Fixing a sloppy Porsche 996/986 shifter

[@jamest5149]

The Porsche special tool for centralizing and setting the gear leaver is cheap and makes the adjustment of the cables easy 👍

[@mikl911]

Nothing like a crisp tight shifter. Nicely done.

[@frankoliveros9563]

Great video. Just put in the kit and YES wear eye protection the pieces go flying everywhere. Made such a big difference on the feel of the shifter. Thanks.

[@GarageBiljon]

I performed the same upgrade on my 996 GT3. Massive improvement!

[@MrJasperdeKnegt]

Ai, that alloy shift knob will become very hot in the summers when the car is parked outside. Beware! Nice tutorial!

[@alliedfroth]

I did the exact same as you to my 997 & the gearbox inserts made a big difference to the gear change.

[@gazzafloss]

Jeff, very good "how to" for that job, wish I had a Porsche to practice on. Keep the interesting vids coming.

[@andymac6816]

Hi Jeff, great video I did the upgrade yesterday myself - a job I’d never have attempted had I not been buoyed watching you enthusiastically tackling the shifter mechanics. shifting is way better 1-2 still bit sticky but above that it really fly’s 🙏 Andy

[@HomeBuiltByJeff]

Great to hear

[@mclarenjohnf1]

Sweet upgrade a good feeling gear selector makes a big improvement to how a car feels to drive,

[@watchthisspacecarchannel6523]

I like Jeff’s videos , I always forget something and have to do it twice too .i put a new shift knob in my sons car stupid thing is always coming loose ugh.. I understand the hate for that

[@1BCamden]

well done Jeff and Function First

[@mdewsnip6076]

On Monday I did a big drive in my 996 and it was great fun, the only frustrating aspect being the sloppy shifting. I've been tempted by the Function First solution but I think I'm going to go for the ultimate which is the Numeric Racing adjustable short shifter. Expensive but worth it in the end I hope. Thanks for the video!

[@grivoc]

I like that you show the mistakes you make, I hate when DIY guys show happy paths through mods!

[@miketdavies]

This was super helpful when installing my own 996 FF kit - thanks! Feels great now.

[@johnt.1288]

Thanks a lot Jeff. Now I have to go and do this to mine. 🙂 I have had the same complaint but been too lazy to do anything about it. This really seems simple enough and there is no excuse on my part not to do this. Thank you sir!!

[@darrenit7498]

Glad to see you got the engine mounts and gearbox bush inserts makes shifting feel nicer too. You will notice a little bit more NVH with the gearbox bush inserts at about 4000 rpm it does get a bit better after a few thousand ks.

[@rodanone4895]

+1 on function first. if you want razor sharp. add a numeric racing shift console. pricey. worth it. the local shop says i have the best shifting 996s they have ever driven. period. they also make replacement cables. but i haven't needed those... yet. coin holder on lefties too! lol

[@Bobafixit]

Great job, I did a similar kit on my Boxster... Personally I prefer the original shift nob...don’t throw that original shift nob away they are worth good money.

[@jungness]

I like the background tune

[@markkukucka8254]

Hi Jeff Great tutorial, very informative. How do you find out how everything comes apart (the console) and exactly what you need to do to assemble/ dissemble. Just lots of research I guess? Needing to do the same with my gear shift. Keep up the great work

[@HomeBuiltByJeff]

In this case Function First has complete step by step photos on their website.

[@MyBlueZed]

Mark Kukučka Everything is on KZbin or you could purchase the 101 Projects book from Pelican Parts.

[@deopersad2915]

Awesome 👍🏾 yeah I do that lots of times do things up then realised I had to put something else on first 😀 but it looks awesome 😀👍🏾

[@alanbuckingham8788]

Many people put the 997 shifter in to shorten the throw, but it does not fix the slop. Their are cheapie eBay replacements and I tried one of these and it worked quite well but not perfectly. My feeling with the 996 is that you either live with slop or upgrade to what you have done or an eBay cheapie and have a notchy shift.

[@martinespinosa]

Great video!. But I thought that you need the shift alignment tool to really improve the shifting as well.

[@HomeBuiltByJeff]

The shift alignment tool just helps you get the shifter sitting in the right location, but it is easy to do it without it.

