Damn I love it...MmmmHmmm.
Dave B had already said in a previous post, the position of the top 3 (1st, 3rd & 5th) are a little further up than stock...the pics below show that to be true. I think I can look past that...check out the difference in throw! My shifts don't seem clunky, which I had experienced in a previous short shifter setup in an ex-car of mine. The shifts are actually very precise and it feels more intuitive than before.

And now...a shifter comparison shot. The B&M pivot point is lined up with the OEM shifter's pivot.

In the next few shots you will see the B&M 'shadowed' onto the stock shifter's pic by Photoshop. They may not be lined up perfectly but you will definitely notice a big difference in throw. B&M says it is a 40% difference in throw...I definitely agree.

First...
Second...
Fifth...
and finally, Reverse...

All in all...the throws are a little stiff right now compared to the stock shifter. But I'll get used to it...The shifts can be so quick you'd think I was an auto...

...special thanks goes to my friend Chris (BlueBOB) for the nice leg model shots included with the shifter...lol

I purchased my B&M through Tokio, very good guy to deal with if you happen across one of his Group Deals or personal sales.

 

Those are excellent pictures!!!!

My friend has the shifter in a g20t and the gear throw is very short. The shifts feel great and more solid.

Yeah, I recommend tokio to people also. He's a really cool guy as a groupbuy guy and my friend.


Another case where I wish I had 5spd.

 

short shifter is always an appreciated upgrade

 

very nice....

I am looking into getting a pacesetter shortthrow shifter, since that B&M is about 2 1/2 times as expensive. only 30% difference as opposed to the B&M's 40%. Anyone know of a 40% short throw for around $70.

Also, How easy was it to install?

 

I went with B&M after hearing only horror stories about the other brands (i.e. shaft snapping after a hard shift)...from eBay brands to even Pacesetter. I got the B&M for $135 shipped out of a Group Deal by Tokio. The B&M replaces the whole pivot point for more reliability.

Overall the install was easy. The instructions are pretty good that came with the B&M. It also helped that I had installed a short shifter once before as well. There really isn't any 'difficulty' or massive mechanics' knowledge needed.

 

Very nice. I'm going to get the B&M also but I think I will cut it down a little bit. How much did you pay?


Tony

 

Hey Tony...I paid $135 shipped for it. It is well worth every penny. If you do get one and need help then feel free to PM me anytime.

 

I'm just gonna have it installed when the 5-speed goes in, but thanks!


-Tony

 

Niiiice...auto-5spd swap? Anything else special going in? (i.e. lightened flywheel)

 

Spec Stage 2 clutch and maybe a flywheel..

Also throwing in an I/C'd turbo in May/June


-Tony

 

Feel free to spread any of that extra cash my way

 

The car is gobbling it up too quickly!!

lol


-Tony

 

Mods are getting more an more important these days. hahaha

 

hey,
Just read your thread on B&M. I've had one in my max for about 9months now, and up until today i thought that i just put the **** in backwards. I wasn't sure why it sat up so far. Thanks for clearing that up. Once that shifter breaks in, it is very smooth. You can shift without moving your wrist. Good luck with it.

 

I had my B&M installed with the re-built tranny. At first, I was really annoyed at how hard it was to shift, but as time passed, the tranny got broken in, and the shifting improved greatly. I now love my B&M, except when it's a little hard to get into 1st.....

BTW, very good comparison. I have something like it on my homepage.....

 

I'm not having any problem with the stiffness anymore. Shifts are smooth and precise.

2nd-3rd shift is so effortless now.

 

95maxrider
When it doesn't feel like it is totally engage into first, release the clutch a little, just until it feels like it is grabbing a little. it should fal right into place.

 

True...sometimes you need to do that for reverse too. (I've experienced the same thing in 4 other M/Transmission cars that I've owned)

 

I had looked at buying a B&M shortshifter for my 97 SE a while back and they did not list a kit for that year. Guess they finally designed one. I agree with you on the build quality....can't go wrong with B&M. I'll have to relook the short shift issue. Thanks for the post and pictures.

 

No problem at all...

Part # would be BM-45087...most internet sites sell for $150+shipping. I would suggest checking the For Sale or Group Deal sections beforehand though. As said above I got mine for $135 shipped.

 

Hmm. I've thought of doing this before but I've heard so many horror stories on here....but it sounds like this one might be different. So nobody has had any problems with the transmission itself from using the B&M? People talking about 1st not fully engaging makes me nervous.

Those pictures are AWESOME...very very helpful. I'm so tall I dunno if I could take the shofter being farther forward, but not having to move my arm to shift would be nice. Good thread.

 

The only bad thing I can think of is the shifts are so close that you might misshift or shift into a shorter gear...of course that would be human error. Another thing that could happen is the clutch isn't fully engaged before shifting into a different gear.
I'm 6'even myself and was a little afraid of the further forward gears but I'm really not moving my arm as much as I did with the stock. I can change 1st to 2nd, 3rd to 4th with the twitch of a finger. I'm thinking about making the arm rest a little longer as my elbow is near the edge but it isn't uncomfortable.

