I'd love to do something to make my shifts a little more positive. I've been thinking of short shifters (a lot of $ and work), short shift extensions (less dough, but still a fair amount of work, and I worry about reliability) or a heavier shift **** (but the Whalen is SO expensive!)

I stumbled across this shift **** from Kass Motorsports today. I hadn't heard of this company or the ****. At about 8500 kg/m^3, a 2 inch ball of solid brass must be about 15 ounces (minus the tunnel for the shaft). At $48, you could buy three of these for one Whalen.

Does anyone have this ****? Has anyone done business with Kass Motorsports?

Here's a link to the ****: http://www.kassmotorsports.com/produ...roducts_id=252

And assuming their server will allow external links, here's a pic:

 

Thats very tempting, same thing as the Whalen interms of shift feel, but no option of engraving your own graphic/design.

1/3 of the price, hmm, I think I might have to get this.

 

I emailed Kass, asking them what the weight of the **** was. "Solid Brass" could mean just about anything. I'll post again when I hear from them.

 

Ask questions how it actually attaches to the shifter, as not all ***** are created equal. The Whalen apparently just pops on, no set screws and other crap.
Cheers,
H

 

Good point - I wouldn't want a one-pound brass ball bouncing around the cockpit in a crash!

 

I can't tell you anything about the ****, but Kass Motorsports are good people!
I have not actually bought anything from them (YET), but I have met a few of them at Mini meetings and they are all very passionate about our Minis.

You shouldn't have any problems with them, they are top notch!
Good Luck!

 

The only thing I would worry about with this is the fingerprints.:impatient That's why i got a bead blasted whalen.

 

Here is another good alternative. http://www.rspeed.net/mini/item.asp?...7&prod=M20-540 Have had the chrome one for about 2 months and love it. Slightly smaller, but heavier, than the stock one. Same attachment as stock.

 

I've been thinking about this one from MOMO.
Anyone have any info regarding attachment?
Not sure but it mentions set screws .......



I got a gift certificate to MiniMania and am itching to spend it.

Minimania MOMO Tomahawk
Later,
Ray

 

I followed your link, but something seems wrong with their description - .32 oz. each? Can't be right. Can't be 32 oz. either, not a 1-7/8 inch ball of aluminum. Maybe 3.2 oz? That sounds about right. That's only a little heavier than the stock ****, isn't it?

The thing that's supposed to make the Whalen so special (aside from custom engraving) is weight. The Whalen is something like 18 oz., and if the one from Kass is solid brass, I'd guess it's probably about 14 oz. or so.

 

I have a stainless steel (which I won in an auction) similar to a Whalen one and that **** weighs 20.5 oz.
H

 

that sounds g00d
who is this piece made by, do ya know?

 

I am thinking of getting a Norm Grabowski original skull shifter to put in my MINI. Each are hand carved and sandblasted by Norm himself. Norm is a godfather in the hot rod community, known as the father of the T-bucket. his most famous car was the Kookie Roadster, which starred in "77 Sunset Strip". He is an great guy and a true hot rodding legend.
Heres a pic of the man himself and a couple of his shift *****.

 

 

A motorer from Atlanta makes those ***** in his machine shop. They are relatively popular around here. I have never installed it after winning it, and since I now have the DTM **** and the guys in my shop are considering making a titanium one for me I really don't need it. I am willing to part with it.
It is nice brushed stainless steel with a 6 speed pattern engraved in it.

Pics below

Happy new year
Herbert

 

does it screw on? i run an alta SS will it werk on it?
could u give me the info to the guy that makes these i also want one w/ JOKER on it
.
have a prosperous NEW year urself !!

 

www.flameball.com check out my gallery for the one i picked up.

 

You can't beat a Whalen. I used one for 3 years on my '03 MCS, and have now easily moved it over to my '06 MCS JCW.

It feels great, is nice and heavy, and promotes a wonderfully solid shift.

No question - get the Whalen.

(I do like the look of the Flameballs, though!!)

=R=

 

I agree with you about the Whalen, It really feels nice to have that weight on the **** for better shifting. My flameball **** is not nearly as heavy as a Whalen. I know that my shifting would feel better with a Whalen. But My flameball feels OK for the kind of driving i do. Plus i just love the way it looks at night. During the day it looks good also come to think of it. It must be the little bit of ricer in me.

 

It bolts on via the two set screws you can see in the pic. I am not shure whether they do custom stuff, as I have only seen the 5 speed and 6 speed versions. I think they are called Threashold Motoring, and the one I have retails for $65-$70 I believe.
Cheers
H

 

Yeah yeah, but if this $50 one is just as heavy I'd rather spend the leftover $100 on something else.

Providing it won't come off in a crash and knock my teeth out

 

I called Kass this afternoon and they weighed one of these for me while I was on the phone. They are only 5.6 ounces, which is about the same as the ones that RSpeed sells. The guy I talked with described the attachment as a sleeve with a set screw of some sort.

BTW, the Flameball guys weighed theirs for me as well and they claim 10 ounces. None of these are as heavy as the Whalen at 18 ounces, but I am like a lot of you - looking for something heavier, but not going to pay $130 for a shift ****.

 

My stainless steel shift **** is on sale currently on ebay with all "hefty" 20oz of it.
:-)
H

 

I like this **** by sparco,with the Helix short shifter you get a nice solid shift.I stay away from smooth round ball types as your hand can slip on a power shift.