Just ordered my RP (AFE) shifter
 

As the title says...

Can't wait to get that shifter in... hopefully it will let me smooth out my 1-2 shift... I still haven't figured out how to get that smooth when driving for economy. With my last 6 speed being a BWT56, the RX's shifter is already heaven in comparison... I'm giddy that this shift kit improves that feeling even more...

how much did you purchase it for?

I just ordered it off of Richard's website at www.axialflow.com

I think its was 261 total....

You know what, I can't seem to get that down myself. The shifter will help but I think the secret is getting on the gas sooner. The engine revs kinda slow and it cant keep up with the ratio change. I've been trying this lately but haven't got it right yet. My feeling is that a light flywheel will help. :confused:

Anyone who has a light flywheel notice this helps? Philodox are you out there? He has both the shifter and a light wheel.

And your shifter is on the way, I just E mailed your tracking number to you. :)

Thank you kindly Richard! That's sure speedy shipping!

I think its more of a momentum type issue... I'm trying to shift just shy of 4k rpm and the rpm's are just dropping too quickly and the car itself loses momentum much more than say 2-3 or 3-4 which are by comparison SOOO much easier to nail smoothly... without feathering.

PS. Is there a certain grease you recommend to use with your shifter? Or is that provided in the kit?

Good choice. I think this shifter is my favorite mod (not that I have that many yet). It's amazing what a difference it makes. A buddy of mine just bought a Z4 and Richard's shifter makes the one in it look like a total joke. I honestly couldn't believe it when I drove it. So much for German engineering:) Anyway, you'll love it.

I had that same problem prior to installing the shifter. Its much better now, however I have problems putting it into 6th gear 1/3 of the time. But I wouldn't trade my shifter for anything, I love it.

You may need to trim the reverse tab a small amount. By that I mean .010" just a few swipes with a file. It's a car by car deal a very few fall into this space. I've taken .005" off this next batch, but I think that isn't enough to really do anything. I'm shy of taking much off for some cars go the other way.

You know how when you cut it off twice and it's still too short?
Don't want to do that so trial fit it carefully.

hey ricahrd i got ur shifter, does it come with a instruction? I never install a shifter before, is it easy?

See the DIY thread by "Gomez" it is a great thread with pictures and comments. Probably the best DIY ever. :) Everyone heeps praise on 'Mez for this one, including myself. It should be about 20 min for a first timer. Just be carfull of the cursed tab. :( If not for that and the wire holders it would take 10min.

Some people have combined it into a single something or other. Whatever that is I don't know, but it is supposed to be good.

Which reminds me, I haven't checked the DIY for a while. The pics go missing occasionally and I have to reload them. Thanks for the boost, RAP!

Yeah, the pics are still there.... :) Oh, happy day.

I am considering this shifter and am wondering if it makes any more noise than the stock unit.

I have installed shifters in other cars before and was always unhappy with the gear noise that entered the car. These shifters would remove the stock bushings to provide better shifting.

There is a little more gear noise with the elimination of the slopulator in the OEM shifter but I think it adds personality of the car. Definitely not enough added noise to be an annoying.

i have no idea what the RP do can anyone tell me ??
and is it easy to install by yourself??

It provides a shorter more precise shift with slightly more tactile and auditory feedback. And, yes it's very easy to install.

I just ordered mine today. Being patient.

I don't think it's going to be shipped until monday though. Too bad for me.

Being Patient.

Twiddle...twiddle...twiddle.

Good buy, no, I mean it. good buy. ;)

Bill

I ordered it a long, long time ago, but I just got around to install it today. Very easy to do by yourself. It shouldn't take any longer than 45 minutes if you have all the tools handy. I took the car out for a spin and see what the difference was like. WOW! it's amazing! I think it is God's gift for the RX-8! Best purchase for the car in my opinion. Before the modification, I've always had trouble doing the 1-2 shift. It was always either slow, so that it was smooth, or normal shift and be jerky. For those that think the stock shifter is already short enough with the throws...you'll be in for a real treat. The way it glides into each gear before is only accentuated with this mod. It 'clicks' into gear even more so than before.

As soon as I pulled out of the driveway and shifted into 2nd gear, I was amazed that I could shift so smoothly! At first, I thought it was just a coincidence, but after 10 minutes of city driving I knew it was definitely the new shifter. It's to the point where my 1-2 shift is seamless.

When I took it out onto the highway to check all the gears I noticed a lot more transmission noise coming from the shifter area. I wasn't sure if I had installed it wrong or not, until I came back and read that you guys were experiencing the same thing. Don't really like that part, but the shorter throws and my smoother 1-2 shift is more than worth the extra noise in my opinion.

Try taking that green fuzzy cone shaped insulator out. I know it sounds crazy but it works. It will get rid of the noise. Most of it anyway.
The way to prove this is to loosen the shift knob. If the noise gets less and less as you loosen the knob then remove the insulator. Hell remove it anyway. I can't hear mygearbox unless I hold ir against the syncros. I just had Guitar Junkie in the car all day and I had to tell him the shifter was installed. I then asked him to listen for noise with the radio off and the windows up he could n't tell it from stock. Write and ask him if you like. My shifter is off the shelf and I only installed it once never opened it again. There are also two local cars around here that I see once in awhile. Fanmans car is down the street right now waiting for his return. They put a shifter in it for him while he is gone. We shall see what it sounds like this week I think he cimes back.

I have not ridden in a car that the owner thinks it is noisy. I wish that I could so I see what they are talking about. Try what I said above and let us know. I'm glad you liked the shifter otherwise.

I too would like to hear what people are referring to. I went back and forth from stock to RP a few times and on my car it's more of a change in noise than a louder noise. I removed some of the stuffing when I installed the LED shift knob so maybe that's the reason I don't have it.

I will give that a try Richard, thanks for the tip! I am not complaining. It's worth every penny, I wouldn't trade it for anything. I just wasn't expecting it to be louder than the stock shifter. Like you said, it's mostly noisy when I have my hand on the shifter, pushing it against the synchros. Other than that, it's not much louder.

When your resting your hand like that the noise you hear is the syncro holder and shift fork wearing. DON'T DO THAT. When left alone they will wear at a normal acceptable rate, keep pushing on them after they've done their job just wears them out.

CAn I just say, on the noise issue -- I haven't noticed it much, but there was a marked improvement after I changed the gearbox oil (@45,000k)

Everyone who is waiting for their shifter, it will ship tomorrow. All the parts are done and I'll assemble them in the morning. There are enough for all the back orders. Thanks for being patient. You will have it by Wensday or Thursday. :)

I finally got the chance to install the shifter...

My oh my... Its WONDERFUL in its feel. Its very rifle bolt in quality... not slushy at all

However... I'm one of those unlucky ones where there's a buncha noise in 2nd.... Taking out the green insulation really did help... but its still there... I'm wondering if its because we don't use some sort of sealant on the lower boot... I noticed it was attached with some sort of sealer when I gently pried it off... I'm gonna go buy some silicon sealant sometime soon and see if that helps with the sound... other than that I can't imagine where noise is coming from... perhaps the upper shift boot attachment is creating the noise... which is why the green insulation's removal might've lessened the noise.