Short Throw Shifters, who has the best?

[ACR Jim]

I seem to recall a posting some time ago when one of the companies producing a short throw shifter was implementing a new design that was supposed to have a more positive gating to impove the shifting. I also heard a recent story of someone having a shifter break off while driving, I'd rather not experience that

I havn't seen any posts recently so I am asking for feedback from those of you that had positive or negative experiences.

Thanks,

Jim

 

[2charmed]

If you get a shift knob from MGW and replace the factory one
you'll be a happy camper. You don't need to replace the shifter
just the knob. It reduces the throw by a lot as the factory knob
has a tall stand attached to it.
Regards,
Steve

 

[garolittle]

Give George at MGW a call. He's the best!

 

[Marv S]

For actual shifters there is the SVSi and the B&M unit.

I've seen more go from B&M to SVSi and not very many go from SVSi to B&M. B&M has made changes since the early units to make them better.

a search of the board for these two shifters should give you more info
http://www.viperclub.org/instructions/ripper.html

<FONT COLOR="#ff0000" SIZE="1" FACE="Verdana, Arial">This message has been edited by Marv S on 07-30-2001 at 07:02 PM</font>

 

[JonB]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by 2charmed:
If you get a shift knob from MGW and replace the factory one
you'll be a happy camper. You don't need to replace the shifter
just the knob. It reduces the throw by a lot.....Steve
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Im with Steve.......for $65 - $85, get an MGW Short Throw Shifter
www.mgwltd.com

Cost effective, zero labor, and Warranty-friendly, unlike the shifter kit........easy on shift forks, very important in 92-97............

 

[Brad Manhattan Beach]

I love my SVSi shifter. I drove a car with the B&M, and though it was better than stock, it wasn't as precise as SVSi's.

To each his own, right?

Brad

 

[Mopar Steve]

Could someone please explain to me the significance of a shorter length shifter handle? I have always learned to grasp the shifter handle around the shaft below the grip. (this grip eliminates the possibility of your hand slipping off). Based on NOT grabbing the top of the shifter (where your hand can slide off) I cannot see where it makes any difference how tall the handle is above my grip.

I do understand a shorter throw, and how that makes a difference. The shorter throw is accomplished by grasping the shifter close to the console. I can almost shift by flicking my wrist.

This is not intended to "flame" anyone and I am sure that these handles are attractive.

 

[BlackSnake]

I put in David Title's simple short throw shifter ($19 bucks). Just replaces the shaft... allows you to keep the original shift knob. Took me about 20 minutes to install after I got past pulling off my face plate...

Here's a link to his site:

Link To Short Throw Shifter

Good luck.

 

[MGWLTD]

mopar steve,

let me chime in and say you are 100 percent correct. IF someone simply grabbed the handle below the knob really close to the console it would not make any difference for them to put on a shorter knob. BUT some people actually like to use the knob and a shorter shift knob accomplishes this. also it makes it alot easier to reach for the a/c and radio without having the karaoke microphone in the way

regards
george

 

[garolittle]

Trust me when I say this ... you will be able to tell a difference in the feel. It is a great investment and George is the man to go with.

 

[John Stuttle]

I have installed two of Rich Detert's short throws. Great Guy to do business with. $25 includes shipping. His website -

Rich's Shifters

 

[pauljkopick]

my combo is richs short shaft replacement & georges first strike short throw shifter.actually have georges gripper & the orginial first striker without the insulation.why did i buy all of these? i dont have a clue.

 

[ACR Jim]

2 Charmed, I am confused by your post as you have a '01 ACR that like my '99 ACR has the smaller shift knob as opposed to the karaoke microphone as George refers to the older style

Unless you are saying that even the ACR/'01 knobs still have a section of "stick" below them as part of the knob assembly that I hadn't noticed.

I am under the impression that both Rich Detert's & Dave Tittle's low cost options mearly shorten the length of the shaft.
My impression likewise is that the B & M & the SVSi shifter kits actually make some additional modification (pivot point, etc.) that alter the feel of the shifter beyond just the shorter throw. With Brad seeming to prefer the SVSi model.

I believe it may have been SVSi that indicated they were planning some modification to their design recently. Can anyone confirm this?

Jim

 

[Jerry Scott[CO]]

ACR Jim
The added heat and vibration are not a factor of concern, in my opinion. The fact that it takes out the sloppy feel is definitely an improvement. My contact at Tremec said that this was a Dodge requirement, and that Tremec did not recommend having the isolator.

I have a write-up for changing the shifter and isolator from the bottom, without drilling out the tunnel rivets. If anyone is interested, it's in a MS Word file and I'll send it by e-mail to anyone requesting it.

Jerry
[email protected]

 

[Bill Pemberton Woodhouse]

Dear Paul, you Sicko Freak from the damp Northwest. Three shift knobs from George, are you nuts??? For that money you coulda bought a short throw shifter. Boy some people just don't take time to think......................


PS - Don't tell anyone, but I own 4 of his knobs, and I don't know why either.

Senile in CornCountry,
Bill P

 

[Jerry Scott[CO]]

I have installed both the B&M and the SVSI shifters, but have removed them for what I think is a better arrangement for the track. I found that both of these shifters were fine for street use, but on the track, during high reving conditions, they are a different story. The SVSI gates are so close together and the springs are so soft that it is very easy to accidentally shift from 3 to 2 when you want 3 to 4. This can be disasterous to the engine if you don't catch it in time. The B&M is also the same problem with the soft springs. On another note, the stops that are supplied with these shifters serve no purpose, since according to the people at Tremec, stops are already built into the trany. If you get these shifter stops set too close, you will not get into gear properly, and you will damage the gears when under high load. If you decide to use the B&M or the SVSI, your best bet is to remove the shifter stops completely.

I found that the best arrangement for me, for street and especially track, is the stock shifter modified with a stronger spring in the left side gate only, and no change to the right side gate. This makes it much harder to accidentally pull a 3 to 2 shift while the engine is highly reved. Bob Woodhouse sells these shifters modified by K&P Engineering. I have many track miles on this design and like it better than anything I have used. You will not likely run into this 3 to 2 problem unless you drag race or road race, but if you do, you will likely over-rev the engine and do some damage. I also replaced the stock isolated stud, with the SVSI 3.5 in. solid stud and replaced the shift knob with a shorter one. Here's a picture of the modification and the stud.

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[ACR Jim]

Jerry,

Thanks for the excellent feedback. I am absolutely concerned about how the shifter will function on the track. Do you find that the non-isolated stud results in unwanted heat or vibrations?

Jim

 

[pauljkopick]

yo,billy pp,you need to wipe them deer smiles off your mug,cuz yo customers see dem black,yeller,& red teeth of yers & they kno what vipurrs yo have in the barn.the vippur yo gave me got a 1 yer birthday & it got over 11ks on its huffs.i give yu $4 silver dullars withem tom osbornes mug shot on em for that red thing with the big tail on it.got my mind right,paul k.

 

[luc]

Don't want to start a war here, but some post above had a link,(short throw shifter) to a web site that list a factory/oem gear knob for 99 and up at $ 199.99.

Well I guess that my 2000 GTS must have another knob from the factory since I just bought one, Gear Knob part # SG081X9-AA / 21030006, from my friend at my Jeep parts dept for $ 81.36.

Full retail price on it is $ 113.

Or is that a case of "special price" for Viper owners?

Luc.

 

[SteveBCloud9]

I just bought the last shifter from George at MGW (Polished with the 1-6 engravement). Going to go with a shorter stud too..... toofast, hook me up......