I am interested in a short shifter kit for my 88 n/a. How do you people that have it like it? Any downfalls? I need new bushings, will I still need them if I get the short shifter or do new ones come with that kit? Thanks.

 

I have a "shortened" shifter, I like it lots. I got it with the car, so I didn't actually do it myself.

Basically, all you have to do is take a hacksaw and cut some of the top of the shifter off, and take a die and create new threads for the shift ****. Viola, you now have a shortened shifter.

The only thing is it is a tiny bit notchy, but I like it that way so it's no big deal. The best thing about it is, it's free.

 

I was looking at the short shifter for my 89' Turbo II, but I decided that my throw is short enough (especially after seeing the throw that my friend has in his '88 N/A GXL

 

A good idea for what Mykl had to say is, goto a junkyard a pull off an extra. It'd suck to be driving around with some half cut shifter....install it when your done. Learn from the first one, remake a 2nd and sell it. You've now recovered the cost of buying the die and junkyard shifter

 

Anyone have the short shifter kit already? I wouldn't need new bushings still would I? Thanks.

 

no the kits come with new bushings.

 

Actually it is even easier than that to make the stock one shorter. The stock shifter is in 2 pieces. The top one is attached to the lower with rubber that seems to be vulcanized. I just took a pair of large vice grips, clamp onto the top one under the threads, and twisted like hell. It breaks free, then you just remove the top one, scrape off the old rubber that is left on it, and buy an aftermarket shift **** and attach it with the included set screws that come with most kits.

Here is what it looks like:

 

You know what...I thought of doin sumin like that. I was going to just cut mine or sumin. Just turn it counterclockwise? What if sumin breaks, lol. I mean then I would be SOL until I got another one. I might go for that. I have an aftermarket **** now but I want a blue one. Might try though, thanks.

 

O yea, with the short shift kits isn't the actual throw shorter? & if I did that I would still need to get new bushings, how hard is that. I think they sell everything I need a mazdatrix.com but I need to know how difficult it is to do. Thanks.

 

I'm slightly confused, do you have pics of that?

 

I think the lower part is inside the top part, is that correct Dave? I think so, seems like it at least. I am prolly going to try that this Sunday.

 

ryde_or_die: i just installed the short shifter from mazdatrix about 30 min ago. its really pretty simple..email if you have questions.

 

No, I don't have any questions...yet. I am not sure I am going to get the kit. I might. But I think I am going to try the thing Dave mentioned. Seems easy enough. I now just have some questions about changing the bushings in my shifter. Anyone have any experience with this? Thanks.

 

O dave, I noticed you have the Apexi S-AFC installed. How much does it help? I am thinking of that with an A/F gauge. How do you like it?

 

I have one of the Mazdatrix one but not installed yet. You can download a video from their site. It looks EZ.

 

OK, that makes sense, I'd love to try this. My only other concern is, do those little screws that come with the shifter ***** actually hold on? I have tried a few shift ***** and the screws always seem to come loose about every 2 or 3 days.

 

I'm not sure if they come loose but if so I would just drill small holes in the shifter so it would stay better. Hopefully that would work. If not I'm sure I could think of sumin.

 

i have a 'shortened' shifter, i used a hacksaw but I'm not sure what fc3s.org was saying. I know that the shifter is different between the 86-88 and 89-91. With the 89-91 the shift handle just twists off, there was no other plastic piece.

 

Yea dave what year is that 7? They could be different. Don't wanna be twistin mine and just snap it in half, lol.

 

if it fit in a TII, would it also fit a N/a? They have different trannies I know, but are the shifters similar enough to where the 99 Miata shifter would still fit?

 

I've got an 87 and it fits perfectly! I'm just missing a **** for it right now...

 

Holy thread resurrection batman!!

 

Congratz, you bumped a 6 year old thread.