TWM SS Install w/pics

[scorch70]

Hi Everyone, this it JASSIT (just another short shifter install thread). Everybody on the board has done one, so I figured why not me. Anyway, the install of the short shifter and Kartboy bushings took me about 4 hours (yeah I work slow). And this doesnt count the time it took to go to lowes to get snap ring pliers. DO NOT ATTEMPT this install without a set of these. I almost gave up even with these pliers. The snap ring was by far the worst part of the install.

Before I send you to the pics, I just have to say that this mod is one I think I could probably do without. The shifting it REALLY notchy now, and difficult to move from one gear to the next. The throws are greatly reduced, no doubt. I just wish it could be buttery smooth and shorter. I dont blame this on TWM, I think any short shifter would be this way, but I could be wrong. Anyway, just IMHO. On to the pics.

Let me know if you have any questions, and I will try to answer.

MODS: If this should be in the photo/vid section, please move it. I wasnt sure.

EDIT: Pic 1,2 and 3 below are after the install, if you can't tell.

 

[FrigginGLI]

Let it break in, then you'll be in business.

 

[scorch70]

Let it break in, then you'll be in business.

I sure hope so Pimp. It is rough now. Maybe its partially cause I used silicone spray in place of grease? I dont think so, that silicone s*** is slick stuff. But what do I know.

 

[TWM Performance]

Scortch: I'm sorry to hear that you're shift is a little rough, have you checked your transmission oil lately? Normally our Protege shifters are very smooth and should not be binding or rough at all.

Feel free to contact me directly if you have any further questions. kwegert@twmperformance.com

Thanks,

Karel
TWM

 

[scorch70]

Scortch: I'm sorry to hear that you're shift is a little rough, have you checked your transmission oil lately? Normally our Protege shifters are very smooth and should not be binding or rough at all.

Feel free to contact me directly if you have any further questions. kwegert@twmperformance.com

Thanks,

Karel
TWM

Hi Karel, I think Pimp was right, it just takes a while to break in, and also for me to get used to. I have never owned a SS before, so it was new to me. I am learning to like the very short throws.

 

[protege02]

coo, how long does it take to break in, i have one on order. im definitely getting transmission oil, kartboy bushings, and whatever else i need.

 

[scorch70]

coo, how long does it take to break in, i have one on order. im definitely getting transmission oil, kartboy bushings, and whatever else i need.

Well, Ive been driving it for a couple of weeks now, and it seems to be about the same as it was originally. I read another thread on here that said that you need to replace the tranny fluid too, so maybe that will help you out a little bit. I think I will get me some Royal Purple and see if that helps any.

 

[zumi]

i did a twm install about 2 weeks ago, and mine has loosened up quite a bit in that time. either that or it just made my arm buffer =). I still have some problems getting it out of reverse, i will try tranny fluid later.

 

[scorch70]

I still have some problems getting it out of reverse

Hell yeah, that is the worst part. Its almost a two handed job sometimes to get it out of reverse. Glad to see it isnt just me.

 

[protege02]

sounds troublesome. i wonder if i can send it back and get a refund because i've never heard of kartboy having these problems. so, tranny fluid is a must, kartboy bushings is a must, and anything else.

 

[traitorhound]

hmm. . i didn't have any problems you mentioned when i did my kartboy install a couple weeks ago.. . .hell i didn't have to remove the center console. .just took the boot out of the housing and everything was accessible. . . .but as far as notchiness and whatnot did you tighten the bolt that attaches to the bottom of the lever too much? that is the only thing that i see that it would bind. . .mine feels just as smooth as when i had the stock shifter. . just a lot shorter

 

[scorch70]

sounds troublesome. i wonder if i can send it back and get a refund because i've never heard of kartboy having these problems. so, tranny fluid is a must, kartboy bushings is a must, and anything else.

Well, since you have already bought it, I would go ahead and give it a try. My experience doesnt seem to be the usual. Im just lucky I guess.

 

[scorch70]

but as far as notchiness and whatnot did you tighten the bolt that attaches to the bottom of the lever too much?

I dont think so, but Im not sure. The bolt that TWM ships with the shifter is pretty small, and comes with an allen head on one end. The allen wrench they give you to tighten this up is very tiny, so its pretty hard to tighten it much at all. That might be the problem tho. One day when I get just fed up with it, I will take it apart and see what I can do to make it a bit smoother. Probably be easier to try the Royal Purple first tho.

 

[FrigginGLI]

I used royal purple on mine as well. Helped a little. The trick to get out of reverse that I used was, to tap it real hard and short so it would pop right back into neutral.

 

[scorch70]

The trick to get out of reverse that I used was, to tap it real hard and short so it would pop right back into neutral.

Good idea Pimp. I'll give that a try. Thanks.

 

[protege02]

hmm. . i didn't have any problems you mentioned when i did my kartboy install a couple weeks ago.. . .hell i didn't have to remove the center console. .just took the boot out of the housing and everything was accessible. . . .but as far as notchiness and whatnot did you tighten the bolt that attaches to the bottom of the lever too much? that is the only thing that i see that it would bind. . .mine feels just as smooth as when i had the stock shifter. . just a lot shorter

i haven't gotten my shifter yet, its somewhere in the mail. im suppose to get it sometime next week. it sounds like a pain in the butt with the shifter being stiff. i dont see why it should have these problems. i'll give
it some extra days to think about

 

[protege02]

i'll give twm a call when i get the shifter and ask them what all i need for the install, such as what tranny oil to use. i have kartboy bushings on the way also. i think im paying too much to have problems with a short shifter. if i knew all of this i would have played it safe and bought kartboy or b and m.

 

[traitorhound]

see, i don't know. . . mine wasn't stiff at all. . .maybe just a littmoe since there was a shorter lever to pull on but that was about it. as for the shifter bushings, i didn't notice a damn thing to it when i put them in. . . maybe they did help, but in conjunction with the short shifter i have no idea how much they did their stuff

 

[protege02]

see, i don't know. . . mine wasn't stiff at all. . .maybe just a littmoe since there was a shorter lever to pull on but that was about it. as for the shifter bushings, i didn't notice a damn thing to it when i put them in. . . maybe they did help, but in conjunction with the short shifter i have no idea how much they did their stuff

i think the bushings softens it up, but i dont mind spending an extra $28 on bushings so i went ahead and ordered them. im thinking the people with the problems might have tightened things too tight. one of my friends said it shouldn't be soo stiff that you have to struggle to get it out of gear. he builds 1988 m3 race cars, so im pretty sure he knows what im talking about. so i think i'll have him install it and see whats up. i'll watch him do it because i haven't touched my car but twice. the only time i touched it was to take off the rear sway bar and install and uninstall my intake which was really easy. thanks for all the info though, really appreciate it.