I was able to complete with the help of a friend or by myself. My friend Jeff and I installed a factory short shift kit on Sunday morning, and I installed SRP Racing aluminum pedals this evening - black anodized finish. Next modifications, I'm dropping my 996 off in 2 weeks to have the ROW M030 suspension and the Fister D mufflers installed. Then it's off to Drivers Ed at VIR. Here are some photos: - The orig. shifter from 1998 - The new 997 short shifter (the green piece is the centering tool to ensure that neutral is in the center - included with the OEM part) - The installed short shifter before re-installing the center console - The original factory pedals - The new aluminum SRP Racing pedals (easier heel-toe) For those who noticed that the foot rest on the left is slightly crooked, I'll be adjusting that tomorrow. This modification feeling could get out of hand very easily....I should have learned from you guys who told me that this might happen. Bob

sweet !!

Nice. How easy/hard was the short shifter install?

It was very straightforward, but I had the help of a friend who had installed a dozen of them in the past. Also, we had a tech session that focused on short shifter installation. So, it was a lot less intimidating for me to take apart the center console than it might have been had I never seen it before. I took photos of every step, if you'd like me to send them to you. I can also post them to this thread, if you'd prefer.0 It's worth the effort. Bob

Whatever is easier for you.

On a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being the most difficult, installing the short shifter is a 2 or 3. It will take you about 2 hours, the first time and about 1 hour if you were to do it a second time.

I did the short shift mod, very easy. Hardest part was to get the **** **** out the way... but after a trick picked up on an old thread, it was very easy. BTW, the trick was to use two screw drivers, place them horizontally, at the bottom o each side of the ****, then you can pull vertically by putting your hand on the **** extremities. If not pulling the **** is hard because the more you pull, the more you compress it, thus making it gripping even more to the rod. Anyways, easy and fun to do. BTW(2), I did not had the little green thingy to keep the shift **** to neutral and I had no problem to adjust the cables to that all gears would shift properly, it is quite easy to test and adjust, before mounting back the center console. go for it ! BTW(3), you should do the exhaust install yourself, it is quite easy and very fun as well.

nice, dig the pedals, how was it using those for the first time?

Thanks for the encouragement on the muffler installation, Phil. I've been very tempted, but I haven't had a lot of time. Labor Day weekend may be the perfect time. I"ve looked for a DIY guide, but I couldn't find one. Also, taking the shift **** off the shifter was extremely easy in my 1999 996 - I pulled up on the leather boot, and pulled the rest of it up - Jeff told me that the later 996s have a more challenging construct. Also, the instructions for the B&M short shifter kit were excellent ( http://www.bmracing.com/PRODUCTS/Por...-Sport-Shifter ). They walk you through with photos all the way. The biggest diff. between the OEM part and the B&M seems to be that the OEM part gives you the neutral positioning tool and the entire base is included (makes it kind of a plug and play process). But, I wish the OEM part had full metal construction like the B&M - admittedly, a novice's POV. The only point at which we questioned what we were doing was at the point we were installing the cables on the new shifter. We marked the cables to ensure the same setting on the shifter. The passenger side cable needed it. The driver side cable only had 1 way to go in (with the neutral centering tool on the shifter) - didn't match the mark we made based on the original shifter. When I tested the shifter, it was perfect. So, I assume the new 997 short shifter must be pre-set to the correct setting on that one cable. One other thing - when I removed the little brass clips from the cables, I pulled them off while the cables were still in the base of the shifter - tried to re-install them with the cables in the new base. Not easy. I realized you can remove/install the brass clips once the cables have been pulled from the base - much easier. Last advice - check the prices for the OEM part online. Your Porsche dealer might price-match the best price you find. Leith Porsche in Cary did. Saved several of us PCA guys about $100 each. GNR996 - I'll be trying the pedals today for the first time. I'll let you know how it goes. Bob

BTW, you can see the brass clips I referred to in my previous post in the lower right hand corner of the last photo above. Bob

Bob, Here is a link to a post I made about the muffler install! Muffler Install

Hey RK: I posted a question to the group, thread was entitled "Muffler Change" and I beleive Dennis C wrote back the 5 or six "simple" steps to swapping out the mufflers....while it isn't a video it does seem pretty "doable." the post was earlier this week. Like you, I have a firend on his way in, we are doing some mods this weekend.........all i know is that this is a slippery slope, once you start.......it doens't seem to end....but the results are better and better. GL with the swap out.

