Ken shot me an email on Thursday asked if I were interested in trying out E4 Performance's new short shifter. ...obviously, I obliged. I ran over to Protege Garage and picked it up, and finally got a chance to put it in this afternoon.
The kit is supplied with everything you see here (excluding the mail and change):
It includes the shifter, a bushing set, and a few paperclips (to make one piece of the installation process possible without someone else's assistance).
The piece is CNC machined, TIG welded for durability and, when viewed side-by-side with the stocker, should last just as long.
Well, the installation took about an hour- 15 minutes of which was spent searching for one of the center console bolts I misplaced- and it went right in as I thought it would.
There was a minor issue of the spring-loaded pin for the reverse lockout making the slightest amount of contact with a plastic piece on the shifter assembly. I took a file to it for about 30 seconds and the problem was solved.. and, as would be expected from PG's customer service, Ken has assured me that the issue will be dealt with before any are shipped out to people.
I've never had a reason to remove the center console before, but it was hardly the painstaking operation I thought it would be. Installing the bushings was as easy as can be... there were one or two parts that could prove frustrating in installing the shifter, but it's nothing that can't be done. Like I said- it took me an hour without ever having touched this before.
And now for the results. This shifter is a full 2" lower than stock.
It's low. Real. Low. For reference, TWM claims to be a 1.75" drop.
(forgive my arthouse cell phone picture. I'll take a better one when I have some more light tomorrow)
Combined with the bushings, the shift feel is absolutely flawless. There is a ~33% reduction in throw, by my math, and once you are in gear you are locked in.
The best way I can liken this to the options already on the market is... this is a slammed TWM shifter with the "notchy" Cobb feel. Every movement is very reassuring to the driver.
I also took the time today to grind down my shift weight. Between the shifter, the bushings, and the weight, combined with my preexisting mounts & ETD, the car feels nothing like a factory car anymore. Every shift is smooth as glass and every movement is that slightest bit quicker.
All-in-all, I couldn't be more satisfied. This kit blows the other guys out of the water when you account for price ($150 retail for the shifter w/ bushings), and has no problems straight out of the box. It may not be the option for you if you have seen the TWM and feel it's too short, but what can I say? I luv the nub.
dude where can i buy this SS???????????