Thanks all for the compliments on the pics too.

-Jeff

 

the reason that sometimes the trans does not want to engage into first gear is not mainly because of the short shifter. It is because of the sincros in the trans. If the sincros are not aligned properly you will not be able to fully engage into a gear, sometimes associated with the grinded shifting into second gear. With reverse you will find it smoother if you were to put the car into 1st before reverse. this will align the sincros better.

 

Less installing shifters, more diet time.


But seriously, very nice. That is on my "very soon" list. nice pictures too


-Loren

 

Well it's easy to see why it sit father forward, I don't know why we can't get an STS with a bit more of bend.

Since others have said the B&M does not require modifing the cat heat shield I was wondering if it really decrased the throw. I can also see that it really does shorten the throw, I can't figure out how it does not hit the cat heatshield though .

 

I know...looking at the 2 side by side I was wondering if it would have definitely been a better design to bend it a little more.
The reason it doesn't hit the cat heatshield is because of the new pivot point. The new pivot point actually sits about an inch (maybe half inch) higher than the stock, IIRC.

 

hahaha... thanks man... like I didn't already know that...

I'm only 6' 190lbs....

Best weight reduction... diet! lol

And yes, the intall was fairly simple and I've personally never done a thing with installing short shifters or anything for that matter on a 5spd. I'm jealous araffio.

 

Dude...his Mom cooks some REALLY good food. Everyone on the .org is missing out...I'm actually quite surprised he isn't 40lbs overweight.

 

Mod meets at the parents' pad always brings good food...

 

I also have the b&m and bought it tru tokio I love the feel I have had mine for approx 6 months and it feels great. Its so smooth. Only problem I have is in fifth and third sometimes it makes my shifter rattle like crazy. Its actually kind of annoying. I'm trying to figure out some way to stop it from happening. It didnt do this at first only after about month 4.

 

Great design then, since part that connects to the shift linkage is in roughly the same position as stock it could make this shifter smoother compared to other STSs that connect to the shift linkage lower down.

Is the threading for the shift kno the same as stock?

 

I'm not sure...I used the B&M shift ****. I would assume that it is the same threading as most shift ***** that screw on are universal.

 

I had the B&M for about 8 hours I couldn't stand the way forward shift pattern, how short the shifter was, the notchiness, the resistance into 3rd and 5th, the squeakiness of the shifter as is warmed up, etc.

I want a shifter that sits close to stock height, but has reduced throws. That's what a real short shifter is. You get go leverage, less vibration, and shorter throws. The import scene has confused "short shifter" with "low shifter".


Dave

 

I agree with the forward position but did you really have resistance getting it into 3rd and 5th? That is really weird...I don't have that problem at all nor do I have a problem with 'squeakiness'.
*shrug*
Weird...

 

Isn't that wha the Stillen STS is?

 

Yeah, I had resistance going into 3rd and 5th and even 2nd and 4th. Sure, the throws are extremely short, but I had no confidence in the shift pattern nor how it slowed me down on hard shifts because gates lacked feel or when I entered the next gear. I can slam my 1-2 and 2-3 shifts far quicker with a 1.5" cut shifter vs my B&M and old Pacesetter shifter. I tested the B&M for 8 hours many of the hours of which I has trying to shift quickly. Overall, it just felt like crap. The position of the shifter wasn't good for someone my size (6' 1", 185lbs) because it was too far forward that I had to move my torso in order to shift to 3rd, do the 3-4, and 4-5 shift. I quickly realize this wasn't the shifter for me and I sent it back to Summit Racing for a full refund of $140.



Dave

 

At least you got your money back.

Mine doesn't feel like what you explained...I dunno maybe it's just our difference in perception. My stock shifter felt clumsy/too soft and the B&M cured that. My gates with the B&M feel a lot more intuitive as well.

I am not much shorter than you, at 6'even...maybe you have short arms? (lol, only kidding) Were you using the B&M **** or a different 'taller' ****? My arm is straight horizontally and my elbow is near the edge of my armrest in the forward gears. The **** isn't 'square' in the palm of my hand but I'll survive. I don't ever relax my arm when I'm racing anyway.

 

The stock shifter is definately more loose, but cutting the shifter a little cured a lot of it's sloppiness. I also use a solid metal ball shift **** which gives the shifter a far more substainial feel.

I've got pretty long arms (basketball player type frame). I did try 3 different types of shift ***** (all of which were taller) and it didn't help things. Around town, I like to be able to rest my elbow solidly on the armrest and have to move my arm very little to shift. At the track I adjust my seat closer and more upright.

The B&M compromised my shifting style too much.



Dave

 

I have a Stillen STS and love it. Short throws, no vibration, and stock height. Best money I've ever spent.

 

Stock height huh? Hmmm. I really do want to shorten my throws but I really don't have a prob with the stock height or the reach. I was checking things out in my car yesterday and moving the shifter any further forward in 1/3/5 might be a problem. I'm tall and moving it forward could be rough...maybe the stillen is the answer hmmm..