356 'Quickshift'

[John Clarke]

Hi all
Don't know if there is any similarity of the 356 Gear Lever design, but years ago , we always had a spacer installed in all of our VW bugs and Ghias
to shorten the Gear Lever Throw. Think it was called a 'Quickshift'. It simply raised the Pivot Point, to reduce the travel
Is there any such item for the 356. Hadn't driven our 356 for a few years after body and Engine repairs and had forgotten what a long travel it is to change /swap gear
Cheers Jay

[Wes Bender]

There are "short-shift" kits available, but it's a trade-off. Less throw means more effort required. Most of the guys that I know that have tried these eventually went back to stock, but there were exceptions.

[Mike Wilson]

There are short shift kits for the early and late shifters. John Willhoit has one for the later shifters,

Mike

[Thomas Sottile]

Why would need a or want a quickshift for a 70 to 100 hp 356.

[Alex Parmenter]

I installed one of John Willhoits short shift kits on my 65 C (FYI a bit different to the old VW ones in that as well as the spacer plate the Willhoit one comes with a complete new shift lever). I installed last year and absolutely love it!! If you drive your 356 in a ‘spirited’ fashion, then I’d highly recommend!

[Jim Liberty]

I've done this also. I personally don't think is does anything to enhance the driver experience. In my not so humble opinion, the factory had everything right on these cars. That's why we love then so. ..........................Jim.

[Jon Schmid]

I'm of the school that if it works, don't (mess) with it...

[Jim Liberty]

John, I wish I could adhere to that. Call me "Mr. do it three times". .....Jim.

[Graeme Langford]

I would live with the longer throw than risk damaging gearbox internals with a quick shift mechanism

[Martin Benade]

Yes with the stock throw I can easily beat the synchros, isn’t that fast enough?

[Mike Wilson]

There would be a tendency to shift fast and beat the sychros but the other consideration is just shorter throw.

Mike

[Ron LaDow]

Had the Wilhoit part in the coupe since they came out; like it a lot. Not for speed; 356s need to be shifted out of a gear and then into the next. But the shorter travel makes shifting more comfortable, and in SF, you do a lot of that.
The car can easily be returned to stock; the original parts are in box other original items.

[Harlan Halsey]

I have a short shifter in my '59 Carrera, accomplished by extending the stock shift lever below the ball (not by me) and a stock shifter in my '58 Convertible D. On the street I much prefer the stock shifter, on the track the short shifter. The difference in effort is considerable. (In fact, the reduction in travel is in proportion to the increase in effort.)

[John Clarke]

Well, a mix of opinions. We always had these on the 'Low Powered' V Dubs.
I would have thought that with the raised Gear Lever pivot point, you would NOT be able to exert more force on the gear change, but simply reduce the huge amount of gear lever travel to select any gear. Ours is a 61 B T5 Coupe
Regards Jay

[Martin Benade]

If there is less travel of the gearshift there is less leverage to move the gears,hence more force is needed.