miata short throw shifter writeup
 

here it is finally, my writeup for the miata short throw shifter:

here is a link to a current online auction for the shifter i used:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...spagename=WDVW

as well you will need 1 upper shifter bushing, i purchased one from the local mazda dealer for approx $7 including tax and it took 2 days to recieve.
upper bushing part number is #M508-17-481A

you can also purchase the bushing from mazdatrix:
http://mazdatrix.com/getprice.asp?partnum=17-481A-M508

you may also want to replace any ripped or torn boots after you see the condition of yours upon disassembly, you can purchase them from the dealer or from mazdatrix here:
http://mazdatrix.com/g4.htm

i prefer this style of shifter as it is a 2 piece shaft so you can choose whether you want a mild short throw or an extremely short throw. i will see if i can find a link to a supplier of these shifters off ebay so they will be available anytime not during auction periods.

to start:

1) remove the shift knob by using a crescent wrench or suitable open ended wrench and loosen the jamb nut at the base of the shift knob.
2) with a rag or something to get a good grip on the knob with, make a sharp counterclockwise twisting motion with the knob and it should break loose from the shaft. remove the knob and the jamb nut.
3) take a flat tip small screwdriver and place it under the shifter trim surround and pry it upwards to pop the locking tabs loose and remove the shifter surround.
4) remove all the boots that seal the top of the shifter housing.
5)remove the shifter housing top seal/gasket.
6)remove any remnants of the top shifter bushing and pull out the shifter shaft being careful not to drop any pieces of bushings or other materials into the housing.
7) remove the bottom shifter bushing or pieces of the steel cage that is left.
8)clean out the housing of any debris.
9)siphon any excess lubricant out of the shifter slide bore and housing, you can remove as much of the gear oil as possible and refill it so that the level of lubricant is half way up the shifter slide bore(the square piece with a bore in it).
10)now you have to remove the slip collar from the new shifter assembly and sand approx 1mm from it's diameter as the stock miata shifter is slightly too large for the FC3S shifter bore. you can do this by placing some medium grit sandpaper on a flat surface and rolling the collar while sanding it. place the collar back onto the shifter ball and try placing it into the bore, when it slips in and pulls out easily you are ready to install it.
http://img351.imageshack.us/img351/7...shifter6ki.jpg
11)once you have the shifter collar ready you can setup the pieces for assembly.
http://img346.imageshack.us/img346/1...ture0507qf.jpg
12)now place the smaller aluminum collar into the bore of the shift housing with the groove in the collar face down interlocking with the dowel in the housing:
http://img346.imageshack.us/img346/8...ture0536og.jpg
13) now remove the steel collar from the white lower bushing that came with your short shifter and lube it up with some petroleum jelly or gear oil and place it on top of the collar you just installed:
http://img346.imageshack.us/img346/3...ture0543sg.jpg
14)take the large diameter spacer collar and remove the allen key screw, place a srop of blue locktite onto the threads and install it snug into the collar.
15)install the large diameter collar onto the housing aligning the holes with the bolt holes in the stock housing, the allen guide screw will face forward and be near the bottom of the collar bore.
16)install the shifter shaft, guide the bottom slide bushing into the shifter bore and align the keyway in front with the allen guide screw. push the shifter down into the bore so it all is aligned:
http://img346.imageshack.us/img346/4...ture0550ri.jpg
17)take the top bushing you purchased seperately and install it on top of the shifter ball in the bore so that everything is snug, do not add a spring washer to this bushing unless your shifter happens to be loose, more than likely it will be a bit tight until it breaks in(i have the washer installed in this picture, disregard unless your shifter happens to fit loosely):
http://img346.imageshack.us/img346/9...ture0563ij.jpg
18)now install the top cover gasket, if you don't have one you can substitute anaerobic sealer, gasket maker or even a small amount of silicone. install the top cover and boot assembly and tighten the bolts snug.
19)now reinstall the rubber boots for the top of the shifter housing in the reverse order you removed them.
20) install the shifter console cover.
21) now you can play with the different lengths of the shifter and see which you prefer, the super short or the stock length shifter with short throw:
http://img146.imageshack.us/img146/6...ture0589vj.jpg
http://img346.imageshack.us/img346/8...ture0590cq.jpg

the shifter may be a little tight, it will break in slightly. if you think it is too tough you can disassemble and remove the bottom bushing steel spring washer to help loosen it up. keep in mind as you drive it you will get used to how it shifts, the super short shifter is an acquired taste and it will free up as you drive it. the stock height shifter is easier to shift but the throw is also a bit more than the super short shifter but a bit less than the stock shifter.


