I recently bought my first P car. I am wanting to find out someway to tell if it has one already. Is there an easy way to tell? I do not have another one to compare it to. And I have been driving Jeeps for years. The shifter moves two foot on the old Jeeps.

 

You can run your VIN and see if it came as an option on your car. http://www.autoatlanta.com/life/vin/vin.php

I'm not sure how to tell if a previous owner installed it... Mine has it, but I haven't driven one without to compare.

 

It's kind of hard to explain...

Besides being shorter, I feel the SSK is "notchier" and has a very positive feel when a gear is engaged - and that is why I like it the most, there is just no way to "half engage" a gear with the SSK. Note that the standard shifter on a 997 is shorter than the standard shifter on a 996, so you will need a 997 to compare.

If it was not factory installed, the only way I could see to be sure would be to either open it to check the P/N or to do an A/B comparison with another car.

So, my suggestions is this: Just find out when the next PCA DE track event in your area is and there will be plenty of cars to compare .

You: "Honey, I an just going out to check if I have an SSK on my car..."
Honey: "Huhuhhhh"
You: "I'll be back in a couple of hours"
Honey: "Yeah, right, and why are you bringing your helmet?"

Regards,

T.

 

I checked the vin and it did not come with one. As far as I can tell it is completly stock every other way so I dont think it has one. I will have to check on going to one track events. Still need to join PCA

 

I just measured my sport shifter throw. It is about 3.5" between first and second gear, measured from the middle of the shifter ****.

 

I'll try to remember to measure mine when I get home tonight.

T.

 

Here are some photos of the stock vs SS when I put mine in. They were almost identical looking, except the "pivot block" (for the lack of a better term) make the stick sit higher.Y ou can see this just by lifting up the boots (see photo).

 

On a 997 the short shifter would be noticably shorter and a bit notchy unless installed by a pro with the correct adjustment tool. The 3 1/2 " throw is pretty much the same as my stock shifter and for my taste short enough. If you decide to do it I would suggest you do it in such a way as to allow yourself the option of returning it to stock if you don't like it. (Requires a complete and seperate shifter housing ) My Boxster needed the short shifter, my 997 did not IMO.

 

Thanks guys. I will check it out when I get home.

 

Way too much time on your hands Ken!

 

Ed: One only has to look at our rep scores to determine who really has too much time on their hands. Plus, it took me all of a minute.

 

here's the easy way:

if u have a difficult time putting it in first gear when the engine is cold, u have the ssk..

btw, best mod for the money !

 

it is hard to get into first when cold bit i thought they all were?

 

You're right. This isn't a very precise way to make the determination.

 

no, not as precise as:my bad.. i've only had the original shifter for short time..