Well in conjunction with the Texas Speedworks engine dampener I have the Craven SSK,Craven shift well cover, Ebay B&M shifter bushings and the Whalen Shift Machine. It now is how it should have came from the factory. It is crisp and precise and the best way that I can describe it is that it is like a direct linkage car (instead of cable) with a shift kit. This IS the setup to run and everything acts in synergy to make the Mini feel like a different car. Granted it wasn't cheap.....with labor and all it ran about 700 but I can seriously say it is worth it. After all if we can spend 500+ on JCW steering wheels it shouldn't hurt that much. ZERO disappointments.

 

glad to hear you are thrilled with the results, but 700? wowzer

 

nice...any pictures?

 

Ebay shifter bushings? pray tell.

 

Well I don't have any pics yet but plan to and I cannabalized the shifter bushings out of an ebay B&M ripoff cheapo kit that was 20 bucks.

 

so you think the bushings alone made the difference or do you think its the combo of the bushings and the engine damper? i have the cravenspeed ssk and although i agree it shortens the throw (and increases the effort at it's lowest setting), it still feels loose/wobbly (unlike other ssk i've had in other cars).

 

I do not (nor will ever have) an engine dampener, I do however have a B&M installed and with the solid metal bushings it definitely changes the feel of the shifts so they are more solid and less sloppy.

 

it just seems to make sense - i replaced the oem shifter in my previous 05 boxster 987 with a Schnell SSK that also replaced the bearings and it was so tight and precise. i love the shorter position of the cravenspeed but it still has so much side to side slop both in neutral and in gear. i wonder why cravenspeed didn't include new bushings with their ssk - it would make the kit so ideal

 

Well I am going to say that the Engine dampener did make at least a 30% difference. It is the Texas Speedworks one and not the LOTF one (which I had before in the past and it didn't make much of a difference). Then the Solid bushings really eliminate any slop but the only way I could get them was to buy a cheapo ebay B&M ripoff kit and use the ones out of it. They make about 20% of the package. Then 40% for the Craven SSK and 10% for the Whalen. There you have it. Now go get em and start ripping gears and having fun.

 

so if i've already installed the craven (well, danny at minicorsa did it) can it be pulled out, new bushings put in and then re-installed? it's prob a dumb question cuz it seems logical that it could be done, but just looking for some thoughts from the forum

 

Try running the TSW engine dampener 1st cause it was cheap and you don't need a lift to do it yourself (add shifter bushings) where the craven involves a lot of on your back time if you don't have a lift. I really felt that the TSW Dampener was the easiest to install bang for my buck mod yet...... now the LOTF one well lets just say if you can't say anything nice don't say it at all.