DIY Short shifter?

[Ride92]

Saw on here awhile back that some one was able to move the ball on the stock OEM shifter to make it a short shifter. How is that possible and can I do it too? Any info on this would be great and yes I looked thru every post regarding shifter so I know how to use search function. Money is tight since I'm unemployed and this sounds like a cool project. I know it's easyier to get a short shifter like a TWM, Corksport, pacesetter, B&M, kartboy(no longer made) or even a cheap-o ebay one. I'm a bit scared about the ebay ones beacuse of the design. I used one in my probe but it was a single peice with the ball not a cup and ball like the ones for the Pro5. I don't want to go crazy short on top as I kinda like where the stock height is just a bit shorter. I was thinking I'd get a B&m for that reason but $130 bucks is too much for me at this time.

If anyone has pics of there shifters installed and the height of them I would love to see them like next to a ruler or something. Thanks everyone.

 

[P-Funk!]

This would yield a short handle - but long THROW shifter.

Meh.

Save your money for maintenance and leave it alone.

 

[drgnzadiel101]

ewww i'd find that very uncomfortable

 

[yangsui]

Someone on a Polish (I think) mazda forum has done it on an MX-3:
http://www.mazdaspeed.pl/forum/viewtopic.php?t=34650

The pictures should be helpful. Supposedly, the shifter in our proteges are very similar so you can do the same.

^^And moving the ball up will = lower shifter height AND shorter throw.

 

[raserx]

Saw on here awhile back that some one was able to move the ball on the stock OEM shifter to make it a short shifter. How is that possible and can I do it too? Any info on this would be great and yes I looked thru every post regarding shifter so I know how to use search function. Money is tight since I'm unemployed and this sounds like a cool project. I know it's easyier to get a short shifter like a TWM, Corksport, pacesetter, B&M, kartboy(no longer made) or even a cheap-o ebay one. I'm a bit scared about the ebay ones beacuse of the design. I used one in my probe but it was a single peice with the ball not a cup and ball like the ones for the Pro5. I don't want to go crazy short on top as I kinda like where the stock height is just a bit shorter. I was thinking I'd get a B&m for that reason but $130 bucks is too much for me at this time.

If anyone has pics of there shifters installed and the height of them I would love to see them like next to a ruler or something. Thanks everyone.

I saw that project.... the guy used a hydraulic press I believe.

 

[justanothermp5]

yea TWM moved the ball up on there shifters which is why there throw is so short, and also why you need spacers on the heat shield

i can try to do this sometime, i have an extra stock shifter laying around, cant hurt
i was goin to try and shorten the top of it too, should be shorter then my B&M lol

 

[ToNeZ90]

Whats the difference in the ball and cup joint? (besides the look)

 

[Ride92]

This would yield a short handle - but long THROW shifter.

Meh.

Save your money for maintenance and leave it alone.

No, that's what a short shifter is, longer section below the pivot and shorter section above the pivot then what stock was. I want to try to press the ball higher up the shaft so that there is maybe an extra .75" below the ball pivot and see if that works but I don't have a press at my disposal.

 

[ornithology]

Where can you find short shifters other than the TWM for sale anyways? Ie. Kartboy, B&M? I'm also curious as to where I can get weighted knobs for under the $99 TWM sells them for.

 

[justanothermp5]

protege garage.com
crossover auto
speed circuit.net

 

[theEZV]

the megan ss you can get for $50, its the same thing as the b&m. corksport now makes the kartboy shifter. i have the kartboy shifter and a greddy weighted knob, feels good

 

[Ride92]

Ok, back on topic. Can the shift pivot ball be moved on a stock shifter? Anyone have a spare aroung to try it with? I was thinking heating the s*** out of it and then and using something to pound the ball in the direction needed.

 

[ornithology]

the megan ss you can get for $50, its the same thing as the b&m. corksport now makes the kartboy shifter. i have the kartboy shifter and a greddy weighted knob, feels good

Where?? It's $59.99 at places I've found and I don't think it includes the poly bushings? And I can't find the kartboy shifter at all?

 

[HKPRO5]

I would just get the MSP shifter (i have one on my P5) I got it for like 20 bucks here on the forum.

 

[ornithology]

Where would I find that? Or did you infer to waiting at the marketplace? How does the MSP SS match up to the other SS's anyways? Thanks HK.

 

[HKPRO5]

Well the throw isnt much shorter the height of the shifter is. It feels good i say.

I would suggest putting up a WTB thread in the forsale section.

 

[00bluees]

Ok, back on topic. Can the shift pivot ball be moved on a stock shifter? Anyone have a spare aroung to try it with? I was thinking heating the s*** out of it and then and using something to pound the ball in the direction needed.

yes it can be moved. also if you want it shorter you can remove the top section of the shifter and thread the main section to put a knob on to make it the same length as the msp shifter.

i have yet to do this myself but i've seen it done a few times.

 

[yangsui]

^LOL. Moving the ball up AND removing the top section would probably result in the shortest shifter possible for our pros. Would need to bend down just to reach the shift knob

Someone needs to do this...and post pics!

 

[funkytuqe]

Another option if you don't have a press is to cut a 2" (or so) section out of the shift rod above the pivot ball then weld it back together. Then take a portion of the 2" section you cut out (about 0.75" would be good) and cut the lower part of the shift rod (below the pivot ball) and weld in the 0.75" piece.
This will give you a shorter shifter and reduce the throw as well.

I'm going to try this in a month or so. i will post a how-to if there is not one already.

 

[Ride92]

Another option if you don't have a press is to cut a 2" (or so) section out of the shift rod above the pivot ball then weld it back together. Then take a portion of the 2" section you cut out (about 0.75" would be good) and cut the lower part of the shift rod (below the pivot ball) and weld in the 0.75" piece.
This will give you a shorter shifter and reduce the throw as well.

I'm going to try this in a month or so. i will post a how-to if there is not one already.

That's another option to consider... I think I'll try to get another stock shifter for a guine pig and try a few things. I believe my dad has a shop press that could be used to do the job but it's in wisconsin and I'm in Oregon, he also has a welder and I do not... Damn.