http://www.gwd-weiser.de/index2.htm  (have to scroll down)

I got my mate to translate the ad for me...


Ultra-short fast gear changer in DTM (German touring Car Championship) look.
Whoever did not change gears fast enough with a 'Gene Berg' "extra short shift", and whoever believes that the polished Aluminium cage does not look 'racy' enough can now find the crowning glory to his street racer in this hand-made gear shifter.

This short shifter, based on Super Touring cars and Rallye cars is nothing for soft-cocks (literal translation is "soft testicles")

Aside from the extremely short and sharp gear travel, this shifter is also attractive due to it's proximity to the steering wheel. Thanks to the easy installation and high "show value", the Euro 469 price tag surely represents a good investment.

Does anyone know how much the short Berg shifters retail for? I think these end up being about $700 AUS

Say Tata to your synchro rings...

Looks like you might want to raise the tranny 3 or 4 inches too.

[Edited on 7-5-2004 by AdrianH]

Nope, no need to raise the tranny. I think it's still a H pattern item, just provides uber-tight/precise shifting. Any reason why you think the synchro rings would suffer? Is that quite common with short shifters? I know resting your hand on the gear lever ruins synchro rings so I assume having a short shifter also puts constant pressure on the synchros since the lever is always at the ready to be shifted.

Faster shifts forces the gears to engage more quickly than they would with a stock shifter. The tranny and gear design was based around the stock speed of changing, go faster and the wear is higher right ???
Any short shifter increases wear, shorter the shift higher the wear - thats how Ive had it explained to me by a guy that was employed to build VW trannys.

That is the shift rod coming out the back of the unit right ?

Good point, I thought since short shifters were tight they were loading the rod all of the time.

Nup, it's the handbrake dude.

Dude, where is the rice factor in that?!?!

Got an e-mail heading your way...

Its Friday and I need glasses. I think I will go and get my beer goggles on:beer

heh, I thought the same thing man, but I was freaking out at how much of an angle the rod was coming up at, lol. Then I saw another car with it in and realised it was the handbrake in that pic, not some shift rod coming up diagonally.