Always nice to see another 'mod' performed...congrats.

Is the 997 shifter the regular 997 shifter which gives a reduction of about 15% over the regular 996 shifter? This is about $180. Or is it the 997 sport shifter that's closer to $500? If it's the $180 I'm curious to hear your feedback on how it feels.

I had a 997 shifter in my car and really didnt think my old one was bad....until I replaced it with that!! OMG they are sweet! I picked it up for free and threw it on the shelf for 6 months, then people told me toinstall it and reluctantly I listened THANKFULLY !!! You can get a stock 7 shift assy and put in a SSK.... these pop up all the time ALOT cheaper than $180

This is a great mod..... after wards it hits you.... why did you wait so long. The Porsche crack starts to get in your veins.

I need more Cowbell! Love the mods.

Bob, your first mistake was hanging around me and the rest of the mod *****'s! Welcome to the slippery slope club.

The mod bug has gotten to me as well, with an adiction thats hard to cure. Especially difficult when you're attending lots of DE events and meet others crazier than you. Another member of "SLIPPERY SLOPE CLUB"

Nice work! Piece of cake isn't it?!

Piece of cake to do or piece of cake to get bitten by the bug?

I am already at the bottom of the slippery mod slope, having an apr�s ski beer.

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Glad to hear there is a bottom; I can't see it.

THe problem is that once you get the bottom you realize that it was just the bottom of the top slope. There is still another slope that connects to keep you heading down the hill.

I fear this might be true. I can imagine the following internal monologue: "Dude, this car has depreciated to negative value. Thanks to internet trolls, you would have to pay someone to tow it away. You'll never see a penny of that $347,582 you spent on mods. So you may as well be hung for a sheep as a lamb. The little lady will surely see the logic that turning this into a supercharged track monster with dubs and in-dash video is cheaper than selling it. In fact, it's practically an investment! Let's get a reverse mortgage on the country place and get started. We're going to be rich..." Something like that.

just ordered lowering springs for mine today

James - the shifter I installed is the 997 sport shifter that's usually $500. I drove the 996 with the new pedals and the short shifter this morning - absolutely a joy! Heel-Toe was so much easier with the accelerator pedal extensions that I have now. Also, the brake and clutch pedals are just a little bit larger. My foot slides from pedal to pedal easier without being slippery at all. As for making the mistake of hanging out with mod junkees, you did give me fair warning! I just didn't steer in the opposite direction. Bob

Doctors: Thank you, all! You all collectively have now confirmed (for me) that I am a certified carrier of the "mod" bug. Definately, hazardous to your wallet (possibly relationship with significant other....I recommend that you wisk away the boxes, when they arrive and immediately remove the bit n' pieces and flaten out the box before she arrives). Sounds like my diagnosis might be terminal? Thankfully, I might be able to report that I am ONLY experiencing stage 1 sumptoms and I, hopefully, have quite a while to go before the disease really starts to do its devastating effect on multiple fronts. I'll take two aspirin, with small glass of scotch, hope for the best. Cheers to the Slippery Slope Club (SSC)!

