spent the better part of yesterday down in Providence RI at Yarrowsports having a rear sway bar and a B&M short shift installed.The shifter is definately going to take some getting used to, and, overall, the effect of the sway bar is subtle,but definately worth it. I really didn't "get it" until I came to some turns that I'm used to : coming off the Tobin Bridge going northbound there are some interesting twisties where the road is in really poor shape ,and the car used to want to washboard sideways if pushed.........GONE! Further north is a turn going from Rt. 1 onto Rt. 95 that I have always had fun with when there were no other cars around ....wheeeeee! As I said , the short shift will take some getting used to as the lever is definately shorter than stock and as such requires more force to change gears.especially noticable getting into reverse,which has always been stiff.Getting to see Randy Webb again was definately a trip.For all who can , it's worth a ride just to see him in action ,even if you don't have him work on the car. good vibes! Over and out. Jock

 

I know Yarrow from my VW days. He is a cool guy.

 

Hey Jock,

Randy put the Alta SS in my '04 right after you left. He is the man. The install was slightly longer because of some changes Mini made to the socket but once in, Whoa! What a difference. It feels like it should feel out of the box. Never mind the reduced throw, there is no slop. Even when I backed the adjustable Alta SS out to the "stock" length, there wasn't the excess play in the linkage! I've been driving around with an allen wrench ever since making tiny incremental adjustments to get it just right. These cars are a kick! Did your passenger enjoy the ride home or did he loose his pizza?

Cheers,

Mark

 

Jock, Mark,

Glad to here you guys are enjoying your short shifter. It would have been interesting if the two of you had switched cars and offered comparisons.

I've had the Alta for a while now and I can't remember what the old shifting was like. I just remember the huge improvement over stock. One of the more rewarding mods I have made!.

Now, we need to get together and do a group head/cam install!

Greg V (black mini)

 

.I think he's wondering why he got a cooper instead of an S...............

 

Greg

We didn't have a chance to swap cars on Saturday. However last month I drove Paul's MCS that has the B&M and that is what clinched the SS deal for me. Unfortunately B&M has not released a kit for the '04 builds yet. It would be interesting to drive the cars back to back. None the less, I am totally satisfied with the Alta. Yeeha!

Cheers,