trying to install mazdatrix short shifter that came with my car and when i bolt it down it only goes into 3rd and 4th with great force and doesn't move side to side

 

Are you sure you have the correct model for your year car?

 

no

 

You might compare what you have to those on the MazdaTrix website.

 

This is a link to installation instructions for the Mazdatrix short shifter from their website. There are steps for the 1981-1992 RX7's and steps covering the 1993-1995 RX7's.

(https://mazdatrix.com/81-95-short-shifter-installation/)

 

its the right one and i followed the instruction and its really stiff

 

If the trans shifts OK with the factory shifter, then it can only be concluded that the new shifter is causing the issue. I tried a short shifter, not the mazdztrix one, and I hated it. The feel was all wrong for me.

 

I have what I believe is a Rotary Engineering short shifter that I got from Banzai(Chris on here, not Banzai racing). it came with bushings that look like they were modified/shortened a bit, and looked "worn out". I bought a new bushing to make it work better and it didn't work, was bound up when all the bolts were tightened. put the "worn/modified" bushing back in and it worked fine. perhaps you need to modify the bushing to make it work. I can post pics later tonight maybe

 

I have the Mazdatrix short shifter and it has worked great in the racecar for over 20 years. There are two different sets of bushings for different year FB's. I have both and have used both in different transmissions. If I remember correctly, the location of the locating pins is different between the early and late FB shift towers. Weirdly Mazdatrix doesn't show the two online (at least that I could see). You might try calling them. That is probably your problem.

Carl

 

what kind of mods

 

Actually I did just find them on Mazdatrix. Search "short shifter" (duh!) and the two different bushings will show up.

Carl

 

i have the 81-83 and it still does it

 

Are you sure the transmission (specifically shift tower) is 81-83. At 40 years old, the tranny has probably been changed at least once and both early and late fit with no problem. My shifter has been in at least 4 different transmissions both early and late. I can't remember how they fit together if you have the wrong bushing.

Of course, it could be something else entirely.

Carl

 

Is it still shifting into 3rd and 4th only?

 

shifts through everything now but it feels horrible and dosnt center

 

Check to centering "spring" that goes around the shifter ball block. A short shifter will feel notchy.

 

it's really stiff

 

Do you have a stock shifter that you could install? If it doesn’t shift properly with the stock shifter then you have a transmission problem not a shifter problem.