also, you will need to pick up a shift knob insert for the knob to fit this shifter as the threads are a bit small for the stock shift knob, you can try varying suppliers for a thread fit adapter for the stock knob or fabricate your own with PVC. as you can see i just purchased a tall B+M shifter knob for my super short shifter, the adapters needed are in the kit. the stock S4 knob will not fit the larger threade base section.

if you have any questions about this install feel free to send me a PM.

if anyone happens to come accross these shifter kits on a website please let me know so it can be added to this writeup as i have no part# or a make for this kit.

yes i know i need to clean my car. :)

:bigthumb: Very good write-up. I will be doing this shortly.

thanks :)

i put about 5k miles on my shifter, the allen guide screw came loose on mine so i reflected this repair in this guide by adding loctite to the screw and making sure it is nice and snug, i didn't check mine initially when assembling it so the plastic guide bushing was damaged slightly.

Copied this to the archive, there have been enough threads/questions about it that it's helpful being there for good.

Wondering how you make it a super short did you just remove the weight section that screws on to the base and put the knob on that? Also when i installed it i took the metal ring that holds the stock shifter in place and used it for this one did you do that or just loctite and bolt the ring down?

thanks. :)

if/when i find a source for these shifters i will let you know so you can edit the thread. ;)


edit for MtFuzzy: yeah i knew i was forgetting something, yea the shaft is 2 piece if you decide to get one you will see what i was referring to as in the super short shifter, there is another 3-4" extension piece that makes the shifter taller or as you can see in the installation pics the fat threaded base section which can fit a shift knob also which is what i refer to as the "super short throw shifter" as seen here:

https://img346.imageshack.us/img346/...ture0507qf.jpg

that 3"-4" section is the weight to help you shift isnt it? I got one a few weeks ago right after you did heh there pretty sweet, I was lookin at the fat threaded part but didnt know they made knobs that big thnx

yeah, it is why i said it is an acquired taste. the weight isn't so much to help the shifter as it is pretty light actually, it is just stout to help prevent the shaft from bending. i would suggest trying both ways and see which you prefer.

the B+M knob fits, but i cannot guarantee every shift knob will fit the larger threaded base section for the shorter throw. i do know that the stock shift knob will not fit that piece though..

here is a pic of the ring i was asking about

https://www.rx7club.com/attachment.p...d=123211&stc=1

you will still need that boot, it is in this step:

18)now install the top cover gasket, if you don't have one you can substitute anaerobic sealer, gasket maker or even a small amount of silicone. install the top cover and boot assembly and tighten the bolts snug.


the boots generally are in pretty bad shape so you may need a new one. slip the boot over the shifter and tighten it down then reassemble the console.

why did your shift knob sudenly change? aside of that awsome how-to!

i used the stock S4 for the longer shifter arm pic to show the length variations of the 2, the second pic is of my B+M tall shift knob i used on the base section for a shorter shifter as the stock S4 knob won't fit those larger threads.

ah ok i got ya i thought u had the extention piece on it but had to change the knob because the threads were diffrent.

the threads are different and why i used the different knobs, you can see the fat threads in the pic i posted i a few replies above on the extension piece vs the main shaft. :)

Are Miata short throwers cheaper? Better fulcrum point? Whats the benefit over a Mazdatrix?

same fulcrum, this whole project costs about $60-70 so it is a cheaper alternative to the mazdatrix SS.

Thanks for doing this Karack

|M|

Okay, just to clear this up: Will the stock S4 shift knob will screw directly onto the extension piece? Or do I need some kind of adapter or something?

my guess would be no, without having a S5 shift knob lying around i can't say for sure whether it would fit without an adapter or not.

the S5 knob fits the extension piece. I too have this shifter thanks Karack

one thing, does this short shifter work like a Mazdatrix or mazdaspeed, i always see different numbers in shift length, 25%, 30%, 50% etc

there are a few on ebay right now, 39.95 plus 14.95 shipping

I asked for S4, not S5. :) You said something about a "shift knob insert" and I was unsure if you were referring to the stock knob or the B+M knob. I'd really like to know because being able to use the stock S4 shift knob is a big selling point for me :)

i advertised this in the first gen section cause series 2-4 used the same shifters so us fb guys can use this to our advantage also

-greg

the S4 knob will not fit, the threads are too small on the new shifter, you will need to find the proper sized adapter or fabricate one.

Where did you get yours? Or is it actually screwed on in that picture?