Short Shifter Install (TWM)
12-14-2004, 02:16 PM
#21
Originally Posted by i64X
I wont be buying that at all... it's a total waste of money for something it doesn't do. It dosen't shorten the shifts, it just feels like it does cuz they made the top of the shifter shorter. A "short shifter" doesn't mean that the stick you see is shorter necessarily, it means that your shift throws are shorter. This is accomplished by raising the pivot point on the shifter (the ball) like this:
What TMW did on that shifter could easily be accomplished by taking your stock shfiter out and hack-sawing about 2" from the top of it and then installing some kind of universal set-screw type shift ****. Check this out:
They didn't raise the pivot point at all... it's exactly the same length as the stock one. The whole idea behind raising the pivot point is that it takes less movement on top of that point to make the bottom of the lever move more.
TMWs shifter isn't a "short shfiter" at all... it's just a "shortened" shifter and provides no real performance upgrade. It's simply for looks... and it costs way more than it should.
What TMW did on that shifter could easily be accomplished by taking your stock shfiter out and hack-sawing about 2" from the top of it and then installing some kind of universal set-screw type shift ****. Check this out:
They didn't raise the pivot point at all... it's exactly the same length as the stock one. The whole idea behind raising the pivot point is that it takes less movement on top of that point to make the bottom of the lever move more.
TMWs shifter isn't a "short shfiter" at all... it's just a "shortened" shifter and provides no real performance upgrade. It's simply for looks... and it costs way more than it should.
Our tC shifter is actually roughly .5" longer below the pivot ball, the maximum amount of added length possible due to clearance issues with the shift assembly.
I've attached a picture we took quickly this morning that shows a stock tC shifter next to our part from an overhead perspective, as you can see the difference in length below the pivot ball is much more apparant from this angle.
I hope this clears things up a little bit, feel free to contact me directly if anyone ever has any questions about our products.
Thanks,
Karel Wegert
TWM Performance
12-16-2004, 03:05 AM
#22
Senior Member
SL Member
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Michigan
Posts: 239
Ah that looks much better. I figured there would be some clearance issues just looking at the setup that Scion choice. I'm used to Hondas as far as installing short shfiters goes... there you only have to worry about hitting the exhaust or the ground. 
(Civics and Integras anyway).
That clears things up immensely. I'll consider getting one now. Are they steel or aluminum? I've had some of the cheaper aluminum ones break on my Hondas before.
(Civics and Integras anyway).That clears things up immensely. I'll consider getting one now. Are they steel or aluminum? I've had some of the cheaper aluminum ones break on my Hondas before.
12-21-2004, 11:47 PM
#23
Junior Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Phx Az
Posts: 15
cad455
I'm interested in the way the shifter now feels. A dedicated Honda guy here and I love the tC... hate the shift action, its the clunkyest crapfeeling shifter. Does this help the feel of the shifting? Typically cable shifters still dont feel so hot with a SS kit... any insight? Thx
Peace
I'm interested in the way the shifter now feels. A dedicated Honda guy here and I love the tC... hate the shift action, its the clunkyest crapfeeling shifter. Does this help the feel of the shifting? Typically cable shifters still dont feel so hot with a SS kit... any insight? Thx
Peace
01-20-2005, 08:11 AM
#25
Senior Member
SL Member
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Santa Ana, CA
Posts: 140
I just ordered the short shifter last nite, if there is not an update on this in abt a week I'll post something up abt the feel of the shifter....I to WAS a dedicated Honda guy it both of my civics I had the DC short shifter loved the way it felt, hopefully this one will be close to that or give the same stiff feel..can't wait to get the shifter in...
01-20-2005, 04:15 PM
#26
Originally Posted by i64X
Ah that looks much better. I figured there would be some clearance issues just looking at the setup that Scion choice. I'm used to Hondas as far as installing short shfiters goes... there you only have to worry about hitting the exhaust or the ground. (Civics and Integras anyway).
That clears things up immensely. I'll consider getting one now. Are they steel or aluminum? I've had some of the cheaper aluminum ones break on my Hondas before.
