My shifter solution

[Rittmeister]

Don't know if anyone will be at all interested, but here's what I came up with...

The gist of my thinking, over the last five years: I don't like short shifters in this car (too notchy/high effort or they leak fluid) and the stock shifter is rubbery because it's made of rubber. There's also the expense: B&M or Nismo $220, Attain or Uras $180, C's and Tomei unobtainable. Screw that noise. Yeah, I know they're less expensive used, but still, screw that noise.

The solution is a little cutting and welding away. Years ago I made a B13 shifter by cutting a section out of the stock shifter shaft and re-joining the top to the bottom, resulting in a shifter that was a few inches shorter than stock but retained the stock pivot geometry. Purists will bitch that this isn't a true short shifter but anyone who's had high school math will acknowledge that by shortening the lever arm you're also shortening the arc through which the end of the arm travels. Take that, purists!

I decided to do something similar with a stock S13 shifter. First, I burned/drilled out the rubber crap in the middle, and was left with this:



This shaft is 15mm in diameter. I cut off the top portion of the rest of the shifter, only to find that it's 14mm diameter and I couldn't join them together the way I did the B13 shifter (which was to slip a copper pipe over the joint and use it as a coupler, with some epoxy to hold it all together. Don't laugh, it never broke). I also realized that the little stub of the top wasn't really long enough for the knob to thread onto.

So, I picked up a stock B13 shifter and used the top portion of that instead. This gave me the length I needed but didn't solve the diameter-difference problem, so I found a local guy to weld it for me. Total cost, $20.

Left-to-right: B&M lever (removed from housing to check length), stock, and my new custom shifter.



The result is a lever maybe 1.5" shorter than stock, without the stupid rubber stuff. Total overall length ended up at 10.25". I shot it with primer and paint to keep it from rusting, and installed it earlier. It feels VERY positive, without the notchiness and high effort associated with the short-shifters.

I don't know if this will benefit anyone but there's the info. Comments appreciated.

[orion::S14]

I did the same years ago in my S13 daily-driver...and it was a nice, cheap-o improvement.

Thanks for sharing...and keeping the DIY spirit alive.

- Brian

[burnsauto]

the B&M's are only really notchy/high effort for the first 100 miles or so of driving. After that is really not that bad. Grated yeah it still keeps some of that feel, but its not like its a chore to shift. I guess i have a bias because i REALLY learned how to drive on a short shifter. I know some guys out there are really in love with the stock shifter feel.

I don't see anything wrong with what you wanted out of it though, everyone has their own personal preference. Just as long as the weld you do is VERY good, and it never stands a chance of snapping .

[Rittmeister]

My B&M was always notchy, I think for me it's just that I got used to it. I never liked the higher effort involved.

With this, if I ever go back to a short-shifter, I'll get a C's style that clamps onto the stock shifter housing, and have someone weld a ring to the top of the retainer so I can use the rubber boot to keep the tranny fluid in the tranny where it belongs. Honestly I'd probably have stuck with one of those if it hadn't leaked...

[Chrischeezer]

before reading this thread i never understood where the rubber bushing was...lol

thank you.

[Propaganda]

So wouldn't this be more effort since you shortened it?

I like my B&M with solid bushing collar.. makes the stock shifter feel like a loose vagina

[Rittmeister]

Originally Posted by Propaganda

So wouldn't this be more effort since you shortened it?

I like my B&M with solid bushing collar.. makes the stock shifter feel like a loose vagina

Only the tiniest bit. By keeping the pivot point in the same place the effort is nearly the same. It's well worth removing the rubber crap - no flop, just precise gear changes time after time.

i wouldnt trade my B&M shifter for anything else out there.

my miata has a fucking fantastic STOCK shifter, funny because theres nothing aftermarket for the miata that is better than stock. But for the 240, its all about B&M. changing gears is direct, like loading a well oiled rifle.

the only advice i give to people about the B&M is to make sure their transmission mount is new. I filled mine with urethane and very much like driving with a solid mount, there's absolutely no play as the transmission does not swing at all.

I think low shifter height is over-rated, its pointless. a nice direct feel is all thats needed. if you've achieved that, congrats.

[southerncross]

i bought one of the cheap ass circuit sports shifters from Phase2 as a gamble and i love it. its pretty much perfect as far as feel and effort.

[Driftastic]

Originally Posted by southerncross

i bought one of the cheap ass circuit sports shifters from Phase2 as a gamble and i love it. its pretty much perfect as far as feel and effort.

pics please. Anyone else have experience with off brand shifters?