Yes perhaps someone else that also has actual experience can join the discussion.
Rupunzell:
"Done this several times over the decades of exxe ownership. Each and every time the length of the shifter goes back to the OEM length. Shorter shifter does not reduce gear change time as the Porsche syncro's gear speed synchronization time is not going to change with a shorter shifter. The shorter shifter has an added risk of exceeding the synchro's required time to synchronize gear speed.
While the shifter force is higher for a shorter shifter, the shifter position being increased (longer) from the steering wheel is a negative. The original designed in ergonomics for the distance between shifter to steering wheel and position of the upper body-arm-hand to steering wheel-shifter is good. Part of the feel of driving an exxe comes from this ergonomic choice made by the folks at Berton-Fiat.
For those who decide to shorten the shifter, the threads are M10x1.25. The shifter should be sawed off then the end prepared and threaded on a lathe. Using a threading die almost always results in off axis threads which is not good. There will need to be a shoulder to act as thread stop for the shift knob.. which should be a round sphere.
Bernice"
carl:
"My only experience with this on an X is a friend's 5-speed X. I hated it and the shift action felt very vague, to the point I was never sure I was in gear or not. Let's face it, the shift action on an X or 128 is not that great and shortening your leverage at the ball just seems to make matters worse. However it is a matter of taste and if you have done this mod and like it then who is to argue with that. I think getting a spare shifter is not that hard so if you make the mod and don't like it, it's easy enough to go back to stock."
jrl665:
"I (finally) finished my short shifter. I mostly wanted to reduce the slop in the shifter, but figured that while I was at it I could shorten the throws. I didn't want to cut the lever above the pivot because I like the position of the knob in relation to the steering wheel.
I removed the plastic end piece from the shifter and replaced it with a piece of machined aluminum, with a sintered bearing pressed in. A stainless steel threaded spacer fits in the bearing.
The stock shifter is 65mm from the pivot ball to the hole for the shift rod. I made my aluminum piece attach to the shifter with set screws so I could change the length, but now that I have driven it I am not going to change the length. I have it set for 85mm from pivot ball to shift rod, and I really like it.
Jim"
So where were all of these (and more) replies? ...
There have been prior discussions on this, anyone have links to them?