TWM Shifter installed

[Albert]

Well, I finally got around to it and my TWM short shifter and Kartboy bushings are installed. Let me tell you, it's freakin AWESOME! The throws are wayyyy short and crisp as Hell now. It wasn't too hard, either (aside from having a hard time getting my thick body that far under the car with it just on ramps). It sits up a little higher (not too much) but it's not that noticeable when driving.

The stock shift knob doesn't work because the threads are too high up in the knob, but I had another one (Ichibahn - sweet orange stripe on it!) anyway.

Took a couple pics for comparison of the stock shifter vs. the TWM. You'll see we don't really have that short of a shifter stock ...

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!

Thanks to TWM and Kartboy for the great instructions they have on their sites, too.

 

[derrick1623]

with the twm, does the heatshield need to be bent, or cut away? i would imagine so.

 

[herarety]

They actually have a bushing that lowers the heat shield.
I'm waiting for mine to ship.

 

[Albert]

I'm waiting for mine to ship.

You won't be disappointed!

 

[03MzdSpdSTP]

ok confused as hell ok Short shifter is because the top part where the shifter goes is shorter?

 

[Natey]

Actually, it's the bottom part that counts. The ball is the pivot point, so if the lower part is longer, the throw is shorter.

 

[MikeBlueP5]

see i like a few things about the twm, one thing i really like was the bearings in the end, and how short it was in comparison with all the other shifters, also they are the only ones that have the heat sheild spacer. But I chose to go with the b&m, reasons being it was, i think, next in line to the twm in shortness, and throws, but the thing i really liked about the b&m is the aluminum bearing housing instead of reusing the factory plastic bushings at the pivot ball. I have a ford ranger that uses the exact type bushing for the shifter (you guessed it, it has a mazda tranny in it)and the bushings didnt last long, i went through about 2 pairs in the 3 years that i drove it daily (somewhat due to my driving habits), but i personally love my b&m, i wish i could afford to get the twm just to do a comparison to see which one i really like better, I would probably say a tie. Maybe a price difference?
Mike

 

[JMS'sMSP]

How did you get the Kartboy Bushings to fit. The Shifter connects to the tranny in a different way on the MSP.

I had the bushings and sold them because they didnt fit on the correct part of the shifter linkage. There was a place to put them but it was solid on the tranny not the linkage that moves to change gears.

 

[Ryan]

with the twm, does the heatshield need to be bent, or cut away? i would imagine so.

no i pm'd him about this the it has a heat shield spacer to lower the heat shield.

 

[Albert]

How did you get the Kartboy Bushings to fit

Here's a couple pics of the bushing I removed:

And here's a pic of the Kartboy:

Kartboy Bushings

They replace the squishy one piece with the firmer 2 pieces. If you look at the first pic from the Kartboy install instructions,

instructions

You can see right where they should go (on the passenger side of the tranny). That pic is taken from the front of the car, looking back.

 

[JMS'sMSP]

Yeah I saw a spot that looked like where they can go. But it doesnt look to me like it has any affect on the actual shifting motion. Because that part is mounted to the tranny and cant move. So how does that smoothen out the shift throw?

The Shifter setup is different on the MSP. Than on my old MP3 where the bushings went into the shaft that moved with the shifter. The MSP has sort of a "y" connection for the gear shifter.

 

[Albert]

But it doesnt look to me like it has any affect on the actual shifting motion. Because that part is mounted to the tranny and cant move. So how does that smoothen out the shift throw?

It cuts down on the play in the shifter and makes the shifts more noticeable. When I shift now, there's a definite point when I know the shift is made, like it kinda clicks into the correct place. It's hard to describe, but it seems to give you more of a feeling of what's going on past the shifter, rather than just knowing that you moved the lever.

 

[orng_mazdaspeed]

how does the twm compare to the kartboy shifter? i have seen a camparison of the stock, twm, kartboy, and b&m and the kartboy was by far the shortest. any speculations?

 

[JMS'sMSP]

It cuts down on the play in the shifter and makes the shifts more noticeable. When I shift now, there's a definite point when I know the shift is made, like it kinda clicks into the correct place. It's hard to describe, but it seems to give you more of a feeling of what's going on past the shifter, rather than just knowing that you moved the lever.

Do you see where I am talking about though?? How the shifter has that "y" hook up and the place that can fit the bushings is hard mounted to the tranny or lsd whatever that thing is...

 

[herarety]

how does the twm compare to the kartboy shifter? i have seen a camparison of the stock, twm, kartboy, and b&m and the kartboy was by far the shortest. any speculations?

That picture you've seen is actually misleading. TWM I think is the longest below the ball, meaning the shortest throw. Though it may not be as short up top. You'd probably be happy with either choice.

 

[Albert]

Do you see where I am talking about though??

Honestly, I didn't pay THAT much attention when I was under there. All I know is that it shifts a whole lot cooler, and that's good enuf for me. Maybe next time I jack it up (no way I can fit under there without it) I'll have a looksie.

 

[AGR]

Sounds like a nice shifter, Tony! You have any interior photos yet, since the install?

 

[Albert]

Nah, it looks the same. LOL It's just a little taller, which I like.

Was gonna take pics in first and second with each shifter with a ruler there for comparison, but that was too big a pain in the butt.