1st Generation Specific (1979-1985) 1979-1985 Discussion including performance modifications and technical support sections

Strut Tower Brace or Short-shifter

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Old Sep 24, 2009 | 10:28 PM
  #1  
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TX Strut Tower Brace or Short-shifter

My wife is going to buy me one or the other for my birthday. Wanted some opinions on which way most of you would go. I am going to get either the the brace from Rotary Performance:

http://www.rx7.com/store/rx7/sasuspension.html

Or the short-shifter from Kerebrus:

https://www.rx7club.com/classifieds-violations-265/1st-gen-short-shifters-interested-818216/page15/

Let me know if you have one or the other, or if you have experience with them on different cars. Thanks for the opinions.
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Old Sep 24, 2009 | 10:31 PM
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You'll enjoy the short shifter more.

And you can think of your wife every time you shift.
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Old Sep 25, 2009 | 12:03 AM
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Originally Posted by j_tso
you'll enjoy the short shifter more.

And you can think of your wife every time you shift.
lol +1
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Old Sep 25, 2009 | 12:20 AM
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Originally Posted by Kerebrus
lol +1
I don't know if I can count that vote(lol), but you do make a great product from everyone I have talked to. Thanks for continuing to support the rotary community.
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Old Sep 25, 2009 | 12:21 AM
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I personally would go for short shifter. I have the Mazdatrix one and love it. You could always go the $30 miata short shifter route and the strut bar too...
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Old Sep 25, 2009 | 12:34 AM
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Originally Posted by Sgt Fox
You could always go the $30 miata short shifter route and the strut bar too...
Garbage. In reality, you get what you pay for.
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Old Sep 25, 2009 | 08:19 AM
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i don't have any experiance with a short shifter in an FB, but i would reccomend springing for the short shifter now and the strut tower bar later, as the short shifter is something that you will consistently enjoy.
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Old Sep 25, 2009 | 03:00 PM
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Short Shifter, you'll feel it everyday . The strut tower bar might make a difference in the feel of the car but it just wont be as fun as the short shifter.
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Old Sep 25, 2009 | 03:07 PM
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wow shutout so far. no love for the suspension yet
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Old Sep 25, 2009 | 03:57 PM
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Strut tower bar for sure. Personally, the length of my shifter is not the limiting factor in my shifting speed, so all a short shifter would do is make my shifts less accurate and take more effort (especially if you've got effed up synchros like mine).

Though there are lots of things that come before a strut tower bar on my list, too.
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Old Sep 25, 2009 | 04:55 PM
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Strut bars are great, but I prefer the triangulated type which reach back to the firewall. Sure it makes it a little harder to get to stuff to work on it at times, but you're also bracing the shock towers against something solid, instead of just against each other.

Our cars certainly don't have a lot of problems with cowl shake until you remove the top, but for the money - it's worth spending $100 more and getting a triangulated bar that you'll never second guess.

I prefer the Racing Beat strut bar, but some people seem to like tubular construction over flat stock.
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Old Sep 25, 2009 | 05:26 PM
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eBay Miata shifters work pretty well at first, but they will wear your syncros down from those slotty feeling shifts. plus you have to modify them a tad and the one I had I kept having problems with the shaft unscrewing from the base which made it buzz while driving.
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Old Sep 25, 2009 | 10:09 PM
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I vote short shifter. I enjoy the crap out of mine(Mazdatrix) plus it comes with new bushings!
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Old Sep 26, 2009 | 10:35 AM
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Check out REspeeds strut bars. Cheaper than RB. I like RB because it is a solid piece so it will restrict movement more, and it looks badass.
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Old Sep 26, 2009 | 10:37 AM
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http://mrcmfg.com/catalog/index.php?cPath=112_41_92

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Old Sep 26, 2009 | 05:25 PM
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Respeed brace is top notch. I've got rotaryshacks shortshifter. No matter which shortshifter you pick you have the risk of shifter buzz, make sure you are willing to take that chance. As for the quality of my shifter, very pleased, I even say flawless! (and I am a picky bastard).
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Old Sep 26, 2009 | 07:18 PM
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I have shifter buzz, no biggie. Chances are you'll either hear your radio over it or the sound of your car
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Old Sep 26, 2009 | 09:19 PM
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Shifter.
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Old Sep 26, 2009 | 10:08 PM
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Devils advocate: Strut bar. Suspension would have more of an improvement overall for the car than the short shifter. You can shift as fast as you want, but you are still only going to go XX speed around the corner.
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Old Sep 26, 2009 | 11:13 PM
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I've got to tell you with as loud as my exhaust is there is no concern over shifter buzz. My wife wears earplugs everywhere we go. I was hoping she just wouldn't want to ride with me so I could pick up my girlfriend.

P.S. Honey, just in case your reading I still want my birthday gift.lol
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