Okay guys and gal, as you know i have fitted the short shifter to my car.
And well have found some con's and some pro's about the shifter.
I'm not going to give you a step by step guide in fitting but will tell you what i had to do to get it onto my car.
Well firstly got home from work and as you know the exhaust was BLOODY hot...so waited around patiently for about 30mins before i couldnt wait any more, got the car jacked up on once side, put under a jack stand and started unbolting the front part of the catalyst. Dropped down the exhaust for easy access to the shielding and shifter setup.
Anyways, removed it all and started fitting the short shifter. As previously found we have noticed that the U13 bush is too big for the aftermarket short shifter. So i got a hold of a U12 bush and put that over the ball of the aftermarket bush and tried to fit it into the cup that holds the bush and ball (you will know what I'm on about when you get there) but unfortunately it would not fit, so what i did was shave bits of the U12 bush so it fits into the U13 cup.
I shaved the little tabs that stick out on the U12 bush so it fitted into the U13 cup.
Once all that was done everything else fit good into the cup, so thats really the only modification required to the bush.
So started putting it back together under the car and noticed another thing, that the heat shield will not fit over the gear lever as it sits much lower (for the shorter throw) so got out the trusty hammer and started beating the shit out the that shield, got that kind of the right shape and no more scraping of the link on the shield (there is plenty of clearance between the catalyst and shield, so you can bend it as much as you wish). After putting the sheild and cat back on i got out the screw driver and bent the sheild some more (i mean who's gonna look at it anyways).
Got up top and decided to test it out, the throw itself is much shorter and well stiffer, in some cases its bit hard to get into third, all other gears are ok tho, so practice practice. Another thing that bugged me is that the stick sits a lot further forward, which is little bit annoying really, so what i might have to do it pull it out again one day and bend the bar more back, so its not so straight.
Here are some pics of what it looks like installed into the car with the stock know and boot.. This is in neutral
This is in 1st gear, as you can see not much clearance between the stick and the plastic, but I'm telling ya, its not moving any further forward..
Some con's and pro's.
Con's
- Need to get U12 bush and cut to fit
- Sits quiet far forward (stick needs to be bent back bit)
- Rubs on shielding if not dented out
- Bit rough and stiff at times
Pro's
- Short throw
- Very precise
- Stick height itself is shorter
- Fits original knob and boot
My best bet for the U12 bush is to ring wreckers, now I'm not sure if they will sell you just the bush itself, you might have to buy the whole shifer setup off the U12, which i have been advised cost around $40.
But if you go wreckers yourself and see some rip them off, maybe even take the cup and the 2 rubber bits that sit on the bottom and top of the bush (you will know what i mean when/if you get it yourself)
I have a diagram from Nissan showing what you will need. Now dont bother getting a new bush from nissan cos they cost $75 (not kidding, i checked myself)
Feel free to add comments questions, will be willing to help..