RP Short Shifter (get in the queue...!)
01-25-2005, 08:55 PM
#316
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Hahaha.. yea, I was just wondering the difference between shifter heights (MS, RP, and Stock). Richard explained the history of his shifter's height. Sorry to confuse you all.. heheh
01-25-2005, 09:56 PM
#317
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Originally Posted by Aoshi Shinomori
Gomez, should we be expecting a review and picture of this shifter anytime soon? :D
Gomez.
01-25-2005, 10:10 PM
#319
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Relax, Richard....It's Australia Day (our 4th July), I'm trying to watch Molik beat Davenport, the Aussies in the cricket, and listen to the Hottest 100 on JJJFM Radio. I'm busy as a bull in a field of cows atm....
Last edited by Gomez; 01-25-2005 at 10:14 PM.
01-25-2005, 10:35 PM
#320
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This is gonna take a while, so bear with me 
. Okay. It's in. It arrived yesterday in a box so small I thought Richard had sent the **** by mistake! Well wrapped in paper and enclosed in a plastic bag all greased up and ready to go. Installation was a cinch and took 40 mins incl photos.
Here's the console cover/shift boot is removed showing the clips that secure it. Use a small screwdriver to pry the small access panel AFT, not up. The panel is in the fwd RH corner of the fwd console compartment. Sorry no pics of it. The securing clip in the lower left corner of this pic is a bugger. You have access to this clip now you've removed the small panel, use your finger to release the clip and push the console cover up. Once that clip is released, gently pry the shift boot and cover up and off the console. Six clips in all.
Edit....some of you are going to have to remove connectors to the Audiopilot and seat heater switches(?)
. Okay. It's in. It arrived yesterday in a box so small I thought Richard had sent the **** by mistake! Well wrapped in paper and enclosed in a plastic bag all greased up and ready to go. Installation was a cinch and took 40 mins incl photos. Here's the console cover/shift boot is removed showing the clips that secure it. Use a small screwdriver to pry the small access panel AFT, not up. The panel is in the fwd RH corner of the fwd console compartment. Sorry no pics of it. The securing clip in the lower left corner of this pic is a bugger. You have access to this clip now you've removed the small panel, use your finger to release the clip and push the console cover up. Once that clip is released, gently pry the shift boot and cover up and off the console. Six clips in all.
Edit....some of you are going to have to remove connectors to the Audiopilot and seat heater switches(?)
Last edited by Gomez; 01-25-2005 at 10:38 PM.
01-25-2005, 10:53 PM
#322
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This is what you now have. You will have to undo the two screws that secure the ashtray, pull the ashtray aft and undo three connectors. I could only manage to unclip two. In my eagerness to get this thing in, I left the backlight connected and dangled the whole assy off to one side.
Remove the two harness clips securing the wiring harness over the shift boot studs with a small flat blade screwdriver. You can now undo the four 10mm nuts and remove the upper rubber shift boot. This boot is held on by love, now you've removed the four nuts.....gently twist and pry it off by hand. There is another boot under it.
Remove the two harness clips securing the wiring harness over the shift boot studs with a small flat blade screwdriver. You can now undo the four 10mm nuts and remove the upper rubber shift boot. This boot is held on by love, now you've removed the four nuts.....gently twist and pry it off by hand. There is another boot under it.
01-25-2005, 11:01 PM
#324
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You can see in this pic the 3 bolts you need to remove to pull the shifter. Undo these and lift the shifter up and out. The lower part of the shifter is covered in gearbox oil....take care not to drip it on the seats.
01-25-2005, 11:18 PM
#325
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The two shifters side by side....Richard's on the left. Note the white ring half way up, this seals the upper boot to the shifter as you'll see in later pics. Also note the reverse lockout tang which is pointing out on the right, without this there'd be nothing to stop you accidentally selecting reverse without pushing down on the shifter. You'll see that the original shifter has had all the grease washed off it by the gearbox oil.
You can see Richard has removed the bend at the top of the shifter which allows a vertical shift **** when neutral is selected. I wanted this feature retained, but now find I don't even notice it. No big deal at all. See also the higher pivot point, it's this that provides the shorter shift.
The retaining ring off to the side of the shifters is the original, and needs to be re-used.
You can see Richard has removed the bend at the top of the shifter which allows a vertical shift **** when neutral is selected. I wanted this feature retained, but now find I don't even notice it. No big deal at all. See also the higher pivot point, it's this that provides the shorter shift.
The retaining ring off to the side of the shifters is the original, and needs to be re-used.
01-25-2005, 11:25 PM
#326
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Okay, take care to orientate the reverse tang to the right, then drop the new shifter in. Fit and secure the retaining ring pictured above. Install the lower and upper rubber shift boots. See how the upper shift boot seals on the shifter white ring.
01-25-2005, 11:38 PM
#328
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Originally Posted by takahashi
I wanna see it live!.....
How does it feel.
How does it feel.
I'm still typing out the drive impressions.......
01-25-2005, 11:43 PM
#329
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Hmm.. a smaller tang for the reverse gear.
Does it feel any different? Easier to get in reverse? Does it feel like it locks in good or worse?
I'm too anxious.
Does it feel any different? Easier to get in reverse? Does it feel like it locks in good or worse?
I'm too anxious.
01-25-2005, 11:50 PM
#330
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From here it's just a reversal of the disassembly. Secure the harness to the shift boot studs, refit the ashtray, and clip the upper console cover/shift boot back into place. You're done. Looks just like the original, although it's 5mm lower apparently, I couldn't tell. Maybe I'll reinstall the original later and measure it.
Richard PM'ed me to remind me to grease the pivot point (I think), which I didn't do. I got his PM too late.....I'll do that later, Richard.
DRIVE IMPRESSIONS.
Where to start....? Very happy with the ease of install...no dramas. Backed the car out of the driveway, reverse lockout was spot on.....unable to engage reverse without depressing the lever. Terrific.
First gear. Selected no worries, firm and precise. I'll say at this point that the shift into every gear feels like a racing box!
First to sixth....BANG, BANG, BANG, BANG, BANG, BANG. Richard has engineered out the rubber isolator built into the original shift lever. This isolator is inside the upper part of the lever...the big fat black bit in the pics above. Without this isolator, each shift engagement is robot precise. Like a gated shifter where each shift is metal to metal. More in a minute.....
Richard PM'ed me to remind me to grease the pivot point (I think), which I didn't do. I got his PM too late.....I'll do that later, Richard.
DRIVE IMPRESSIONS.
Where to start....? Very happy with the ease of install...no dramas. Backed the car out of the driveway, reverse lockout was spot on.....unable to engage reverse without depressing the lever. Terrific.
First gear. Selected no worries, firm and precise. I'll say at this point that the shift into every gear feels like a racing box!
First to sixth....BANG, BANG, BANG, BANG, BANG, BANG. Richard has engineered out the rubber isolator built into the original shift lever. This isolator is inside the upper part of the lever...the big fat black bit in the pics above. Without this isolator, each shift engagement is robot precise. Like a gated shifter where each shift is metal to metal. More in a minute.....