Anyway to install the SSK without having to remove the exhaust...

Kinda would like a faster way of doing the install without having a lift/jacking the car up

 

There is no way getting around lifting the car up unless you have a pit to work in.
I put my shifter in a few weeks ago and was able to do it without taking the whole exhaust off. What I did was drive the front wheels up onto a set of ramps i have and that gave me enough clearance to workunder the car. Then all I had to do was disconnect the exhaust at the flange, and take all the bolts for the support bracket off and the bolts for the heat shield piece that goes along that section of muffler. With the support bracket off you can roll the heat shield off around the muffler and with the front connection undone it gives you enough room to get to the bottom of the shifter assembly. As a word of advise I had a he of a time trying to get the shifter cables off and the easiest tool was a crows foot and extension to pry it off. Hope this helps.

 

You always need to lift the car. You need to access and remove the shift box from the bottom. Actually you don't need to remove the exhaust completely. Just the bolts that connect it to the catalytic converter, and the center plate. Shouldn't take you more than 5 minutes.

At that point it will just hang and give you enough clearance to remove heat shields and access the shift box.

Good luck.

 

Wear gloves for .... wish I had.

 

I put the car on 4 jackstands. For me the most difficult part was the exhaust shields, and then reinstalling them correctly.