Cost of Short Shifters ? ! ? ! ? !

[donnw]

Hi All -

Hmmm - I noticed in my first week of driving my new P5 that a short shift would indeed be a nice mod - The stock isn't all that bad, but I used to drive a 3rd gen RX7 and got used to the shorter shift on it. But what's the deal here?

I've checked on short shifters from several places and they're all like $140 or $150 bucks! Is it just me, or does that seem like a HUGE sum to pay for a metal rod? Granted, it's not pot metal and there's some machining involved, but come on! It's not rocket science! Does anyone out there sell short shifters for a fair price???

There - now I feel better :-\

Peace & blessings

 

[pro5foote]

Kartboy sells their short shifters and brushings together for just over $100. Check www.kartboy.com

 

[macklum]

Make your own http://www.geocities.com/MotorCity/Downs/8175/shortshift.htm I did this . it works .total cost 10 bucks and my time . I have done this on 2 cars .

 

[donnw]

Hi Macklum --

Great idea! I think I'll try it. I'm doing some head scratching at the moment to see if I can mod my stock air intake to make the car breath easier & cooler, w/o resorting to a $150 pipe. The challenge is to make meaningful mods with low cost, yet professional appearance... Thanks for the info...

Peace & blessings...

 

[donnw]

hmmmm - you're double blessed!

 

[Don]

I think the biggest problem with the OEM shifter isn't so much the length of the throw, but all the wobble that the p!ss poor OEM ball/socket adds to the mix - I wouldn't care for mine at all if I merely added a bit of metal below the fulcrum just to shorten the shifts - And believe me, I thought of doing exactly that . . . . There's a welder in my garage.

When you look at the beautiful piece of machined stainless of the B&M, you'll understand the price - It looks like a piece of jewelry, and their SUPER ball/socket joint is far superior to anything else I've seen. Easily worth the $140 and MORE.

You're gonna shift with it a hundred times a day for the next XX years - Pay your $$$ and get the "real McCoy"

Don

 

[Red Baron]

Here's what the B&M looks like

 

[KYREDP5]

Hi Macklum --

Great idea! I think I'll try it. I'm doing some head scratching at the moment to see if I can mod my stock air intake to make the car breath easier & cooler, w/o resorting to a $150 pipe. The challenge is to make meaningful mods with low cost, yet professional appearance... Thanks for the info...

Peace & blessings...

Go fot the $40 e-bay one. I've got pictures if you click down on my sig. So far I'm very pleased with it, and it looks very good.

 

[andy_guerriero]

Out of curiosity, what advantages do upgraded bushings provide, if you have a B&M shifter already installed?

 

[Don]

It's supposed to make the shift pattern "tighter"

When I installed the B&M, it was already a little tighter than I really cared for - It took 6 or 8K miles before the B&M "broke in" and I really LIKED the way it felt. I've had it in there for 15K now, and it's just perfect.

If you're installing a B&M, I strongly suggest you just do that first, and then when (if ever) you decide it needs a little tightening up, I'd order the bushings.

Don

 

[donnw]

Hey Don (or anyone else) -- You've got me thinking again - had you tried anyone's car with the Kartboy shifter or do you have any idea how it would fare as far as ball joint 'slop'? Can anything be done to improve the stock shifter joint?
Thanks much!

 

[fastdrvr23]

The bushings alone on a stock shifter make a huge improvement. I was dead set on getting a short shifter, just to get rid of the "rubbery" feel of the shift gates... I'm happy enough with the bushings that I've yet to get a short shifter after 19,000 miles. It was well worth the $20 it cost, hell, for what it did, I would have paid more...