Open Road

$35.00 gets this delivered to your door via USPS. It came off my 1981. I am going back to all standard shifter levers on my 928s

Looks like a Devek unit.

Got one in my ‘89.

Not sure who made it, I've had it since like 2006-2007. I'm done with all these shifter modifications. They really don't need anything in my opinion. These cars shift better with the stock levers.

Couldn't agree more. In fact, I much prefer the "long sticks" on the early cars - the knob is much closer to your hand, for a quicker movement. Think of the modern Carrera GT - while the shift lever itself may be short, it is mounted high on the center consol so that the reach is very short too.

Yeah, the OEMs spend millions developing this stuff and then people try to make improvements and often times it's for no good reason. This doesn't change the fact that I believe the 928 needs a lot more power! 320HP with emissions compliance was a lot in 1987...but it's nothing at all today. Things I see which really make no sense to my engineering mind:

Running rims which are wider than tires just for the look (i.e. stretched tires)
Trucks lifted and on low profile car type tires (trucks run narrower high sidewall rubber for a reason)
Tinted out lighting on head light or tail lights
H-Beam connecting rods (one of my largest gripes and what I call the biggest scam on the auto aftermarket)
Street cars that have to run race or exotic fuels to achieve power claims(different mindset than on a track/ race car)

Maybe at 52 years old now I am jest getting into more of an older mindset. You sometimes realize the designs were so near to perfect as they left the manufacturer. Take for example the lines on a 308, 288GTO, or a 512BBi Ferrari. The older these designs get, the better they look to me. The 512BBi is a good example where it looks much better than the successor, the Testarossa The classic Porsche shape is also timeless and still employed today, mainly in the 911 series. Look what they did with the 997...the back styled it to look more like the 993 after people complained about the 996 styling. I think the same ideas/methods hold true for the mechanical designs and their functionality. Now...I need to find a 512 project car to tinker with and that's a tall order!

Have to chuckle somewhat, the mentality of “the factory did SO MUCH RESEARCH on this part that I think is fine, but not enough on these areas that I think I could improve on” is a very common mindset in the 928 mechanic world.

I think in the case of the short shifter for 928, it's that anything the decreases the leverage the driver has to shift the transmission is a move in the wrong direction. I was floored at how much better my S4 shifted once I got rid of the short shifter. Now, who wants to buy this useless part?

So I have a unit like this and I’m guessing it’s a 928 Motorsports unit. Or Carl got these from the same supplier as other vendors.
I remember the sales pitch now, the holes where further apart to reduce lever travel and shorten throws.
I think it helped my car, but more likely credit was due to the fact I replaced front and rear couplers at the same time.

My gripe on the stock shifter was that it appeared so long and bulbous;) I don’t know.
Like women, shifters vary in shape right?

Crumpler wrote: ↑Tue Jun 21, 2022 9:00 pm My gripe on the stock shifter was that it appeared so long and bulbous;) I don’t know.

The “fat” shift knob/boot for ‘91+ is the best money you can spend on improving shift feel.

Hans’ stuff after that.

My wife calls the pre-‘91 shifter … nah… you don’t want to know.

My 86 came with veins Dave.

Crumpler wrote: ↑Tue Jun 21, 2022 10:47 pm My 86 came with veins Dave.

Oy!

Not the image I need during morning coffee!

it's probably a 928specialist's shifter from the looks.

That being said, if you have never tried Hans' setup, you are missing out. I have tried the stock lever, a cut stock lever, 928specialists, lizard shifter - his design is by far the best and if you do the Torque tube clamp upgrade, that removes the fundamental shifter sloppiness that happens when those bushings go bad.

checkmate1996 wrote: ↑Wed Jun 29, 2022 2:29 pm it's probably a 928specialist's shifter from the looks.

Each vendor anodized them a different color. Pretty sure the red one was Devek. I have the prototype in my ‘89GT. But, I haven’t seen it in 20 years.

There was a blue one. I think that’s in my ‘91GT. From a different vendor.

I could also have them mentally swapped.

For what is worth, I joined the 928 community after devek was nothing more than memories and occasional parts from one owner to another.

The shifter I bought from 928 specialists was painted or anodized red, as are the ones in the listing on their page.

Hey_Allen wrote: ↑Thu Jun 30, 2022 7:11 am The shifter I bought from 928 specialists was painted or anodized red, as are the ones in the listing on their page.

LoL. I didn’t think to check the website.

You win!

The blue ones must be Devek.

I can make it more confusing.
This red one is from Horicon WI with love, circa 2013.

Maybe I should offer it for free and include a $10.00 bill?

Herr-Kuhn wrote: ↑Thu Aug 11, 2022 12:51 pm Maybe I should offer it for free and include a $10.00 bill?

I'll take it when you include $20 and free shipping.

Herr-Kuhn wrote: ↑Mon Jun 13, 2022 12:32 pm Yeah, the OEMs spend millions developing this stuff and then people try to make improvements and often times it's for no good reason.
....
Maybe at 52 years old now I am jest getting into more of an older mindset. You sometimes realize the designs were so near to perfect as they left the manufacturer.

The problem is the 91 GT was actually delivered OEM with a shorter shifter. I prefer it to the longer OEM one on the early cars.

Now, Hans' mechanism is clearly not OEM, but is also better with regards to precision and longevity. I wouldn't go back on either of my cars now.