Can anyone tell me if this Megan billet short shifter for the FD is good for a budget short throw??

 

Not a fan of short shifters. It was one of the silliest things I ever inflicted on my car. And I had a good one, not a cheesy “Racing Sport” cheap-o.
But if you really feel the need, source a good used Mazdaspeed/Pettit version or maybe a JP3. I wouldn’t get one if I couldn’t afford a good one. Rattling, gear noise...
The original shifter is already pretty “short throw”. If your’s is worn just rebuild it. All the bushings are available and it’s not hard or expensive.

https://www.rx7club.com/3rd-generati...tinct-1149331/

 

also, just to put it out there, if that is Ebay, your due diligence is required when buying things like this. i don't have an FD, but through my own experiences (and those of others i have seen) you may not actually be getting something that bolts on to your car. years ago, there were some short shifters being sold for the FC that were actually Miata parts, and therefore required modifications to actually fit.

 

Those style short shifters are usually very notchy. I bought one like this from CUBE Speed and it was very notchy, which I thought I wanted until I had it. This is based on the old B&M design. So just figure out if that's what you want. This style replaces the whole top portion, whereas the other design like Mazdaspeed and C's replaces just the shifter itself.

I've had short shifters in my car since about 2006 (C's, CUBE Speed, now JP3), I can't even remember what the stock shifter felt like. However, I'm not sure short shifters are even worth the cost. You're gaining maybe a fraction of a second per shift, and for most people that means little to nothing.

That being said, if you're dead set on getting a short shifter, and if you have the money, I'd get the one from JP3. It's VERY nice. It's an updated replica of Mazdaspeed, with a rubber isolator to mitigate vibration and it has replaceable bushings like the stock shifter. It's pricey, but it's probably the best short shifter you can find. Not sloppy and not super notchy, just right. And these cars deserve the best.

 

Immediately grinded second if I do anything hut a slow shift. Is it the short shifter itself I've never grinded a gear before

 

Sounds like it's the synchro. That requires a rebuild, but if it's a good shop they shouldn't charge much if that's all you're replacing.