[@jamest5149]

Good job... Replace the cables with 996 cup cables or Numeric’s own and replace the engine mounts with Elephant Racing or similar solid mounts, this will transform your gear change. * just spotted at the end of the vid, you have new engine mounts, they should improve the 2nd to 3rd gear change... now just the cables 😇

[@claudiomarangone614]

The previous owner of my 986S said Numerics cable made the shifter area Increased the NVH

[@cre8tivegarage157]

We agree sloppy shifting is a no go 🙅‍♂️

[@juanmaldonado3281]

SUPER. HELPFULL. AND. AWESOME. BLESSED VE. SIR. TNKS

[@YQLbeast]

Wow. Who would’ve thought that Australian Mel Gibson would help me fix my 996 shift issues 😂😂

[@tremblayjacques33]

If I read the title well, it works on the 986 Boxster too? Good job by the way!

[@HomeBuiltByJeff]

Yep. It also works on 987/997 ;)

[@tremblayjacques33]

Thanks a lot. Just bought my first Porsche ever so I'll do that. Keep up the good work!

[@TheDavidgalea76]

Hi Jeff not sure if you've been asked this before but was wondering if and why you didnt decide to use a short shift kit also?

[@charleswarriner5121]

When you went through all that work you should have used a $10 shifter alignment tool to realign it to account for cable stretch over the last 15 years.

[@HomeBuiltByJeff]

You don't need the alignment tool. It is super simple to adjust if need be.

[@andymuller8883]

Jeff, great video, not sure when it was done, I will buy the kit in the winter and replace mine as well. Normally the car is stored in the winter so i get the chance to do a few things to it. How is it to drive now, how is the new gear shifter, any movement please? I’m ok with working on my Porsche but taking that centre console out makes me really nervous. I don’t know why. How does it feel now after a few miles? Thanks Jeff, love your videos!

[@HomeBuiltByJeff]

It is 100 times better. So much nicer to drive.

[@andymuller8883]

Home Built By Jeff thanks! Keep up the good work! All the best from the UK.

[@danandyong6653]

What about the shifter connections at the trans? Can those be loose as well?

[@HomeBuiltByJeff]

They were pretty tight when I did the clutch.

[@nitefly87]

Hey Jeff, thanks for the video. I used your other video to install the rear view camera. wirks for a little while then stopped. changed then the reverse light switch, which was not working anymore, but still only sometimes the rearview camera works (no rear light). Could those gearshifter bushings be my problem, so the gear not correct touches the rearlight switch? best regars from sweden

[@HomeBuiltByJeff]

Maybe. I have no idea about the switch sorry.

[@MrKaiKai]

good video, thank you

[@brianwestmoreland9852]

Great lesson, should work on a 996 TT, right? Any worries about aluminum tape-it does have an edge, two actually-inside a plastic casting? Sounds like the definition of a plane. .

[@HomeBuiltByJeff]

Yep, works on the TT too.

[@bigjobs5900]

Hey Jeff, love the video. I might have to invest in one of those kits I think. I’m chasing that tiny little badge on your old shifter knob, I have the same one but the badge is missing. Would you be interested imparting with it? Or the whole assembly?

[@HomeBuiltByJeff]

I would prefer to keep it with the car for a future owner.

[@bigjobs5900]

Fair enough, love your work Jeff, look forward to more Alfa videos!! Awesome build.

[@MyBlueZed]

Apart from some sponsorship from Function First I’m surprised you didn’t go the short shifter route. I got one for my 2001 986 S and the part in the process where you need to break off the tabs is scary. No going back now! 🤣 The stock setup was awful and sometimes I selected reverse instead of first.

[@HomeBuiltByJeff]

I don't want a shorter throw, as the action is already stiff enough.

[@MyBlueZed]

Home Built By Jeff you don’t know what you are missing!

[@EdA-bz3bu]

Her 2000 Miata shifter embarrasses her 2001 Boxster S shifter. 🤦🏻‍♂️. In spring will look into what’s up with that.

[@hectorfuji]

Anybody out there with messed up synchronizers for second or third gears after installing short sifters on their 996’s ? My Mech advising to stay away from it and stall new factory shifter.

[@HomeBuiltByJeff]

I have never heard of anyone having that issue, and everyone I know with a 996 or 986 replaces the inferior factory part..

[@hectorfuji]

@@HomeBuiltByJeff thanks, my 996 is fully stock but would love the felling of a nice and steady short shifter specially since my shifter is wobbly, think gonna get a short shifter kit and install it myself.

[@matsleight]

Should have painted the centre console while it was out ;)

[@HomeBuiltByJeff]

I will probably paint it at some stage, but it is not something I will slap up in 5 mins ;)

[@nippy2013]

Nobody like sloppy 2nds

[@aldogallo18]

👍👍👍💪🇫🇷

[@markwalton8644]

Nothing worse than a sloppy knob😂