MS Short Shifter
 

Wow, this was an easy install. Took about 30 minutes. Most of that time was getting the center trim taken off. I should have taken pics to put in the DIY forum, but forgot. Anyone with simple knowledge of how to turn a socket can do this. quite easily.

They say it's a 20% reduction in distance when shifting, but to me it seems closer to 35%-40%. I highly recommend this to anyone who has a manual, makes driving a lot more fun.


*****EDIT***** FYI, make sure you let the tranny cool off first.. otherwise you'll fell the car love you back.. literally.. ouch

Where did you purchase the short throw and how much did you pay?

geat news! How much and where did you get it from?

oh crap, he beat me to it:o

I bought it from japanparts.com. I sent them an email since I couldn't find it on their site. I paid $399 and that included shipping. The place is located in Tokyo, Japan. They sent via express mail and I had it in 3 days. Not a bad deal at all, all considerd. A well worthwhile purchase.

Here is a more detailed install..

https://www.rx8club.com/series-i-aftermarket-performance-modifications-23/mazdaspeed-short-shifter-installed-38386/

OK, I've just contacted japanparts.com and they informed me that they charge 292 EUR for the shifter, so I've decided to order it too.

Philodox (or Cortc, in case you read this), can you give me any informations / tips on how to remove the trim ring without damaging it?

Here are some pics and a short walkthrough. Slide back the center console, remove the trim peice. Very easy to remove if you push from the back side under the E-brake. Once that is out, put your finger into the hole (don't laugh) and gently pull the tab you feel there toward the driver side door.. not too much pressure or you'll break it. once that first one there is undone, the rest is cake. Please let me know if you need any other help.

Thanks a lot for the photos and the quick reply!

I'll probably ask more questions as soon as my short shifter and the other parts have arrived and I'm sitting in my car, which is partially taken apart and have no idea how to move on. ;)

I need to get one of these just for the hell of it.

It is extremely easy... Just remember to take the cigarette tray out after you get the center peice off. Otherwise you wont be able to get to 2 of the 4 bolts that hold down the rubber heat/noise insulator on top of the shifter handle... that's the hardest part of the whole instal IMO.

@Ajax: Just email contact@japanparts.com and ask for the shifter (and/or other parts).

You'll get an estimation of the price like this after one or two days:


<For RX-8>
*Mazdaspeed short shifter:39,500JPY
*091-009-001 LEATHER SHIFT KNOB (ILLUMINATION):24,200JPY
FOR M/T Black x Red /Red Stitch
*091-010-001 LEATHER CONSOLE BOX LID FOR FRONT:13,200JPY
Red
*091-010-002 LEATHER CONSOLE BOX LID FOR REAR:13,200JPY
Red
*091-005-001 ROATARY CREST FOR FRONT:7,800JPY
Aluminum
*145-015-026 SPORTS AIR FILTER:10,000JPY
---------------------------------------------------------------
Sub Total:107,900JPY
Shipping to Germany via EMS:12,300JPY
*Usually it will take us about 10-15days for
preparation and delivering the item after we receive your payment.
(Estimated days are until it arrives to
Germany and domestic delivery would take some more days)
Bank lifting charge in Japan:2,500JPY
- --------------------------------------------------------------
Grand Total:122,700JPY


Pretty good prices, compared to what I'd pay here. And besides that, Mazdaspeed parts are completely unheard of in Germany.

Thanks Again!

Cortc,

Can I borrow your old shifter? I can run a bunch of these off and sell them for a lot less. I need to blueprint a stock one. I can take it from there.

I've been making shifters for a month now and don't even know what they go one. Sems to be a craze.

I'm thinking that we don't need to supply the plastic Mazda parts as you can use your old ones. The cars are brand new. I can save them all that extra cash. probably 150 off the Mazda price. Just don't want to have to buy one myself.

If not I can take someones car apart and do it.

My e mail still doesn't work so I set up a Yahoo one. axcharg@yahoo.com
Or pm me

philodox: you say its more fun. does it help performance, can you feel anything? have you tried timing yourself?

AQA101: Mazdaspped is completely unheard in Hellas too:( maybe I'll go ahead and get one myself... How did you pay them, wired money bank to bank?

Anyone out there who gets one of these kits could you please get me the exact thickness of the spacer plate. It looks about 1/4 inch but I need a closer size then that. Inches or MM I don't care. Thanks and you'll be helping your fellow Rx 8 owners.

Richard: No problem, will PM you and get detiails...

I'm still waiting for the "final" invoice from them (the one I posted was the estimation) and they contacted me again yesterday to make sure my car is a manual 6 speed. I'll transfer the money in Yen to their Tokyo bank account (that's what the 2500 Yen fee in the estimation is for), I've checked the internet banking features of my account and this type of transfer is possible.

I'll update you via this thread once the deal is done.

[QUOTE=RotorManiac]philodox: you say its more fun. does it help performance, can you feel anything? have you tried timing yourself?
QUOTE]

It is 20% shorter. The shifting throws don't take as long which tends to allow you to be no the throttle sooner, hence speeding up your acceleration. As far as any specific performance there isn't any other than being able to shift a bit quicker. It's not going to unleash 'hidden' horsepower or any nonsense like that. I hope this little explination has helped. Oh yeah, I have not timed myself. I refuse to drive passengers in my 8, so it's almost impossible to time it myself.

Just finished my install of the short shifter and took a test drive. :D

I installed the illuminated leather shift knob and a leather console lid together with the shifter and small effects add to a "that's it!" feeling.

Shifting throws are shorter, more "snick-snick", the leather lid isn't as sticky as the stock one when your arm rests on it and the illumination really helps to locate the shift knob (it's evening here and I tested it driving in the dark). This may sound stupid, but it's really an improvement.

Conclusion: the car went from "good to shift" to "near perfect to shift". Some small changes produced a great impact, as Philodox put it, if you've got a MT, the short shifter is really worth a second look.

cortc, if you can get me those parts I can run 50 of these things off and sell them at a better price. seems these guys are going to want them.

Yeah....and the queue starts here!

Gomez.

I'll get in line :b

short shifter!
 

Make the SHORT SHIFTER!!

want one also, but not as bad a the axial sc.

beers