ultimate shifting machine 1.0

[Super Shredder]

my biggest gripe with the mazdaspeed 6 that i have is obviously with the shifts, so as i near the end of my warranty (500 miles to go) i decided to see if i can start, peice by peice, making this car how mazda should have released it. Still a ***** crash test rated family sedan with airbags everywhere and great gas mileage, but it is just soooo tuned down in comparison to other make-signature tuning companies, R-tune, Dinan, M, S-tune, AMG, SRT, TRD --> they make their cars no holds barred, and we get some "saloon" with pampered pipes and dulled sound and vibration designed to make OLD people buy it. I've driven in an LS1 GTO, and Evo8, a Dinan tuned M3, an S4 2001 and 2005, and had the opportunity to peel out for a block and a half in an SRT10 Ram, I also have driven in a new STi and Legacy SpecB, and all of these cars, stock, put down what feels close to advertised torque. I get pushed back in my seat in these, but not so much in my Speed6.

Therefore, my first wave of improvements are on the way, I ordered a TWM Stage 2 Short Shifter, Desert Eagle Shift Knob, rear bone engine mount, and base bushings.

then in two weeks i will receive the cobb short ram intake and cobb inlet pipe, to upgrade this car's heinous airbox and pancake inlet, after i have relearned how to shift on the new and improved drivetrain. I replaced the clutch and flywheel 5k miles ago, so i'd say they're in prime condition to meet the safer higher quality parts to clean up all those feeble stock shifts.

 

[coyfish]

Grats on the parts. Don't know how you survived without the engine mounts so long. My car vibs at idle but its definately worth being able to drive relaxed. Pretty much impossible to get a smooth ride unless your focusing on your foot. With the mount you can do pretty much whatever you want with the clutch.

 

[tunersteve]

I've got a similer setup minus the shift knob...you are finally going to the promised land with this car, it will feel totally different to you after things are done.

 

[bova80]

buy the cobb shift weight or cut down the stock one

 

[sunshineFC]

buy the cobb shift weight or cut down the stock one

Does the cobb weight reduce the mass or increase it? What does it feel like after the install with a stock shifter?
-a

 

[bova80]

reduces it. shifts feel lighter and a bit more precise.

 

[Super Shredder]

yes i was also planning on that cobb shift weight but i figure with this quintuple threat (TWM, Base Bushings, shift knob, motor mount, and shift weight) i will prepare my car to lay down any and all extra power much much safer than those who went with the power adders first and then realized that the differentials and mounts are bull in a china shop destroying the cars from the inside. i wish i could dyno this car for free, after the drivetrain installs, to see how much more torque it puts down over stock with no power adders.

 

[amilliems6]

wow man im realyl impressed that your doing this to your car. I wish i had the money to do all of this but for now i just have the $ to order the Cobb SRi, Cobb turbo inlet, and last but least the cobb shifter weight.

 

[coyfish]

yes i was also planning on that cobb shift weight but i figure with this quintuple threat (TWM, Base Bushings, shift knob, motor mount, and shift weight) i will prepare my car to lay down any and all extra power much much safer than those who went with the power adders first and then realized that the differentials and mounts are bull in a china shop destroying the cars from the inside. i wish i could dyno this car for free, after the drivetrain installs, to see how much more torque it puts down over stock with no power adders.

On a dyno you wont see a change in peak torque with just engine mounts. It only helps get that power to the ground when your shifting instead of letting your engine do backflips under the hood.

 

[Super Shredder]

it will give a real accurate observation when the short ram and inlet go in. i've been driving this car for tens of thousands of miles without any help from good parts lol, i dont even listen to music in the car anymore just so i can hear what the hell is going on, plus winter cold and the high altitude of where i live has made my stock airbox and stock bpv come alive. so now i think i would like that to be coupled with gaining airflow and keeping boost, instead of wheezing for more air, and leaking baby poofs at 2100rpm lol.

 

[tunersteve]

Moved to engine/drivetrain section for relevance.

The only thing I'm still on the fence about is the shift weight, but I'll probably pick it up sooner or later when I order something else. I have bigger plans at the moment.

 

[tsunami]

yeah but in the ms3 not the ms6 section...

moved back for relavance...

 

[tunersteve]

Haha my apologies for that.

 

[Killer]

(rofl)

 

[ringolake]

Does the "first wave" of improvements void the factory warranty?

 

[coyfish]

No you won't lose your warranty over short shifter / bushings.

Only "risky" thing would be the engine mount.

 

[Super Shredder]

where i am from, ANY modifications to a car that are not cosmetic, acoustic, or GREEN approved by Mazda will void warranty. I waited until my car was nice and broken in and the warrantee is over, so i can get a new warrantee in which covers the parts i am getting. insurance too.

 

[coyfish]

Well thats what the dealers tell you. Don't want to launch a huge debate but the magnusson moss act (whoever you spell it) basically says mazda cant deny your warranty if your engine explodes if you have springs on your car. Magnusson moss act. This can get pretty ambiguous but with a short shifter / shifter bushings you will be fine.

What most people including me seem to do is just stick to bolt ons. If you need warranty work done, take them off and bring er in !

 

[Super Shredder]

okay, so far the SU motor mount and TWM weighted shift knob are installed. here is my review:

Wow. Let me just first say...that first...the gear...is actually useable now. Where before 1st gear was a fun house ride of jerks and clunks, this is completely gone, and starting up and even downshifting to 1st which you arent supposed to do unless going 5mph works beatifully. Secondly, downshifting in all gears is now proper, and heel and toe is now completely plausible with no fear of a rev mismatch slam. I even misshifted going into 6th and went into 4th at 4000rpm in 5th lol, and i just went forward and thats it! no slam no nothing. amazing. vibrations you can only feel during idle, or reving up to move forward from a stop. i heard this goes away. the vibrations are exactly what a sports car should have! I am not an old man, i have no interest in giving up performance for comfort. in addition, the weighted TWM shift knob although not worth 90 or so dollars, absolutely feels better than stock, and firmly knocks gears into place with a lot less resistance from the synchros. stock height. short shifter will go in at the same time the cobb intake and inlet pipe go in, which will take place after my car is completely fine smoothed at the bodyshop. so far with maybe 50$ more than i planned spent on extra glory (shift knob) so good.

 

[TXspeed6]

Congratulations super_shredder, sounds like it was worth the money!
...I want to do this now haha