short shifters... which one is better?

[Cheese]

not sure how to put, whether i should say which one is better, or which one is more worth it?

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Kartboy

Shifter :: $90 :: http://spool-turbo.com/kb03mp3.html

Shifter + Bushing :: $105 :: http://spool-turbo.com/kb04mp3.html

Shifter + Bushing + knob :: $135 :: http://spool-turbo.com/kb05mp3.html

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B&M

Shifter :: $135 :: http://www.optauto.com/webstore/pro...variation=&aitem=1&mitem=3&back=yes&dept=1035

Shifter :: $145 :: http://protege5online.com/For_Sale_Page/B_M_Short_Shifters/b_m_short_shifters.html

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TWM

Short Shifter :: $122 :: http://www.twmperformance.com/shortshifters/mazdashifters.htm

Shorter Shifter :: $151 :: http://www.twmperformance.com/shortshifters/mazdashifters.htm

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i am leaning towards the kartboy + bushing + knob set, but am looking for input...

anyone have any preferences? is the installation going to be the same for each?

 

[70]

Not this question again...

KARTBOY!!

'nough said...

 

[Cheese]

So anyways, i went with Kartboy... (like i said, i was already leaning towards the Kartboy + bushings + knob combo)... spool-turbo is awaiting a shipment of the knob i ordered, they expect it in by this coming Tuesday; so hopefully i will have it by next weekend!

 

[KYREDP5]

Get a snap ring removal tool!!! It makes the job 5 million times eaiser.

 

[azeli73]

I ordered the kartboy SS and bushing three days ago. hehehe can't wait! what'd you pay for the snap ring removal tool?

 

[Cheese]

do you know if i can get it from like a Kragen's Auto Parts or a PepBoys? (not sure if those stores are only in the Bay Area, so some of you may not know what the hell i am talking about)

 

[KYREDP5]

I ordered the kartboy SS and bushing three days ago. hehehe can't wait! what'd you pay for the snap ring removal tool?

They can be had for less than $15. I think that's about what I paid for it. It can be done w/o one but it is much eaiser with one.

 

[Snype451]

Just out of curiosity, why Kartboy over TWM? With kartboy it loks like you shoudl get their bushings as well but with the TWM 2nd gen shifter you get industrial grade ball bearings at the pivot point.

Thoughts?

 

[Cheese]

Snype451, i see what you mean... hmmm... i wish i would have known about that before i ordered it...
(hand)

 

[Snype451]

Cheese,

I'm also looking for a short shifter so thats why I caught it. (that and I'm in Canada, so to order from Kartboy the US means you pay duty at the border, TWM is in Canada, free trade my ass!)

What is the throw reduction on the kartboy? the TWM is 50% and a 1inch reduction in height for the mp3.

B

 

[Cheese]

<snip>
The height is reduced about 2" on the Protege5, and 1" on the MP3. Accordingly, the throw is reduced 35% for the Protege5 and 20% for the MP3.
</snip>

 

[70]

Just out of curiosity, why Kartboy over TWM? With kartboy it loks like you shoudl get their bushings as well but with the TWM 2nd gen shifter you get industrial grade ball bearings at the pivot point.

Thoughts?

You are confusing parts. The Kartboy bushings sit up where the tranny is to tighten the feel, not at the shifter. The ball bearings you refer to sit at the pivot point for the shifter.

Two different things. Regardless of what kind of shifter you go with, the bushings are still recommended.

 

[Cheese]

however in the picture for the Kartboy shifter (located on spool-turbo.com) it does not look like the ball bearings are present..

 

[70]

however in the picture for the Kartboy shifter (located on spool-turbo.com) it does not look like the ball bearings are present..

Kartboys' shirt shift uses the stock parts at the base of the shifter where it attaches to the shifter linkage. Not ball bearings.

Under the car there is the shifter linkage and then another bar that attaches to the shifter to help isolate vibration. The Kartboy bushings replace the rubber piece on this second bar at the transmission.

 

[Cheese]

Kartboys' shirt shift uses the stock parts at the base of the shifter where it attaches to the shifter linkage. Not ball bearings.

Under the car there is the shifter linkage and then another bar that attaches to the shifter to help isolate vibration. The Kartboy bushings replace the rubber piece on this second bar at the transmission.

so does that mean that the instructions found at http://www.twmperformance.com/shortshifters/protegepics/2nd generation 2000-2002 protege manual.pdf will be incorrect?

 

[70]

The only thing I can see that changes is those little plastic pieces removed from where the shifter and shift linkage connect. Save those and put them in the Kartboy shifter in the same place they were on the stock one. Other than that pretty much everything else is the same.

The Kartboy shifter doesn't come with the spacers for the heat shield (at least when I got mine, it didn't), so you'll have to bend the heatshield.

That's what I did anyway.

I also looked for has many versions of directions as I could to install the shifter to get as many angles as I could. Then I studied them and went to it. No problems what-so-ever.

 

[Cheese]

i know that there is a set of directions in the HOW TO forum, however all the pictures have been removed, and the link to the original version has also been removed...

by any chance did you have any links or anything to other directions?

otherwise google is GREAT! ;-)

 

[70]

I tossed everything when I was done and printed straight off the site with out bookmarking....

Sorry...

 

[Snype451]

ok,

So are the kartboy bushings what is replaced in picture 11 of the twm manual?

http://www.twmperformance.com/shortshifters/protegepics/2nd%20generation%202000-2002%20protege%20manual.pdf

 

[70]

ok,

So are the kartboy bushings what is replaced in picture 11 of the twm manual?

http://www.twmperformance.com/shortshifters/protegepics/2nd%20generation%202000-2002%20protege%20manual.pdf

No...Go to Kartboy's website and look there. You will see what the bushing replace.

Here is the link to the install on the shifter bushings. You will notice it is on the tranny, not the shifter. Which is what I said above.

http://kartboy.com/mazdabushinginstall.html