Short shifter options
 

Read through quite a few threads, some of them pretty old. Just bought a 93 Touring, 129k, the shifter feels pretty sloppy. I'd like to shorten the throw some, but I am not looking to spend a ton. Is it really possible to thread the stock shifter lower and cut it down a little? I can get a rebuild kit and run it like that for a while.

Thanks

Yes. New bushing kits are available for the stock shifter. Be sure to grease the ball and lower bushing when re-installing into the oil bath they sit in.

You won't be shortening the throw by shortening the shifter.
The ShortThrow Shifter actually raises the pivot point so the throw is lessened from gear to gear.
By cutting the shifter you only shorten the height of the shifter and essentially make the shifter harder to shift.
Now you can cut the shifter down and rethread it.no problem.,
I have not cut the FD shifter down,but I have made some modifications to my shorthrow.
We are talking FC in this case for me, I have rethreaded the top of the shifter to accept a S5/Fd knob from the S4 threads..
If you can do that on the FC shortthrow then you can certainly do it on an FD shifter.
Any shop with a mill can do it cheap..like 30 bucks.

I think some did both Dave. Short the shaft and lengthen it below the pivot. But I do agree that you WILL reduce leverage and increase mechanical effort.
This isn't the picture I was looking for but does illustrate that. BOTH of these are MAZDASPEED SS kits, IIRC the one on the right was earlier production and advertised a reduction in throw by ~ 50 %. The latter design on the right I think they advertised as reducing only 30%. Note the only difference was in the shaft length above the pivot.

Attachment 632575

I've heard of some owners on a budget doing what the OP mentioned and just shortening the shaft above the pivot. It's ghetto IMO, but will marginally shorten the throw. You have to be careful on how much is cut on the OEM shaft though. I think the tapered area on the OEM shaft is much sharper than those aftermarket ones pictured above. Cut too much off and the stock knob (and likely other knobs) won't screw on all the way.

Ya,since the area between the 2 balls is longer the shifter needs a lift,accomplished by a spacer that comes with the kit.
Fc shifters have a spacer and a insert to put the bushing on.It sits inside the trans.

*coughcough*

Yeah....sounds like Dave's bragging...again. :nod:

:lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol:

Due to a mix up with my vitamins and medication...I am currently typing without Hands..
..and according to the Title of this thread..this is a "short shifter option"..lol!

Right, without changing the pivot point it really is not going to shorten the shift.

So as far as I have been able to research, Mazdaspeed knock-offs are no longer being made. C's can only be had used. The B&M can be too noisy. The Re Amemiya might just be shorter than stock and not have a higher pivot point. Any other choices I am missing?

The B&M is very nice, i wouldn't avoid it just based on some reviews. I have lots of firsthand experience with it :)

I'd avoid the RE-A as it's just a shorter piece, no difference in the pivot point.

Thanks. You know how the internet is. It seemed that more people were not happy with it than were. I guess the easiest and basically cheapest is to start with a rehab of the stocker and go from there.

Sorry we made you get so close to chicken peck that out LOL

i feel stock is best. even though the throw is longer, you have the leverage with a longer shifter. the short shifter tends to be more stiff and you end up misshifting more at least that my experience

Here's the Amemiya one that people seem to hate (with a RX-8 knob). I personally have no complaints after 5 years and countless trackdays. This and a Mazdatrix bushing kit ,and my shifter feels like the stock shifter did in my old NB Miata (which is a good thing).
http://www.mazdas247.com/members/Natey/RX-7/NardiFD.JPG

lollololol

You are so banned. :lol:

And nice interior Natey. Have pretty much the same wheel/knob etc. Does that Amemiya have a stalk that's rubber isolated like OEM? I ran a Pettit MS replica for a couple years but it wasn't isolated. The gear noise that came through became just too annoying and I eventually went back to stock.

... reply from the guy with a seafood buffet....in his pants..!

keepin on trcak..nice setup Natey!

Just having some fun gotta show the new guys we aren't all uptight here ;)

Carry on govena!

Not sure how much more talk I can take about balls and shafts. I thought this was a car forum. LOL

HEY!!,.,.YOU Started it!..(chuckle!)

Next thread. Who has the biggest and brightest headlights. AHOOGA! :)