I am looking for a decent short throw and it seems that many like the B&M kit, problem is that it has been discontinued. I see replicas and was wondering if anyone has experience with the "Ralco RZ" shift kit? I see some people on the forum run their pulley kits, was wondering if anyone has had any experience with the shift kit?

Thanks!

 

Try out the short shifter from Mazdatrix, I recently installed one on a customer's FD and I liked it better than my current B&M

http://www.mazdatrix.com/g4.htm

 

I had the Mazdatrix in my FC and I really liked it. I took the "plunge" if you wna to call it that, maybe risk is a better word, and bought one of the 20 dollar b&m replicas from ebay. I was told to make sure and find one of the steel versions, not aluminum. Anyhow, I've had it for about a month, it seemed like a decnt piece. Nice and heavy, solid feeling, etc. It works well. Its nice and short, no rattles, no loose feeling. It is ratchety, but I really like that. It feels like a nice, positive shift every time. I guess we'll see how its doing in 10 thousand miles, but for now, I really like it and if it ends up becoming junk I'm only out about $25.

 

i had the b&m for a 10k miles and actually switched back to stock, however i cut out 1 1/4" of it and made my own short shifter. my b&m was way too ratchety and 2nd to 3rd shift was slow, but now i have a engine torque brace which helps that as well.

 

I used the Mazdatrix in my last FD w/o any issues.

Now, I'm trying to decide to go back w/Mazdatrix or the RE Amemiya D1 Spec Short Shifter. If anyone has any experience, w/both shifters please chime in and a side-by-side pic would be great!

 

The RE-A one isn't really a s/s IMO. It does sit the shift **** lower, but the throws are looooong compared to the B&M, almost like stock. I uninstalled that sucker in a hurry.

 

any opinions on the Pettit shifter?

 

The Pettit shifter has changed over the years. It was originally a copy of the Mazdaspeed/C's Short Shifter (which is what you tested in my car). However, they switched over to a B&M replica a few years ago. I've never been a huge B&M fan as their shifters are short but very notchy.

 

Are you implying that the Mazdaspeed and C's short shifter are the same?

 

I've never seen a C's first hand. However from the old pictures, they appear to be the same (or maybe just extremely similar). RX7 Store, Pettit and Mazdatrix all sold a replica of the Mazdaspeed unit (which itself may have been a Mazda sponsored C's) for a number of years.

 

I have the mazdatrix shifter (I think I am the customer Rich is referring to). The shifter is still a bit stiff since it was recently installed so it might be better to compare Dennis' (sinned) mazdatrix shifter to the C's I got to try out in another car (swat81). The throw on both the shifters were short. The locking action on the C's seemed tighter and took more effort to lock in while the mazdatrix still had a great locking feeling but felt easier to get into gear. Dennis had a great analogy. The mazdatrix felt like a bolt action rifle. Take this comparison with a grain of salt though because the mazdatrix shifter had a longer stick so maybe that could account for the differences (doubtful it would make such a drastic difference but it is possible). It is possible that they are the same and the differences may be due to mileage and stick length but IMO I don't think they are.

I actually prefer the mazdatrix shifter which is why I bought one immediately after I tried out Dennis' shifter. I could definitely see why people love the C's though. The shifter feels like it takes more effort but it just gets to that next gear quickly and locks in tight.

Actually, Rich can probably give you more info since he has a car in the shop with the C's right now.

 

All of the replicas have been altered over the years. Depending on when you got yours, it's no telling which iteration you got.

 

I guess that is true.

I'd like to get a chance to check out those ebay shifters to. I'm not sure about longevity but if they felt good I would rock one on a second car.

ebay vs.
https://www.rx7club.com/west-rx-7-forum-193/mazda-trix-vs-ebay-short-shifter-931650/

I checked out the Ralco shifter. Pretty pricey. I hope they are good. If you do get it give us a review. I'd probably still spend the extra money and get another mazdatrix if I needed one though.

 

Pettit Racing (original)

 

YES... Pettit takes a NEW shifter from Mazda and then chops half of the threads off of the shifter to make it a short shifter.

The short shifter they sold years ago was actually a C's short shifter they sold as their own. I have one since my FD was built by them some time ago..


L8R

 

go with the Mazdatrix

 

Does the mazdatrix sit lower as well? whats a good shift **** to use?