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Tue Jun 30, 2015 1:45 pm

I need/want to put a new shifter in my buggy but I'm not sure what is good and isn't. I don't want want to drop large coin on something but I'd like to have a nicer shifter. I know EMPI has one but, I've been told to beware of their products. (???) Some are good, some not so much.
thanx a bunch!

Tue Jun 30, 2015 2:32 pm

I have the EMPI T-handle shifter, and I love it. I had the original in it before. What a difference. Quick throws. I heard others who swear by the SCAT, but at the time I didn't want to spend the $ and maybe not like it. Thats why I went with what I have. I believe either one you get will be a improvement over the original, if thats what you have.

Tue Jun 30, 2015 3:26 pm

The saying goes 'You get what you pay for'......

A lot of the cheaper shifters on the market are sometime very hard to get positioned properly. I had a t handled one (either scat or empi, I dont remember) and didn't get oin with it at all.

I now run a Vintage Speed Black Mamba Sport shifter. Not cheap at all but an amazing piece of kit. Very, very, very well made. Only had to fit it once and it worked perfectly. Didn't need any adjustmenmt at all. Bit of a talking point too....

I know you said you didn't want to spend much but just food for thought....

Tue Jun 30, 2015 5:13 pm

I have a Bugpack T handle in my buggy and love it. I also have a Scat Dragfast shifter in my 57 and love it too. The Scat has very short throws and some guys find it hard to get used too, but I didn't have any problems. The Bugpack is not as short but it works just as well. I've also heard from people I know and trust that the Bugpack Shiftright shifter is a very good shifter.

brad

Tue Jun 30, 2015 6:29 pm

I have a Hurst and love it but they arent made anymore, sometimes I see them at the Bug O Rama swap meet but not often.

Tue Jun 30, 2015 8:35 pm

I have that same Bugpack T handle mentioned above in my kit car. Renewed all my shift hardware from the shifter on back to the tranny when I installed it. Buttery smooth precise shifts.

Tue Jun 30, 2015 8:41 pm

I love my Hurst shifter. Try this guy in the Samba classifieds
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=512669

-r

Wed Jul 01, 2015 6:02 am

GPM- curious, what type of seats are you running? They look nice. Any other pics?

Wed Jul 01, 2015 8:25 am

I have a Scat Dragfast shifter in my buggy and I really like it. It's crisp, the throws are short and precise and it looks nice in the buggy. The length is just right so I don't have to reach for it, and the T-handle is comfortable and looks nice. The reverse lock out works very well, and it's easy to get into reverse when you pull the trigger. A good value in my opinion, and an item I recommend.

Wed Jul 01, 2015 9:20 am

I'm running a scat with a modified shift ball on top. Once its adjusted its just fine. Mine was a used unit too.

you can see the ball in this pic...

Wed Jul 01, 2015 11:06 am

Roscoe wrote: GPM- curious, what type of seats are you running? They look nice. Any other pics?

Roscoe, they are made by a company called Cobra. The model I believe is the roadster SR.....

They are a lovely seat. Everyone who passengers in my buggy comments in how comfortable they are. Supportive in the right places, right angle of recline thanks to the Flatlands seat wedges, just a great seat. The colour matches the green very well. I only paid the equivalent of $180 for them. Drop me a pm if you'd like any more info/pics.

Op, big apologies for the thread hijack....!!

Thu Jul 02, 2015 6:21 pm

Thanx guys!! You are a great help. I believe I will be looking for a SCAT but whatever comes along out of what you all recommended will probably work. But. I think I like the SCAT.
'preciate it!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thu Jul 02, 2015 11:54 pm

Most aftermarket shifters work well as long as the linkage bush and rear coupling are in good order and in alignment.

Scat and Berg are precise but I find them a bit notchy. EMPI Hurst copy does the job nicely for 1/2 the price and tends to give a smoother shift and is my favorite.

Fri Jul 03, 2015 4:52 pm

Every Beetle I have owned had a quick shift kit installed. The cast aluminum one. Even the VW based autocross cars had it. Nice short throw. Very happy. Always had a ball shifty knob too. Lusted after a "T" handle in the very beginning way back when I got my 1st Bug like everyone else had. But didn't like it at all. Went back to a ball ever since. But I like the reverse lockout feature of the "T" handle. Therefore the Hurst with reverse lockout loop is in my current Buggy build. New in box 20 yrs old. Feels good.

Mike T

Sat Jul 04, 2015 9:33 am

Bigmikey,
Thanx for the insight. I too want to go autocross-ing with my buggy. It just sounds like fun but, I need a shifter first.
Any suggestions on other things to do to it for racing autocross??
Thanx!

Sat Jul 04, 2015 12:43 pm

totally agree. make sure all the supporting parts are new. New shift rod bushing and new coupler. We did a Billet coupler....nice unit.

Sat Jul 04, 2015 12:48 pm

slalombuggy wrote: I have a Bugpack T handle in my buggy and love it. I also have a Scat Dragfast shifter in my 57 and love it too. The Scat has very short throws and some guys find it hard to get used too, but I didn't have any problems. The Bugpack is not as short but it works just as well. I've also heard from people I know and trust that the Bugpack Shiftright shifter is a very good shifter.

brad x2

Sat Jul 04, 2015 5:17 pm

Skulptorchaz wrote: Bigmikey,
Thanx for the insight. I too want to go autocross-ing with my buggy. It just sounds like fun but, I need a shifter first.
Any suggestions on other things to do to it for racing autocross??
Thanx!

In the front run as much negative camber as you can. ball joint front ends, you can get offset balljoint eccentrics for the upper control arms to get more camber. In linkpin front ends you can buy offset link pin bushings that they use in Formula Vee racing. I run only one set of springs in the front and a formula Vee style swaybar in the upper tube. In the rear run a swaybar on IRS or a camber compensator if swingaxle. I could also look at bigger torsion bars in the rear. Race with a full tank of gas and get as much weight up front as you can. Don't run tires any wider than 7" in the front. For slicks I ran 20x7-13 slicks and for R compound tires 205/50 15. In the rear I ran 22x9.5-13s and R compunds were 225/45/15.

brad

Mon Jul 06, 2015 8:24 am

Hey thanx Brad!! I will start looking into those suggestions.
I have a king pin and swing axle.
I may have already screwed up as I am running 235/60R15 BF Goodrich's, which are 9" wide, up front.
When you say as much negative camber up front, are you talking just to the point of being able to still run them on the road? Or take it further?
Thanx again!
Chaz

Tue Jul 07, 2015 9:46 am

Soooo.... does anybody got a good used one for sale?? :)