2g Shortened Shifter

[jericho777]

Here’s a project I did for my sons ‘95 GST. I shortened the factory shifter 1 inch for better operation and try out my new welder! I used a pipe cutter to cut the shifter tube but you could use a hack saw. It’s only 1/16 in. thick. The car is still in the project stage so the interior isn’t in yet. I used a 4 in one inverter TIG.

 

[jjrock5]

Good deal, didnt know a pipe cutter could go through the shifter.

 

[jericho777]

It's pretty easy to do on the straight part but the bend is a little tricky. The nice thing with the pipe cutter is it leaves a clean edge to work with.

 

[crash89]

I wanted to do this as well, but dont have the equiptment to do so. Has your son tried it out yet? If so hows he like it?

 

[Rob10_99]

Nice didn't think the pipecutter would work on it either, I guess it can cut cast shitter pipe so I guess it could do a shifter!

 

[jericho777]

I wanted to do this as well, but dont have the equiptment to do so. Has your son tried it out yet? If so hows he like it?

If you do the prep work maybe you could have a friend do it.

I got the idea from my car but it was a hack job from a previous owner. They just chopped the shifter tube short and drilled out the shifter knob. It's only held on with set screws and loosens up. Mine works fine though it's just not pretty. My sons now has factory quality. He hasn't used it yet as the car is waiting for interior and engine install.

The wall thickness of the shifter is about 1/16" mild steel so it's pretty easy to work with. A hack saw would work too but would not leave as clean an edge.

 

[ToughTalon]

I did the same exact thing, but I didnt use a pipe cutter. I shortened my shifter and eliminated the bushing on the shifter 'plate' that bolts to the chassis. I also installed the bronze bushings in the end of the shifter cables at the transmission. Over-all I am happy with the set-up. It is a bit 'notchy' but I have run low 12s and drove on the street for years without a single problem. Without driving another DSM with an aftermarket shifter I cannot compare it to much....

 

[black_gst]

you should lengthen the bottom and make it a true short shifter.. i bought an after market fidanza and then i took an inch off the top aswell. i love it it shifts perfect and i have poly shifter plate bushings as well as skate board bearings pressed in the linkage under the hood

 

[spooln4fun]

Does anyone have a picture of an aftermarket short throw pictured next to a factory shifter, this way we could see what we need to lengthen? Good call on this, I did it to mine

 

[Project2G]

Nice I did this to my stocker then sold it because I like my B&M one a better. Welds are a little bubbly but not bad.

 

[black_gst]

a picture isnt really needed. just measure how much room you have to extend the bottom of the shifter so it wont bottom out.. just extend it stright down

just a note for others reading this.. 2g's can do this no problem but 1g's are a bit different, theres a bump stop mounted on the shifter and i have heard of people having problems with short shifters.

 

[Grescht]

i bought a short shift kit on ebay. It's identical to the B&M short shifter for our cars. I assembled it and didn't like the height so i took it off, chopped an inch and a half out of it then re welded it with a stick welder. Super short and it has a super short throw. Only problem i have with it is that it's notchy. but i think that goes for all dsm's with a stock tranny. unless theres something i'm missing.........

 

[black_gst]

mine shifts like butter... you might have took too much off the top and now it takes more force to shift or maybe replacing your stock rubber shift bushings with the upgraded ones on the shifter plate and the ones on the linkage under the hood might make it feel better

 

[daren_p]

i bought a short shift kit on ebay. It's identical to the B&M short shifter for our cars. I assembled it and didn't like the height so i took it off, chopped an inch and a half out of it then re welded it with a stick welder. Super short and it has a super short throw. Only problem i have with it is that it's notchy. but i think that goes for all dsm's with a stock tranny. unless theres something i'm missing.........

2g shifter is basically a mechanical lever & with taking so much out of an aftermaket shifter that already moves the pivot point up, you've now moved the pivot point even further up. While it may look cool, it won't shift as well as if you left it the full length.

If not already replaced, new shift cable end bushings & shifter plate bushings to replace the sloppy stock rubber ones will help as well.

 

[jericho777]

Nice I did this to my stocker then sold it because I like my B&M one a better. Welds are a little bubbly but not bad.

I know the welds don't look pretty. It was the first thing I welded with my new TIG (last time I TIGed was 23 years ago). I welded on the ground right where I took the pic. I wasn't able to use the foot pedal just the finger control on the torch.

 

[cburke23]

Does it feel ok, like a real sort shifter? Weld looks strong!!!

 

[welfle18]

Did the same thing on mine. Took equal amounts off the top and bottom just left the curve in the shifter. I have the symbroski (sp) shifter plate bushings also. Have had it this way for better than three years now and still feels GREAT. Thats with 150k miles on the tranny too.

 

[jericho777]

Does it feel ok, like a real sort shifter? Weld looks strong!!!

Feels fine. When I bought my car it had the same thing done only they just hacked the threaded end off and held the shift knob on with set screws. I did not know till the shifter knob loosened up what they had done. I wanted to do a better job and had to have a project to do with my new welder!

 

[cburke23]

Feels fine. When I bought my car it had the same thing done only they just hacked the threaded end off and held the shift knob on with set screws. I did not know till the shifter knob loosened up what they had done. I wanted to do a better job and had to have a project to do with my new welder!

Cool, well then this is what I will do! I guess 1inch should do it!

 

[ratatack]

looks good i went with b&m if i had your knowlege and tools id do it too great job