i wonder if you could tunr the factory shifter that comes with the xB into a short shifter i was lookin at it today and i noticed that the thread size in gauge is the same for about 2-3 inches down the shaft.... what if you cut it down 2 inches and thread the shaft again... and boom you got a shorter shifter

 

While cutting down the height of the shifter will make it shorter it will not make it a short shifter. The short in short in short shifter is for the the length of the "throw" in degrees. This is how many degrees you need to move the shifter to go from one gear to another.

This is usually done by moving the pivot point of the shifter up slightly. This make the he part under the car longer, making it so that you do not have to move the top part of the shifter as much.

All this movement revolves around the number of degrees of travel. Now cutting the height down of a shifter will reduce the distance of travel but not the number of degrees of travel that it has to move.

In some cars that has a higher center console "Ford Probe" they also will shorten the top of the lever arm as well. This affects the distance of travel but also make the shifter considerably shorter in height. This also changes the position for driver's hand as well but it's not an issue since it is still close tot he driver

In an xB I would not recommend this It will only but the shifter more out of reach depending on your physical stature or course. Thats why on a short shifter for say Jeep CJ5 with a floor mounted shifter like the the xB they only move the pivot point but the upper portion is still the same length to keep it within reach.

You might, but even is you cut the stalk down the to floor it won't be a short shifter. Just a shorter one. If this is what you looking for then by all means go for it. I plan on doing this to my Mazda Protege to make 5th a little less intimate with my passengers. Though it being a low shifter already I'm still on the fence.

 

ah it was just a thought i came up with in like 2 min i already have a short shifter... and i just thought of somehtin else... on the factory shifter the groves that the pivot ball has that holds the rod in place what if you tapped the rod a lil further down makin the part that is the gear selecter longer and the handel shorter ? know what im sayin?

 

i wish i could make my shifter a little taller, actually.
shortening the arc of the shift would be nice, but as tall as i sit in the seat, that shifter is just at the end of my reach. it's comfortable enough, but just barely. a taller shaft would be nice for me.

 

That should work as long as you don't go too far and really change the geometry to the point where it wont shift. The only other thing that I would make sure you do is to weld the ball in place after you find a good position for it. As soon as you move it, it will be able to move again easily. You don't want your shifter to fall out the bottom of the car and take the linkages along with it.

 

thanks Mac i may not do them anyway i just think of these things to save myself some money know what i mean

 

darthgromit,
The short shifter is probably for you then. I put mine in this past Wednesday. The shaft is a tad shorter and the shift **** makes the overrall height lower but the angle of the shifter also changes. All of the odd gears are about where the factory shifter sits in neutral and the even gears come back between the seats. I'm only 5' 10" but it's much more comfortable to me.