hey i was just wondering if they make short shifters for the fisrt gens

 

im going to save you a lot of pain and suffering and just say search.

 

go all the way to the bottom of this page, first result is a thread with 34 replies about short shifters in 1st gens

 

im going to sound like an ******* but what the **** do you need a short throw for our shifts are short enough?!! my total shift lenght is maybe 5 inches. not like your going to gain much time with a 1 inch shorter throw. besides if you take it to a track event and have to shift frequently your arm is gunna get tired unless you have a weighted ***. just my opinion.

 

^ but wouldnt you have to shift just as much regardless of how far the travel is?

 

You newbs need to lighten up a little... geez. Please search for topics like this as they have been covered EXTENSIVELY in the past by numerous people. With that being said, you can find a nice short throw shifter kit from Mazdatrix. I'm assuming that you mean short throw and not just a short shifter, right?

http://mazdatrix.com/g4.htm

Or if you want to do it on the cheap, you can get a Miata short throw shifter on e-bay for about $30 and they can be made to work very easily as well. This is what I have in my 83 GS.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/SHORT...spagenameZWDVW

Consider this your free answer without having to use the search feature. Next time, please browse the previous threads. There REALLY is a lot of useful information that has been covered. I know most people think they are going to get a bunch of garbage threads if they do a search, but that isn't the case here.

Welcome to the forum,
Jamie

 

short shifters often come with all new bushings/bearings/whatever, and they make the whole shifter assembly a whole lot tighter. It made a big difference in my CRX, the B&M short throw unit made everything so much tighter.

 

I noticed this as well when I installed my Miata shifter. Before, with the stock shifter and worn out pieces, the shifts were sloppy and the shifter wandered aimlessly between the gears. Now, with the new one in there, it snaps VERY nicely between the gears. The shifter has a much better feel now, and you get that positive click each time you change gears.

 

the mazdatrix one is good, a little pricey though but worth it imo.

 

I still get the nice positive click when shifting into gears

 

yes but on most of the short throws ive driven there quite a bit stiffer than stock, and besides if you replace your bushings in the shifter there'll be no wondering and sloppy shifts; if your trannys good, so there's no real need for a short throw realy. my shifter still has a nice click too when it goes into gear w/zero slop so
~$100 for a shifter seems like a waste.

 

i just removed the chrome looking metal piece from the shaft and threaded the 12mm nub that was there. shortened my shifter height about 3 inches and is alot more natural feeling for me. not really a short throw shifter, but it works...

 

$32 for a short throw... wow. Almost seems to good to be true. What exactly has to be done to make this thing work very easily..???

 

Based on this thread, I see two real things to do:

1) Trim the bushing on the bottom of the new shifter to make it fit.
2) Create spacers, washers as done above.


I ordered one on EBAY this morning that ended up costing me $31.90 delivered.

What a great mod...

 

Yeah, i shortened the height of mine by quite a bit by machining out a MOMO sphere shift ***. Plus the *** is weighted so it feels nice. Works for me.

 

exactly what I am planning on doing.

 

so buy an ebay miata short shifter, trim the bottom, or make washers, then BAM instant 1st gen short shifter...? sounds like a plan to me thanx