(Civics and Integras anyway).That clears things up immensely. I'll consider getting one now. Are they steel or aluminum? I've had some of the cheaper aluminum ones break on my Hondas before.
As far as the group buy goes, why doesn't someone post an interest thread and we can see how many people we can get togeather. We'd be open to offering a discount if we can get 10-20 people ready to buy.
Thanks!
02-06-2005, 03:07 AM
#29
Senior Member
SL Member
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Santa Ana, CA
Posts: 140
Ok... Finally got the TWM short shifter kit installed today and its feels amazing. It feels similar to the stock Honda S2000 and Mazda Miata shifters. I'm really impressed w/ the way this shifter feels, along w/ the TWM shiftknob it makes a big difference as far as sliding into gear.... 
TWM gets major props....
TWM gets major props....
03-09-2005, 01:53 AM
#30
Member
SL Member
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Bay Area
Posts: 75
I just installed this today. The instructions posted here are perfect! I have never installed a short shifter before and I got it done without confusion thanks to these instructions. Thanks cad455.
That ring really is a pain in the butt to get off. My dremel ended up carving nicks into the plastic housing around the ring. I still had to stick a screwdriver in to pry out the ring, after the dremel weakened the ring enough.
Also, if you follow the instructions to shorten the shift boot instead of just cutting off the excess, make sure that the extra vinyl doesn't interfere with the shift. I re-folded the extra vinyl back into the middle.
Pros:
* More positive engagement for each shift. You know you're in gear, in any gear.
* Definitely shorter throws.
* Less wobbly action when in gear. It really feels solid.
* It looks nicer when it's shorter. I'm short and have zero problems reaching for a shift.
Cons:
* A bit notchy. But nothing I can't get used to.
* $125 and I don't even get bushings for the base? Oh well, I probably can't tell the difference anyway.
I haven't tried any of the other shoft shifters, so I can't compare.
That ring really is a pain in the butt to get off. My dremel ended up carving nicks into the plastic housing around the ring. I still had to stick a screwdriver in to pry out the ring, after the dremel weakened the ring enough.
Also, if you follow the instructions to shorten the shift boot instead of just cutting off the excess, make sure that the extra vinyl doesn't interfere with the shift. I re-folded the extra vinyl back into the middle.
Pros:
* More positive engagement for each shift. You know you're in gear, in any gear.
* Definitely shorter throws.
* Less wobbly action when in gear. It really feels solid.
* It looks nicer when it's shorter. I'm short and have zero problems reaching for a shift.
Cons:
* A bit notchy. But nothing I can't get used to.
* $125 and I don't even get bushings for the base? Oh well, I probably can't tell the difference anyway.
I haven't tried any of the other shoft shifters, so I can't compare.
03-19-2005, 11:36 PM
#31
Junior Member
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Honolulu
Posts: 11
thanks for the great post! installing that shifter was a royal pain, but i think without your instructions, it would have taken me considerably longer.
oh, and for anyone who doesnt have a dremel, i used a hacksaw to cut off that clip. it only took me about 10 minutes and was relatively painless.
oh, and for anyone who doesnt have a dremel, i used a hacksaw to cut off that clip. it only took me about 10 minutes and was relatively painless.
03-22-2005, 02:25 PM
#32
Originally Posted by vikvaughn
Ok... Finally got the TWM short shifter kit installed today and its feels amazing. It feels similar to the stock Honda S2000 and Mazda Miata shifters. I'm really impressed w/ the way this shifter feels, along w/ the TWM shiftknob it makes a big difference as far as sliding into gear.... TWM gets major props....
TWM gets major props....The sale is still on by the way
Karel
TWM
04-01-2005, 02:18 AM
#35
Senior Member
SL Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Bozeman, MT
Posts: 416
Originally Posted by sdparks
Try this to get the cap off with minimal damage. Pry both sides at the same time.
04-06-2005, 11:27 PM
#36
Junior Member
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 1
thx for gd write up.
Thx for your write up, and today, i hav installed it.
