Ok, so I tried to tackle putting a short shifter in my car today, and I ran into one big problem!
When I try to put the first collar in, it sticks up past the place where the spacer should sit. It says there should be some shims or something in there, but my car just seems to have a metal seat at the bottom, and the collar just doesnt drop far enough in.
I have read the instructions countless times, read the mazdatrix installation guide on their site and watched the video. Im sure it would work if i could just figure out how to get the first collar in...Can anyone help me here, Id really like to get it in there...

By the way its a Mazdatrix shifter...

 

Unless I'm misunderstanding what you're trying to say, which I probably am, the new 3-hole spacer (if that's what you're referring to) should sit on top of the stock collar. Do you have a camera to take a picture of your dilemma?

 

The shims are a wavy flat spring, looks like a very thin washer. The spring goes in first, then the cup for the shifter. Are you getting the spring and cup past the alignment pin, did you clean all of the old gunk out before you started? The cups should have a little notch in them that fits around the alignment pin.

If you are having trouble getting around the pin, it can be tapped out to install the lower pieces, then tapped back in before installing the shifter and top pieces.

If that doesn't work, post a pic of where you are binding.

Edit.

Crap, just reread the post and first reply. I was thinking of a stock shifter install.

I'm not familiar with the MazdaTrix short throws, does the alignment pin need to be removed for the new collar to fit into place?

 

Its the piece that slides in before u put on the 3 hole spacer... It sildes in and coveres the original alignment dowel thing... It is the first thing u put in...even before the spacer with 3 holes. Its supposed to give u a bit of a lip to drop the bushing into, but when I try, it sticks out further then where the 3 holed spacer is supposed to seat.... It looks like the spacer is almost .5" to tall, leaving me unable to put the bushing in, and the spacer on top.

 

Its the inner spacer. Thats how its supposed to look, but mine sticks up about .5" higher than that not allowing me to put the 3 hole spacer thing on.

There was nothing under the ball on the shifter arm when I took the stock one out, just a nice metal seat that was curved to the shape of the ball.

 

That curved piece is the seat. It and the spring washer under it should come out of the oem part.

Take the new seat out and post a bigger pic of the inside of the stock shifter seat.

 

Yeah, I do believe that MazdaTrix said to remove everything out of the stock collar, and to dig your finger in there to ensure everything's out. Once everything's out, it should sit flush with the stock unit to allow the new one to go on.

 

Hmmmmm...Do I need a special puller or something to get it out, because to me it felt like it was a part of the transmission shifter tower thing. Do I just sorta pop it out with a screwdriver?
Will it come out from under the pin without moving the pin or anything?
I guess ill just try prying it out....

Thanks guys. Much appreciated.

When daylight hits tommorow ill try it, and let everyone know...

 

I use a tack hammer and 1/8" drift pin to drive them out. The pin is pressed in and is a friction fit, don't bugger up the pointed end. Once driven out, they tend to be loose, you might want to add a little J-B Weld when re-installing if it is loose.

The only thing the pin does is keep the shifter handle lined up. When they work thier way back out, shifting still works, but the shifter rod itself will spin, which can lead to missed shifts.

If the pin works it's way only partially out, it wil gaul the sides of the larger ball, which in turn, chews up the shifter bushings.

 

I had this same problem with mine also. Turns out I needed the thinner spacer. From Mazdatrix: 81-83's use a thinner spacer If you compare the spacer you have, with the one on the picture you posted, you will see how different they are in size.
In my case I did not want to go through the hassle of ordering one, so I measured how much I needed to cut off, I then put the spacer on a vise, and cut with a cut off wheel to fit.