GRP Short Shifter Install Notes and My thoughts

[RyanGphoto]

So working on my friends car again and installed the GRP short shifter this morning. A few notes and thoughts.. (thank you to all that added notes to the other thread they were very helpful) and to @kitkat for the install video.

The install was pretty straight forward after watching the video but a couple things to make it easier..

1. Def remove the hose(s) to allow more room
2. Shift into 1st gear to allow even more room
3. ABSOLUTELY Rachet down on the needle nose pliers to take out and put back the Cotter pin.. It does and WILL fly around if you drop it (I dropped it twice and took a bit the second time to find it with a extension magnet, not fun).
4. I DID NOT (thanks to advise from another member) pull the cotter pin prior to loosening the squash nut. I used two 10mm wrenches (the flare nut wrench on the nut is the way to go for sure).
5. After loosening the nut I then pulled the cotter pin and removed the round rubber bushing by just pulling straight up.
6. I had to dremel (again thanks to another member for the tip) a small bit of the GRP piece to get it to sit all the way down.. I originally thought the GRP logo was going to be upside down because it would NOT seat all the way down with the GRP logo facing right side up, but after watching the video multiple times and having remembered the note about dremeling off a piece of the GRP piece from another thread I finally got it to work.. It fit over the linkage with the GRP logo correctly facing normal (not upside down).
7. Reverse everything you did and all is well

Thoughts on the shifter:

1. I like the short throw (but I don't mind my stock shifting either)
2. Def takes more force with the short shifter than mine, but it's not a lot of force, just a tad more
3. It def feels like 1st gear is in the position of 2nd (lower then it used to be before the short shifter) and 3rd gear is in the position of 4th.. Meaning the shifter feels "lower".. The shift points are no longer HIGHER in the gate (if there was a shifter gate that is).. Hard to explain over writing.. So when driving I often had to look down at the console to see what gear I was in, where mine I know what gear I am in just by putting my hand on the shifter.... Hopefully this makes some semblance of sense..
4. 5th gear is hard to get into.. Shifting from 4th on my car it's up OVER then up again.. on my friends its just barely up, barely over, then up.. The shift from 2nd and 4th into neutral is super small.. Def would take some getting used to.
5. Over after driving it for a while I would think I would get used to it and it wouldn't be a big deal at all. I doubt I will do this to my car, but maybe..

Any questions feel free to ask.

Ryan G

 

[kitkat]

So working on my friends car again and installed the GRP short shifter this morning. A few notes and thoughts.. (thank you to all that added notes to the other thread they were very helpful) and to @kitkat for the install video.

The install was pretty straight forward after watching the video but a couple things to make it easier..

1. Def remove the hose(s) to allow more room
2. Shift into 1st gear to allow even more room
3. ABSOLUTELY Rachet down on the needle nose pliers to take out and put back the Cotter pin.. It does and WILL fly around if you drop it (I dropped it twice and took a bit the second time to find it with a extension magnet, not fun).
4. I DID NOT (thanks to advise from another member) pull the cotter pin prior to loosening the squash nut. I used two 10mm wrenches (the flare nut wrench on the nut is the way to go for sure).
5. After loosening the nut I then pulled the cotter pin and removed the round rubber bushing by just pulling straight up.
6. I had to dremel (again thanks to another member for the tip) a small bit of the GRP piece to get it to sit all the way down.. I originally thought the GRP logo was going to be upside down because it would NOT seat all the way down with the GRP logo facing right side up, but after watching the video multiple times and having remembered the note about dremeling off a piece of the GRP piece from another thread I finally got it to work.. It fit over the linkage with the GRP logo correctly facing normal (not upside down).
7. Reverse everything you did and all is well

Thoughts on the shifter:

1. I like the short throw (but I don't mind my stock shifting either)
2. Def takes more force with the short shifter than mine, but it's not a lot of force, just a tad more
3. It def feels like 1st gear is in the position of 2nd (lower then it used to be before the short shifter) and 3rd gear is in the position of 4th.. Meaning the shifter feels "lower".. The shift points are no longer HIGHER in the gate (if there was a shifter gate that is).. Hard to explain over writing.. So when driving I often had to look down at the console to see what gear I was in, where mine I know what gear I am in just by putting my hand on the shifter.... Hopefully this makes some semblance of sense..
4. 5th gear is hard to get into.. Shifting from 4th on my car it's up OVER then up again.. on my friends its just barely up, barely over, then up.. The shift from 2nd and 4th into neutral is super small.. Def would take some getting used to.
5. Over after driving it for a while I would think I would get used to it and it wouldn't be a big deal at all. I doubt I will do this to my car, but maybe..

Any questions feel free to ask.

Ryan G

If you feel like the shift positions are shifted closer towards the back you likely messed up the shift position reinstallation, you should also be keeping the gear in neutral while doing it and making sure not to shift the shifter position at the bell housing or the cable length.

I’m guessing your shifter lever is now angled backwards. It’s fine if you’re fine with it but your shifter should be centered where it was before if properly installed.

 

[Blackthought_]

Yep I moved my neutral position when i did the install too. Here is the before and after

After adjustment

 

[Jinba ittai]

If you feel like the shift positions are shifted closer towards the back you likely messed up the shift position reinstallation, you should also be keeping the gear in neutral while doing it and making sure not to shift the shifter position at the bell housing or the cable length.

I’m guessing your shifter lever is now angled backwards. It’s fine if you’re fine with it but your shifter should be centered where it was before if properly installed.

My neutral position definitely moved. I figured that was normal. So where do I need to make the adjustment? Is it the position of those two nuts that get snugged together?

 

[Blackthought_]

My neutral position definitely moved. I figured that was normal. So where do I need to make the adjustment? Is it the position of those two nuts that get snugged together?

Because mine sat too low, I had to unscrew the nut that is on the rod end, remove the bell housing and then move that rod forward and you will visually see the shifter moving (through the glass in the middle of the car). Once it’s in the right spot reconnect the housing making sure you don’t move the rod backward

 

[Jinba ittai]

Because mine sat too low, I had to unscrew the nut that is on the rod end, remove the bell housing and then move that rod forward and you will visually see the shifter moving (through the glass in the middle of the car). Once it’s in the right spot reconnect the housing making sure you don’t move the rod backward

OK. I’ll give that a shot. Thanks!

 

[kitkat]

Perfect instructions.

 

[RyanGphoto]

Because mine sat too low, I had to unscrew the nut that is on the rod end, remove the bell housing and then move that rod forward and you will visually see the shifter moving (through the glass in the middle of the car). Once it’s in the right spot reconnect the housing making sure you don’t move the rod backward

Does this affect anything other than the visual and the placement? Is it 'bad' to have it higher or lower than original?

I really don't feel like going thru this again with my friends car. Especially since he hasn't really said anything feels off.