But i dropped a clip connecting with the bottom of the shifter.
i couldn't find it because it goes into a hole....
i wanna know if i can buy it somewhere, or if i hav any ways to take that out.
The hole is right below the shifter, and it doesn't stick with magnet...
But i dropped a clip connecting with the bottom of the shifter.
i couldn't find it because it goes into a hole....
i wanna know if i can buy it somewhere, or if i hav any ways to take that out.
The hole is right below the shifter, and it doesn't stick with magnet...
08-29-2005, 07:30 AM
#37
Junior Member
Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 1
Originally Posted by TWM Performance
Originally Posted by i64X
I wont be buying that at all... it's a total waste of money for something it doesn't do. It dosen't shorten the shifts, it just feels like it does cuz they made the top of the shifter shorter. A "short shifter" doesn't mean that the stick you see is shorter necessarily, it means that your shift throws are shorter. This is accomplished by raising the pivot point on the shifter (the ball) like this:
What TMW did on that shifter could easily be accomplished by taking your stock shfiter out and hack-sawing about 2" from the top of it and then installing some kind of universal set-screw type shift ****. Check this out:
They didn't raise the pivot point at all... it's exactly the same length as the stock one. The whole idea behind raising the pivot point is that it takes less movement on top of that point to make the bottom of the lever move more.
TMWs shifter isn't a "short shfiter" at all... it's just a "shortened" shifter and provides no real performance upgrade. It's simply for looks... and it costs way more than it should.
What TMW did on that shifter could easily be accomplished by taking your stock shfiter out and hack-sawing about 2" from the top of it and then installing some kind of universal set-screw type shift ****. Check this out:
They didn't raise the pivot point at all... it's exactly the same length as the stock one. The whole idea behind raising the pivot point is that it takes less movement on top of that point to make the bottom of the lever move more.
TMWs shifter isn't a "short shfiter" at all... it's just a "shortened" shifter and provides no real performance upgrade. It's simply for looks... and it costs way more than it should.
Our tC shifter is actually roughly .5" longer below the pivot ball, the maximum amount of added length possible due to clearance issues with the shift assembly.
I've attached a picture we took quickly this morning that shows a stock tC shifter next to our part from an overhead perspective, as you can see the difference in length below the pivot ball is much more apparant from this angle.
I hope this clears things up a little bit, feel free to contact me directly if anyone ever has any questions about our products.
Thanks,
Karel Wegert
TWM Performance
11-01-2005, 01:06 PM
#39
Senior Member
SL Member
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Englishman in New Jersey
Posts: 640
I installed mine this weekend, I have one VERY IMPORTANT piece of advice to anyone installing a new shifter.
When you get at the full shift assembly (if you're doing it in car), there is a hole right in the middle, slightly towards the backseats direction. The hole is maybe 1.5" across and goes directly into the chassis (a bottomless pit).
When you can see this, take a piece of duct tape and cover it up.
This hole is in a perfect position to catch the center securing clip that fits on the bottom if you happen to drop it while taking it off, or putting it back on.
TAPE UP THE HOLE.
You have no idea how hard it is trying to get a metal clip out of a metal hole in a metal cave using a magnet. I do.
Love the shifter, I got the stage 1 (the really short one), my only issue is that the boot will need some major modifictaion, I've tried the whole fold it over thing, but it still bunches ugly, so I'll be taking it out and manly sowing it into a better fit.
When you get at the full shift assembly (if you're doing it in car), there is a hole right in the middle, slightly towards the backseats direction. The hole is maybe 1.5" across and goes directly into the chassis (a bottomless pit).
When you can see this, take a piece of duct tape and cover it up.
This hole is in a perfect position to catch the center securing clip that fits on the bottom if you happen to drop it while taking it off, or putting it back on.
TAPE UP THE HOLE.
You have no idea how hard it is trying to get a metal clip out of a metal hole in a metal cave using a magnet. I do.
Love the shifter, I got the stage 1 (the really short one), my only issue is that the boot will need some major modifictaion, I've tried the whole fold it over thing, but it still bunches ugly, so I'll be taking it out and manly sowing it into a better fit.