Has anyone installed and used the Mini Quickshift kit? How hard was it to install? The 2nd generation one claims that you do not need to chop up the OEM rod shifter for parts, which is good since I don't have an angle grinder, but how hard is it?

Obviously there's a performance benefit, but does it come at the cost of higher wear and tear on the rod change mechanisim or the gearbox?

Thanks!

 

I have one on my rod change. I have mixed feelings about it. It does substantially shorten the throw between gears which I like. It comes at the expense of a stiffness to the feeling that takes a bit of getting used to. You have to assure you've selected the right gear. (4th not reverse) I wouldn't speed shift with it. But, I guess I like it more than dislike it as I haven't removed it.

As far as installation, the difficult part is removing the locating pins from the housing and installing the screws that hold it in place.

 

i was gonna get one but after driving amini with one i decied i did not like the feel of it ........yes 4th is a pain to get use to.......

 

Only 2nd hand knowledge here, but I've seen many people on Minimania reccomend *against* installing the "Quick Shift" kits to a classic Mini.

 

Do you know why? Was that a no vote for daily drivers only? I can't tell from my research if the item is primarily for racing only, or if it has benefit for everyday driving.

 

From what I recall it was more scientific from that - had to do with levers, fulcrums, or some other educated nonsense. If you search over at MM there *might* be a subject within the psat year that covers it. Honestly though I've never found the Mini's geear lever throw to be that long. Maybe it's 'cause I'm a giant gorilla

 

Since I'm not blessed with "ape arms" like some of our brethern... I do find the quick shifter throw more to my liking. Of course I have a RHD car and am strongly righthanded and not overly ambidextrous. Maybe that's why I'm more cautious or hesitant with it. If I had a LHD car maybe I'd be more aggressive with it.

I recollect the Minimania thread but not details. It wasn't too long ago. A 180 day search ought to pick it up. I don't know what "issues it causes but it would all be centered within the rear rod change housing. The selector rod is fixed in position plus there's looseness in the coupler to the tranny. The quick shifter sits taller on the rear housing by a couple inches and has a different bend to it.

"Quick-shift kit for Remote shifters only. (See C-22A1751 for Rod change.)
By raising the pivot point on the shift lever, the amount of throw is reduced considerably. That means you get shorter, quicker shifts! Parts included in the kit include new chrome shift lever, a special machined aluminum adapter that bolts to your existing shift housing, plus hardware and instructions.
Not recommended for 5/6-speed gearboxes. "

Thread: http://www.minimania.com/web/threadi.../msgthread.cfm

But it is non-specific and second hand opinion. I didn't see anything else negative in a 365 search...

 

I shift my Minis smartly but never as hard as I shift in other cars. I'm not smart enough to be able to work on my own gearboxes, so I save that abuse for "newer" transmissions. With my 998cc car I found that if I shifted too quickly it would get grumpy. My newest car ('80) shifts much better, but it's still no drag car, that's for sure. Nor would I want it to be! ...now if I did a Honda B16A2 swap into it... the gloves would come off. :D

I'll have to dig through my old photos. I had a shot of me sitting in my '71 with the door open. It really does look like 10 pounds of crap stuffed in a 5 pound bag! I took out the front seat and "drove" from the back seat ala HighTower from Police Academy - I can touch the pedals, but I don't know how safe it'd be.

 

[quote=Minimad;1679861]Since I'm not blessed with "ape arms" [quote]

alrighty now.....was that another attack on us not so vertically challanged people........

 

i have one in my mini and i prefer it over the oem shifter. a must in my book

 

In what way(s) has it improved your experience/performance, Joltfreak? Also, did you fit the part yourself, and did you use the 1st or 2nd gen kit?

 

i have the Gen 1 shifter. I installed it. i found it to get rid of the sloppy feel in the shifter while shifting, it was easier to find all the gears and it obviously shorten the throw. my mini is left hand drive (Canadian car) my buddy has a right hand drive (UK import) mini with a similar shifter (his was a ripspeed shifter) and i didn't like it as much but i figured that it might be because it was a different supplier and that i drive my mini more often. but i would definitely have one in any mini that i will own.
Tamer (joltfreak)

 

Matt,
I tried the KAD quick shifter in one of my cars -- both are remote shift cars, not rod-change. It was easy to install and looked great. However, I took it off mainly because I did not like the "feel" of it. Shifting was much more "notchy" and fussy. Slowing down the shifting seemed to help, but, in my view, defeated the purpose of a short shifter. I went back to a modified (shortened) stock shifter in the wagon and enjoy it much more than the quick shifter.

 

How did you modify the stock shifter? Just a simple cut-down or something more involved? My car's a rod-change BTW, if that matters.

 

Cutting the shifter lever decreases the amount of "throw" necessary to complete the shift, the linkage action remains the same, but the distance traveled by your hand is lessened. You need to determine first whether or not you are emotionally attached to the stock shift ****, and if not then what you would like to use as a replacement. I chose a chrome universal model from Ractive, there are many different kinds to choose from even the chrome skull with red LED eyes.

I cut my shifter because of a need for more clearance in the leg area, and because I have long arms there is no extra reach involved. I simply removed 2 1/2" from the overall length of the shift lever using a cutting wheel. The universal mount of the new shift **** allows some vertical adjustment to suit your individual tastes, about 2" of position travel.