Thanks guys. Jeff, you don't have to worry about reversing the shifter, there is a rib on the pivot box that allows it to only go in one way. You knowing these things and not having to rely on the fail safe system never got to test it. You just looked at the posabilitys and put it back in the right way. So we could leave the rib off iff everyone thought like you. That would save a few pennys and get me a bad reputation from the first guy to get it into reverse while rolling.

Therefore the safety rib stays on there. Until just now I didn't think of it but someone in my shop could possably put the pivot box on backwards and the user would be forced to install it backwards. From now on that is going to be the last thing I check before bagging them.

Yes that sounds like a record install to me. Faster than we do it here. It takes us about 15+ min.

We did the first Honda S2000 over the weekend. It is an improvment there too. We have to redesign the size, the first one was too low. They have a different design but the same rubber bushing in the shaft.

Got mine yesterday, and it looks sweet.

Currently I am involved with changing to RB Springs & Sways, so will not be able to do install until after I finish -- hopefully by this weekend.

Thanks Richard for the prompt shipment.

drives like it came from the factory...well except i hardly have to move the shifter now:D it's great...no issues at all..i drove around about 200 miles on it....lovin' every min of it. great job on making this Richard:D:D:D:D:D:D:D

Ok, now that my finger is a bloody stump just wtf is the secret to that damned right hand clip? Beginning to think mine has super glue holding it in.

Any of you sub 15 minute installers (which, btw can all can kiss my arse) have any tricks to get that clip to come free???

Can't wait for mine, btw how do you all like richards new signiture image ;) and footer banner.

I wonder where that came from.... :rolleyes:

Trial Run!
 

After following Gomez' great instructions I got the RPSST (Robert Paul Super Short Throw, in diference to Mazdaspeed Short Throw) Shifter installed. Most gratifying was the sound of all six clips clicking into place as the cover went back in place!

Driving impressions: strong, solid feel as gears engage. I use a Team Voodoo round knob, not the magnum, shifting up with the palm/heel of my hand, down shift with fingers and palm. Very slight pressure left for 1st and 2nd, slight thumb pressure for 5th and 6th. Love it! No more accidental 5th to 4th shifts when looking for 6th!

I enjoy the sound of the engine winding up, the exhaust tone, and now the whine of the tranny at high revs. At cruising speed I hear a very low whine, not objectionable and does'nt interfere with the sound system.

I find the vibration level much the same as before.

Over all a great mod for a grat car! :) :)

Heh, anyway donno if this has been covered but as those with navigation start to try and install the shifter you'll have to unclip some harnesses from the controls behind the sifter, here are some pics of what im talking about when I took apart my dash.

You'll need to pop it up just like this to get at the harnesses.
http://www.polakgraphics.com/images/005_RJ.JPG
O and just because this is a really cool pic
http://www.polakgraphics.com/images/019.JPG :)

I can't wait to use my "you wanna shift my stick" line on the next girl thats in the car with this shifter. Oh and for the ones I've already used it on I can say "this one is harder and stiffer", "and shorter:cool:" Thx Richard.

Boy Polak, those are my sort of lines. :cool: Now that I'm getting to old to use them it gives a warm feeling to know someone else is carrying on a good tradition. ;)

But you should say "only a bit shorter" don't give away anything. :rolleyes:

And everyone already knows where the banner came from and like it.
I havn't seen the footer yet. Guess I better go look for it.

That means I can say the price of the shifter. $249.00 plus $12.00 S&H in the lower 48. Yes, got that off my chest.
BTW this represents a club price list is +45 bucks.

I'm mailing out the replacment pivot boxes starting tomorrow. For you who have the first batch units.

Just saw the footer Polak. Excellent work, I love it. Anyone who needs this sort of work he's a good guy to know. :D

Managed to get the shifter in, less the "evil clip" as Army_rx8 calls it. Richard this thing is awesome. I've only been around the block a couple times but it was enough to hit all gears. Man, what a difference this shifter makes. Great job.

Gomez, that DIY was perfect. Now, hurry up with the revision that removes the evil clip automatically. ;)

Again, great job you two....I'm going to enjoy this :D

Got mine yesterday. :D Now I've just got to get it installed!

Plenty have removed the evil clip....only they did it accidentally, not automatically :) . Hence my specific direction to do it carefully by pulling the clip to the left while applying upward pressure......

Glad you found the DIY handy.

Cheers,
Gomez.

Actually, mine will fit both ways - I did test it because I was curious.
It slipped in the wrong way just as easily as the correct way.

Really? I better look into this, I might need to make the rib higher. But i'm not going to build another batch of the pivot boxes. They are just to much work. Besides if a guy got it in mbackwards it would be harder to move up and down and he would notice the lockout was not there.

So it is in Gomez DIY anyway. I'm not loosing sleep over it.

If you put it in backwards, you have no first or second gear and you can get it into reverse without pressing in the stick. :p

In my best Rowan or Martain imitation, (I dont know which one said it) "Well I didn't know that." ;)

Wow. Really nice feel. Very easy to get into gear.
As others have noted, the already present transmission noise is somewhat more pronounced.
Certainly the best aftermarket shifter I have felt. It is really an improvement, not just "something different".

I couldn't get that clip free no matter what I did. I even tried going at it from the e-brake side. My finger let me know exactly how that clip operated but for the life of me it wouldn't budge. So...after I couldn't feel anything with my finger except pain I said screw it. lol I jammed a screw driver in there and broke off the bottom of the clip. Turns out I was worried over nothing. The clip is toast but you can't even tell. If I ever need in there again it'll be that much easier :o

This is bad coming from me but I actually can't wait to drive to work this morning!

I did say it was a bastard..... :)

hehe that's odd mine came off so easy all i did was pull up:D guess i was lucky...granted i started with the clips by the e-brake and worked opposite the evil clip untli it was last then it just came up...took 10 min.'s top for the whole install (start to finish)..hehe guess my baby was co-operating b/c she wanted a new toy:p

Damn - beat me by a whole minute! :mad:

Well I'm just going to have to give out some of these quotes in my ads about install racing. :)

OK I did loose sleep over the direction of the lockout tab. I copied the locating rib of the stock Mazda unit. If you can put mine in backwards then you can do it with the stock one. Next guy to do an install, try it with the stock one.

Maybe it is just a reference for smarter people who own Mazdas. :rolleyes:

The reason he beat you Jeff is that you were screwing around trying to put it in backwards. ;)

Gomez, did you say"bastard"??? :eek: IthoughtIheardsomeonesaybastard

Everything is like a scab to me - I have to pick at it. I am compelled...:p