I just had a short shifter installed in waynoz. I was pretty keen on the idea, but i've also been told that they arent good to use and can mess with the linkages??? what are the views of other people on short shifters being installed over the stock zx shifter? Good thing or Bad thing? WaynoZ
i personally like them, but some of the cheaper varietys (read ebay spec) can be a notchy in the movemnet, doesnt feel very nice. ive driven stock shifter, good short shifter and notchy shifter, and i would install another short shift, but pay the price and buy a brand name one.
the one I have I got from Wild, it seems fairly new apart from random bolts, and looks like an ok quality piece... I suppose if it feels a bit notchy I can just go back to stock... but having a short shifter doesnt affect quality of gear changes at all???
not that i noticed, shorter space between gears means quicker shift times by a poofteenth of a second, but the give a fark factor is pretty low for most people on that point lol.
i used to have one. sold it to magicmike after i modified the stock one to have a shorter shift. for me, the main issue with the short shifter was the fact it didn't like to go into 2nd on cold days. really need to feel the revs match and then it slides in. the syncros also took a bit of a pounding and i could hear more pronounced crunches if i did a rubbish granny shift (1st-2nd). with the modified stock one, while i don't understand exactly why, it feels more cushioned and i think it's easier on the syncros. i do miss the clicky noises the short shifter makes. most people who didn't know much about cars would comment on how it sounds like a daytona game machine or a gated ferrari shifter. i would have a short shifter again PURELY for the noise it makes and the insanely direct feel it adds. for practical application of shifting faster however, just modify your stock one. costs no $ and works just as well. comparing to a bog stock however, i would take the short shifter every time. stock feels like you're rowing a truck.
ebay spec... nay. Shifts nicely when the car is cold. Notchy as hell when warmed up, especially 1st to 2nd
I like the standard one now. Had a short shifter and went back to standard with a new 2K spec leather gear knob.
Had a short shifter in my black one and loved it. Everyone bangs on about it being so hard to shift and needing super strength to do it. Thats bullshit, if they are really having that much hassle they need to drink some milk and stop being as weak as 12yo girls. Its a little stiffer than factory but hardly a chore, though the shift difference is immense. Drove a stock one after my short shifter one and it was terrible.
I found the standard shifter fine with new bushes, but raced it as well and treated the box with respect, it is heavy duty but will last a lot longer if you just pause at the gate before going straight through it helps the synchros last longer and on down shifts always double shuffled matched engine revs to gearbox speed, its funny did you see the shift on a V8 supercar like a bus for length, and i dont know why
sounds like it will just be a case of getting used to a new shifting style and feel... I'll give it a go.. at least i didnt go with the 6 puc clutch, that plus the short shifter i'd have a lot to get used too, and if anyone else drove it they might have a hard time (but i was liking the idea of that...)
Short throw, yay. Short height, nay. I have a modified stocker in my Z, along with a LWFW and ZSpeed heavy-duty clutch fork and the car shifts smooth as butter. I'm sure it'll only get better with the solid shifter mount.
The correct term is "Short Throw Shifter" meaning the overall distance the gear knob attached to the end of the shifter moves, is slightly less than the OEM shifter. Provided the bushes or bearings [available in high end shifters] are in good condition, the so called 'notchy' feeling is more likely gearbox linkage or gearbox related. It is probably more noticeable with the short throw shifter due to the difference in leverage.
Good Point.... yeah I used to think a 'short shifter' meant the length of the shifter was shorter. its not until i had one i realised they are the same 'length' as oem shifters.
Yes modified stock is the best. Running the same. It does lower the shifter slightly but only about 15mm depending on how short you want the throw.
It can hasten the wear on old syncro's as it's harsher on the damn things, hence why some will say they had difficulty into 4th, or having to rev-match to get a smooth shift. At the end of the day, if you like the feel of it, you just need to shift with some mechanical sympathy. Saying that, I use a standard shift in my cars.
I find this amusing as the zeds throw is MUCH shorter than an R32 and a falcon. I don't think the stock shifter is long at all. Maybe I'll try a short shifter one day.
no, thats about the gist of it.... I never found anything wrong with stock honestly, but did think i'll give the short shifter a go... havent tried it out yet. but from what i hear the stock shifter is pretty spot on for what you need and you don't really need a short shifter
