overkill

I just installed the Gotham short shifter on my '93. The time it took from start to finish was approximately 30 minutes.

The shifter does not come with any instructions, but installation was fairly straight foward. After removing the shift ****, and snapping off the center console, you simply remove an insulation pad, unbolt the 4 10mm nuts holding down the dust boot cover, and then remove the four 13 mm nuts holding the stock shifter housing down. Carefully break the silicone gasket seal and take the assembly off. Now may be a good time for finesse for the lower half of the shifter sits in a reservoir of gear oil. I made the mistake of using too much force and spilled some gear oil.

Once the stock shifter is wiped off, you will notice a light brown plastic bushing that is snapped onto the bottom of the shaft. You must remove this bushing and install it onto the short shifter. Try to be gentle when removing it, for it can break if too much stress is applied. You will notice that when on the stock shifter, the plastic bush swivels freely around. The gotham shifter's lower tip is designed differently, and once on it, it simply snaps onto the tip. Again be careful not to break it. Before you install the new shifter, turn the shifter upside down and you will notice the UHMW ball joint. Make sure you grease this ball joint because it comes dry from the manufacturer. After you have done this all that is left is to wipe both mating surfaces clean, apply some RTV silicone sealant and plop the new shifter on. Both shifters do not sit centered on the housing, so take note of what is front and back- that way you do not mess up your nice silicone job that you just applied.
Gotham supplies you with allen key bolts to replace the stock 13mm hex screws. You have to use them because the stock hex screws will not fit. The allen key screws are metric by the way, but I used a 3/16" allen key. Not a perfect fit, and I wouldn't recommend using it, but I didn't have my metric allen set with me. The rest of the installation is simply reversing the removal procedure.

COMMENTS:

The shifter is super tight and shifting through the gears is borderline difficult. I experienced a fair amount of transmission noise with this new shifter as well, most noticably in 2nd gear. All these little nuances may diminish once the shifter has broken in. 5th gear feels like it's straight up from 4th, and getting into reverse feels like going into 4th. I'm sure that this is due to the fact that I am not used to it. I am pleased with the 2-3 shift and seems better and more precise- and notably shorter I hope this will help eliminate my accidental 2-5 shifts. Overall I'm pleased with the product and I'm sure as time goes by, the shifter will feel better and better.

MENTAL NOTES:
Make sure that you allow yourself some downtime in
case you brake the brown plastic bushing. From what I understand it's quite inexpensive, but if you break it, and you don't have an extra, you'll have to purchase one. Make sure that you have silicone gasket sealant, and grease for the balljoint- and a metric allen set would be nice as well.


BTW, if anyone has been thinking of getting a Gotham short Shifter, now's the time, They are on sale for $140.






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cpa7man

iTrader: (2)

Good job overkill, nice writeup.

I know some other people have had a noise issue as well. Mine seems quiet. Hope it breaks in and shifts smother, mine is still slightly notchey. I do like it a lot.

overkill

BTW I wanted to say thank you for taking the time and explaining things for me. How many miles do you have on yours? Does there actually seem to be a break-in period, i.e. dies it feel different now??

GoodfellaFD3S

iTrader: (213)

Very nice write up. When I get back to the States I plan on installing one of these "Gotham Shortshifters" that you speak of--does anybody know who I would speak to to purchase one ?

Boostedtwice

nice write up. I'm with GoodfellaFD3S where do you find them at?

spoolin

you can get them at www.gothamracing.com .
ask for steve or ihor (as in winnie the pooh's buddy) .....or wait for goodfella

GoodfellaFD3S

iTrader: (213)

I knew I'd get somebody with that one .

Although I may be like the invisible man now, once I conquer the country of Iraq I shall return to the US of A and make my presence felt

IRPerformance

iTrader: (41)

The bottom bushing is something like $10-15 from Mazdatrix, I forget exactly. It might be a good idea to replace it at the same time as installing the shifter. A metal one is also available, but I found it makes more noise.

rx7yahoo

Has anyone tried both the Gotham and Pettit short shifter kits to compare feel and noise?

Great write-up, overkill!

Jason

iTrader: (5)

I assume the Gotham is a knock off of the B&M. I have used both the Pettit and the B&M and liked the Pettit more. Its a shorter throw and less noise/notchiness. The B&M wasent bad, I just prefered the shorter throw.

Jason

DamonB

I have a metal one in mine and notice no noise at all. Did you forget to put some tranny lube in the shift tower? The shifter is slightly more crisp with the aluminum bushing, but my old plastic one was obviously shot; split on one side.

Herblenny

iTrader: (13)

I felt the SPOAutos pettit also.. And it was smooth and shorter than other B&M.. I haven't felt Gotham's

rx7yahoo

Thanks for the B&M/Gotham vs. Pettit comparisons!

vosko

iTrader: (4)

i have a B&M in my car. i like the construction better than the mazdaspeed/c's/pettit(pettit is similar right ?)

throws are nice and short the one i don't like about the other style is how you put a spacer then put the shifter.... it just seems cheap.

mazdatrix also said on their site for FC shifters that is was completely random which cars made tranny noises with the shifters. rx7 trannies are kind of noisy in themselves soooo

Rx-7$4$me

Well I just ordered the BM myself. Vosko what do u like most about it? Is it smoother then the stock shifter? hows the construction? what are the key benefits of it over other shifters?

Thanks

Steve

vosko

iTrader: (4)

i like how the B&M is a full replacement for the stock unit the only thing you need to reuse is the one bushing on the bottom. i also put on a greddy weighted ****. turbovr6 got a BM and shortened his a little.... mine is already really short. installation is easy like everyone said. the construction of it looks like it will outlast the car

tom jelly

You may as well replace the shift select spindle while you are at it. It can be done from under the car (its the litle protuberance held in with 2 10mm bolts, the plunger thing helps lock out 5th and reverse with its detent.) I just put mine in and havent driven the car with it yet, I'll post my impressions after I get the car running...
Tom

Rx-7$4$me

Vosk, hiow much do you think it shortens over stock? How is the shifting? do the gates feel harder then stock? or is it smoother. On my 3rd to 4th shifts, Im able to use only a flick of the wrist, but I have to move my arm a little bit, I was hoping to end that with the short shifter.

vosko

iTrader: (4)

i haven't measured it but i'd say the throws are 1-2 inches shorter.... that is just guessing.... the last time i drove a car with a stock shifter was a while ago...

Herblenny

iTrader: (13)

How about C's shortshifter from japan.. i have seen actually seen one in person.. but seen few advertized on the forum and ebay.. have anyone heard about these or are they about the same as other shifters..

PHIL

Oracle

I run a C's in my race car, but honestly, I like our shifter better. I think eventually I'm going to change it out .

overkill

I've heard, "stay away from C's"....