Hi all, been looking for a short shifter , there's a couple of them that look good, helix, B+M. but then the cover becomes a big factor in my purchase..
last week another mini Enthusiast sent me a email . telling me that a local short shifter company ( http://www.twmperformance.com/) is looking for two MCSs . one 02/04 and one 05. to help build a prototype . Which will include a cover, full shortshifter and a option of adding on a stock **** or using one of there heavier shifter *****
There engineer patrick showed me a prototype for a 350z . i was totally amazed at the workmanship and quility. they offer a great product at a reasonable price.
If you are looking into buying a short shifter ,you should wait a little longer for these twm short shifters to hit the market and then make your choice.

thanx
mikie

 

I'm the other MINI that did the prototype thing...

TWM basically look at other products available, and they work on the weak points of them...

For our MINI, they are will design a complete new box cover and if there's a single vibration, they'll add a bushing into the shaft... And they are also designing a piece that would screw on top of the shaft in order to install stock shifter ****!

As Mikie said, the 350Z prototype was very very impressive. Patrick, from TWM, showed me B&M short shifter and it doesn't even come close to the quality of TWM model!

Keep an eye on this thread for the official product release!

 

Do don't know why one would need a short shifter on a 350Z.
the factory stroke is short enough, shaft/**** short enough too...
plus it's not like the syncro's on that 6MT are that great either.

imho, short is not always a good thing.


I would recommend the Helix13 for its ease of install and price point.
Keep the stock length, achieve short throw, get a weighted ****
for human-factors if you wish, and you're set. why spend any more
on something that works well.

 

I've had Helix SS for 3 months now, and there's a few downsides with it...

Removing the shift-cables box cover is not a great thing for me... On hot days, you can feel a draft of hot air coming from under the shifer... And after only 3 months, my Helix extension arm was aleady beginning to have rust on it... The little screw that secures to the stock shitfer arm is really not that strong... Only 3 threads to screw...

Sure it gets the job done, but don't say a more expensive product doesn't worth it!

TWM will bring one of the best short shifter design for our MINI...

 

Say I am curious about this short shifter thing. I know the stock length is really to long however it's easy as pie to just cut it down and attach another shift **** or even attach the stock ****.

Is there some drawback or objection to just cutting down the stock unit?

 

MGear:

I have read that there is a difference, but I am a novice in this territory so hopefully the experts will educate us. The short shifter kit actually changes the distance of the linkages, I believe, whereas shortening the shaft may feel shorter, but does not actually change the gearbox.

My 2 cents which may be worth even less on this point!

Mike

 

Downsides:
The actual throw distance below the pivot ball doesn't change. You're only increasing shift effort and not really gaining any mechanical advantage.
You still have that puny OEM shift arm and you can't use OEM design shift *****.
Some of the higher end shift kits also replace the shift tower bushings as well.

 

So obehave (I love that name) if I understand you correctly just cutting down the length of the existing stick say an inch or two mostly provides a placebo or cosmetic effect. While it does shorten the throw a bit, mechanically it really isn't providing any imporvement. That's what ZenAudio is saying as well yes?

 

You forget to put the heatsheild back on??

I just said the Helix one does the job and job well done. I didn't
advertise not to buy any other.

but short shifters for 350Z's... useless imho.

 

Seems to me that a short shifter is a necessary mod on the Mini. It felt very inprecise when I went for a test drive. Almost 'plasticy'. I would love to get a more direct throw in the Mini when we get it, i'll have to take a look at what is offered. I have heard good things about the Alta though.

As far as the 350z not needing one....it doesn't need a 'short shifter' so to speak, but something that will help with the notchyness of the tranny. Unfortunately, there isn't much to be done with it, but some of the shifters seem to help a little. At least putting some synthetic in the tranny helps a little as well...

 

Actually if you time the throttle and clutch correctly on the 350Z 6MT,
it's not notchy at all. It's driver error imho.

but it is notchy when cold like on most manuals. :smile:

 

lol no, i didn't forgot... The little cover doesn't fit anymore because of the longer shaft...

As for the 350Z, TWM didn't reduce the throw by a lot... That's not the only thing possible to improve in a shifter... What they did was to modify the bushing inside the shaft to cut on vibrations... And it worked pretty good, since the owner of the 350Z who tested the prototype said the shaking in the shifter was gone.

 

The section of the shifter that moves the cable is below the pivot ball. Cutting down the stick above that point does not change the arc needed to get the required amount of travel.
One of the small extensions will since it lengthens the arm below the pivot. Requiring less travel needed above the pivot point. It's a simple lever, nothing more.

The vanity part I like about the replacement arms, I have one, is that you get a nice beefy arm you can show off if you want. The stock arm is just ugly.

 

Okay I get it now I would like to try one out to test the actual difference but not sure how I can do that. Anybody have any ideas?