It is sooooo wonderful to be able to DO STUFF to my car. I have been modding along for years now, a little at a time. It's nice to have the Perfect Porsche - a 996. The newer generations cars folks all worry about depreciation and resale value and perfect paint and keeping it perfectly original (like as if it was the friggin Mona Lisa) and yadda yadda yadda. The Porsche generations behind us worry that their aircooled "collectible" will be damaged or dinged or get too many miles on it or get wet or get dirty. LOLOLOLOL!!!!! We 996'ers are FREE to do whatever we want without worrying about resale value or depreciation. It IS the Perfect Porsche. FREE, I TELL YOU! FREE! Enjoy the time with your car NOW. Drive it. Track it. Take it to the mountains and the ocean. Some day some freak will write in a magazine about how the 996 is actually the perfect Porsche to own for a Porsche enthusiast and the party will be over. Owners will seek deep shelter like the 993 owners to "protect their investment." What a crock! It is a friggin mass-produced street Porsche. DRIVE IT and MOD IT until the day you expire. You'll be glad you did.

I squirrel away $100 bucks every week just for my car. I'm on a budget and don't make 200K a year. I sleep very well at night knowing I have a killer of a car!

"...slicker than catsh#t on linoleum" I slipped and fell; and don't wanna get back up. Thundertub is right 996 is the best "driver's" Porsche.

Yessiree: Once the bug hits, your done. I'm sure I will say, why did I wait this long? and the FS thread, its like an addiction, "oh" will that fit"? Naw, not yet, this and this first.............almost like a kid in a candy store.

I like Thundertub's post. To me, the ideal Porsche isn't the newest one you can afford to buy, it's the newest one you can afford to own .

Guys...a newbie here with my first weekend with my 996. Holy crap...already bitten by the Mod Bug....can you explain to me the right shifter...don't quite understand the 997 detailed in the above posts. The cost would be cool to know too! I agree...the 996 is the perfect Porsche

Nice mods. The 997 SSK is one of the best mods for the money and is an easy DIY. One little trick on marking the cables. I used masking tape instead of a Sharpie. The sharpie works fine but requires steadier hand than I have. The masking tape was even more accurate than the sharpie IMO.

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I installed the B&M Short Shifter in my 996 C4 and it is amazing the difference it makes in control and performance Enjoy your car.

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are these the 60$ ones on ebay?

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No quite, it was about $250.00 . Well worth the investment

At the risk of sounding like a complete idiot - for those that have done the SSK mod, what are your thoughts on mis-shifts? While I would like to think I know how to drive my 6SPM, is there greater tendencies/risks of accidently dropping into 1st vs. 4th (as an example)? And, while my wife would rarely (if ever) drive the P-Car, I would hate for her to mis-shift as well. By her own admission, she does have blonde moments ;-)

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Speaking for myself, I'd say that the SSK reduces that risk rather than increasing it. I found the OE shifter vague, especially if you thought about it too much. If you have money burning a hole in your pocket, the SSK combined with a shorter stack shift **** like Porsche's Exclusive one, and the RS motor mounts, and even your dog won't miss a shift

LOL! Sounds like a pretty compelling vote toward SSK....although my dog complains that he can't get his paws around the shift lever. I could try duct tape, I suppose.

And here I'm thinking what a pleasure it is to drive my 996. It shifts soooo nicely. Of course that is coming off a 915 in an old SC. I just haven't gotten to the point yet that the stock shifter feels vague.

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It's all relative, right? I came out of contemporary BMWs, so the frame of reference was pretty different. And, to be fair, I'll admit that my mods do increase effort and the shifter is not quiet or buttery going into first.

All relative is right. My 996 is the first 'civilized' sports car I've ever owned. It's been a huge adjustment for me. The car feels so much heavier and bigger (I guess because it is) than in used to. I'm gradually gaining trust in it and I'm consistently impressed with every time I push it further. I suppose at some point it will feel harsh and rough like the others did eventually.

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I haven't noticed it being more difficult, but it is crisper. Also, the vertical throw is where the real difference. The lateral travel although shorter, isn't as drastic. I haven't mistaken 1st for 3rd or 3rd for 5th yet. No issues at all.

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I get it. That's the conundrum of the 996, in my mind... it's between worlds. To me, a 10 lb-per-horsepower car with no traction or stability control and no amenities other than a radio and air conditioning seemed like the quintessential sports car.