http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/86-91...Q5fAccessories

I was reading up on the short throw shifter options and I figure I can buy this and use my shift **** from my miata on it.
If it will actually work.
Its only 15 dollars so its not like I'm out a lot; I was just wanting some input.
Please.

 

yes it will.l may have to sand down the white grommet that sinks into the trans

 

Alright, I'm bored and have my tax refund money to spend.
Already bought all the parts to finish my 5 month engine swap.
By white grommet do you mean the bushing that is supposed to keep the shifter from moving left/right while in gear?
And thanks for the input; I've been reading all the threads on here since I posted and I'm thinking this is the best route.

 

did you not search? this topic has been covered.

 

I did search but as the pictures are blurry and the links are all dead in the posts I didn't want to buy one that is different and end up with the ONE miata short throw shifter that wouldn't work.
I've had bad luck.

 

the white nylon bushing on the ball end for the miata is slight larger in diameter, it just needs to be knocked down lightly with some sandpaper to fit into the FC transmission.

is my 6 year old writeup dead?

 

When I searched I didn't find "Your" writeup but I did find a thread where you did go into detail in a reply to somebody's question. It was the most informative of all the threads I could find actually. I understand now, hopefully I can add this to the huge project thread I will be starting shortly. I've visited so many of write-ups over the past two weeks.

 

The Miata short throw shifter install is quite well documented but an important step (at least, in my opinion) is hardly ever mentioned.
Just like the stock shifter, the new lever will pivot on cupped plastic bushings- one above and one below the large pivot ball.
When you install the retaining cover, the shifter should still move freely and smoothly.
If not, shim the bushes and make sure the ball is fully seated in both cups.

When I installed mine, all seemed fine till the cover was fully tightened and it became much crankier to move.
Typically, people claim that a new shifter will "break in" and become smoother but I decided to investigate further.

I put machinists dye on the pivot ball and reinstalled only to find that the pivot made hardly any contact with the lower bush...a condition that never would have fixed itself.
I went to Ace Hardware and found some gaskets in the plumbing dept. that were suitable as shims and raised the lower bush till the ball fully seated.
Problem solved.

For the past three years the shifter has remained solid and smooth, the feel as crisp today as on day one.
A few minutes spent during initial install is well worth the effort.

 

this is true, i never really went back over my initial writeup and mentioned how to properly adjust the backlash of the shifter in the housing which is important for a good shifter feel. when i wrote it way back when, i and no one really had much experience with the miata shifters, i think i was the first to try it.

 

Thanks for the information Clokker. This is the sort of stuff I was hoping to figure out with this post. I will be sure to check this if it is not smooth after the install. Someone should add this to the writeup?

 

no

 

I drove a FC with a miata short throw, it felt like crap. Could of been the way it was installed.

 

takes a bit of effort to amend since only the mods can edit those old posts.

 

I bought one for $15 on ebay and it was titled "Mata/rx7" so I'm guessing we are talking on the same product.
And I love it, installed it in 10 min and I daily it everyday.
No regrets.

 

+1.

I only recently remedied this, including making a proper bushing for the lower ball.

 

Is there a certain year miata shifter u have to get for the 85 rx7?

 

my little secret, take an old 1/4 socket u gotta find one that fits in that selector hole good then take a dremel and bore the inside out so that shift ball fits snug and now u never got to worry about excess play or those damm bushings ever wearing out ive done it on all three of my rx7s and it was passed on to me from my boy who gave birth to the idea if you guys ever get bored one day give it a try let me know what u think i love it.

 

1/4 drive socket, not literly that size u gotta test fit a bunch of sizes due to the fact of varing socket wall thickness from company to company.

 

Why not just get an FC short shifter? The eBay ones work fine. I had one in my old S5 and never had a problem with it.

 

yeah my post was not reffering to the miata unit ive always used the ebay rx7 one myself too.

i was just reading this cause ive heard the B&M short throw for the miata was sick i wanted to see what it took to do it unfortunately they dont make one for the fc but they do the fd i believe.