Gretch

There was a thread last week about the difference between various shifter throw lengths. Tom measured the throw from second to third using his new Devek short shifter. This measured out at 3.75 inches. This weekend I measured the throw for my stock '89 GT shifter. it is 5 inches of throw from second to third. So the short shifter reduces throw by 25%, even as compared to the GT shifter.

sweanders

That's interesting to know, but how is the difference in feel? Does it take more force to change gears?

Gretch

Tom can answer that, infact I think he did already. thread goes back to thursday of last week. Look up "short shifter" It is in there somewhere. I ordered one from Specialists, I will report in when I get it installed. Just replacing my ball cup made a huge difference in the crispness of my shifter. It was a bit loose before that. Now it feels "notchy". A good secure "notchy" feeling

Gretch

Bump for MBMB re short shifter statistics..........

MBMB

Thanks for the bump.

Gretch

So now that I got the install done I can answer that question also. It does not take more force to change gears as far as I can determine, the distance of the throw is just shorter. I like the feeling much better than the original shifter feel. The shifting feels more precise. below is a picture I got from someone here when I did my research on the difference between the GT shifter and the short shifter. BTW mine is red, not blue.....

mark kibort

the best combination, is the shortened 2.226 US 84 shifter, and mechanism, updated with the 2.2 S4 or 85 gear box. it gives a very short throw!!

to equal this throw, I had to take 1.5" off the stock S4 shifter to make the throw the same. almost too short, but works just fine!

mk

BC

I am having a mechanic here shange the geometry of the shifter, as well as replace the front and rear joints of the linkage with joints that have less play. It should be very fun when its all back together. I measured, at the tip of the shifter rod, up to an inch of play(in side to side or front back), DIRECTLY related to the movement from:

1) The front Ball cup in its own socket when NEW
2) The carrier bushing just forward of the shifter mechanism, which is connected to the Torque tube.
3) The rear kinkage, which contributes, IMO, the most to the undifferent feeling we sometimes get while shifting. This "universal" type of joint has up to an 1/8 of an inch of play before it will move the shaft on the actual transmission.

Just FYI