I'm trying to find out if there is a way to cut down the stock shifter and then re-thread it to twist the stock shift **** back on?

 

Cutting the stock shifter has been done... I remember reading a thread a while ago about re-threading it too.... IIRC, you can knock of a certain amount and still have enough threads to put the shift **** back on... but I could be completely wrong.. this is all from what I remember.

 

You already know this (I think), but this method "reduces the shifter **** travel", but isn't really a "short-throw shifter".... (thought I'd mention it just-in-case).

 

Yea, I know, but I really am getting pissed at my shifter because of the way it sits so high, I don't mind the length of the throw's at all. Just the height of the shifter, I think I found my answer anyways, a TAP and DIE set will allow me to do it.

 

It's pretty ghetto but the guy that owned the car before me hacked about 1.5 inches oem shifter and used jb weld to install an aftermarket shift ****. Also as mentioned earlier its not a "short throw shifter"

 

the write up cliff notes: cut shifter to length. then using a slightly larger die (since the shifter is larger in diameter), cut new threads. then use the (smaller) correct size die and cut over the 1st threads, which will remove the other threads.

 

Correct me if I'm wrong.....

If the throw is the same and you are shortening the shifter, isn't it going to make shifting harder now that there's less leverage? I drove my friend's car (not a Maxima) this weekend, because he's too drunk to drive home, and his car has a hacked shifter. I hated every minute of driving it. I had to use force to get the shifter to go into gears. Plus, he has a stiff clutch, probably a stage1 so it was tiring the heck out of my left leg. He has all this in his POS beat up Honda Accord.

 

I'll correct you, you're wrong.

 

Yes, it is harder to get it into gear with a shorter shifter because of less leverage, but if your gears are smooth it is faster because your arm has less distance to travel. So then just imagine the benefits of a short throw shifter that was cut down...

 

if you can weld you just hack out the middle then weld the top back on. otherwise id just go for an aftermarket shifter, thats what i used.

 

Anybody done this to an Auto in the NY/NJ area and willing to do this to mine as well? Will pay $$ of course...

 

Why would you do this to an auto??

 

Not cut it down to make shifts shorter (obviously)...cut it down flush to have a nice, low sleek look. It's been done, just don't remember who has done it.

 

thread on automatic cut down:
http://forums.maxima.org/showthread.php?t=375458

 

Thanks for the explanation.

 

when i cut down my shifter about 2.5", my aftermarket shift **** didnt screw on, instead it had 4 screws on the side facing inward and i just stuck it on the cut shifter and tightened the screws.

 

mine has been cut, and i shift just as fast. Getting it into gear hard? not really.
its worth it and it looks way better.

 

Not really meaning....it is harder than before the shifter was hacked but not hard enough to complain about it? Or it shifts the same exact way using the same exact effort?

 

when i cut my shifter, its only a tad notchier than stock, but way smoother than the STS i had before....

 

maximazation.....I've been interested in cutting mine. I hate the feel of the STS but like the throws. I can live with a longer throw if I just get some length taken off of the stock unit.

What brand STS did you have? How much better is a cut stock shifter? I'm all about hacking a good bit off. I was hoping to cut it tonight. I'm going to check on a die set now. Hell, if it doesn't work I can always re install the STS. Just looking for insight. Thanks.

 

Why would you want to put on the crappy stock **** when there are so many nice aftermarket ones out there anyway? Most after market ones don't require threads they use three tiny allen screws that screw into the side of the shifter:



BTW mines a cut-down stock shifter. The money you spend on a tap and die set would probably pay for your new aftermarket shifter?

 

I have the anniversary ****. I don't care for the billet look or carbon fiber or whatever. Maybe I'm simple but the leather **** works well for me. I like the stock look.

 

well it does become a tad harder, but honestly not enough for you to complain like you said. and after a while, it feels just normal.

 

Hmmm......I might have to try this after all. My experience with the shortened shifter was not even in a Maxima, it was from an Accord. Somehow, I thought that this change would be identical on the Maxima. I am thinking of adding a brushed aluminum guage bezel, aluminum e-brake cover, and aluminum finished shift **** to give things a balanced look. So I figured that the new **** can go on the shortened shifter. Anyone know of a good source for the shift *****?

 

this is my cut shifter with aftermarket ****.

 

I count 4 people so far, who've responded here, that shortened their shifter. I had no idea how popular this mod is. So you guys prefer the same throw/shorter shifter over a short throw/shorter shifter, and that it feels better?

 

personally I like my cut shifter, I feel its better than stock but it's like this

STS>cut shifter>stock

 

I see, cut shifter is the next best thing from STS and cheaper.

 

My aftermarket ***** thread on, that is why I want to re-thread the shifter after cutting it down. I do not have access to any welding and will not pay to have someone weld it when I can get the die's and do it myself..

BTW, does anyone have an extra shifter laying around, I don't wanna hack up my stock one just yet.

 

I had a CustomMaxima.com STS, and it was good for shorther throws, but was too notchy for my tastes. Also sometimes while shifting fast into 3rd gear, I would hit the shifter trim and actually one time cracked it. I love my cut shifter, took about a good 2.5" off and the throws are obviously longer than the STS but its way smoother and thats what I like about it.

 

I've heard a couple of people complaining that their sts would hit the trim. I guess it needs to be carefully adjusted.

 

the reason why it hits the trim is a long story. in the 90s, sentras, maximas and altimas with a manual used similar types of shifter assembly, so when a short shifter was made for one car, it could be used with those nissan cars also, so they kept the deisgn the same to save money, so in fact, there isnt a true maxima STS, except for a few that cost a lot.

 

I didnt kniw you could re thread a hacked shift ****.. I wish Id known cause
the universal allen screw shift ***** suck... Ohh well know I got my B&M,
pricey but well wort it. All I need now is a 20ae shift ****.

 

Any of you guys have you're stock shifters? I want to get my hands on a couple of them, let me know thanks!

 

Any other suggestions/thoughts/shifter's available?

 

i just cut my shifter and i like it better than what it was

 

What's the best way to cut the shifter....perhaps a dremel with a metal cutting bit? Is there a less messy way to do this with having metal bits flying all over the interior of my car? I'm planning on using my existing aftermarket shifter **** but its screw-on type which goes on the plastic fitting that goes on top of the shifter. I was planning on somehow gluing or welding that piece on, would that liquid weld work on plastic? Any other ideas on securing this piece.

 

Do what I'm gonna do. Get a tap and die set. The die can re-thread the **** to the stock shifter's thread and pitch. As far as cutting goes, I'm not sure how I'm gonna do it either.

 

I used a dremel with a cut off wheel. Then when it was cut off I used a sanding drum to get rid of the sharp edges.

 

I used one of these to cut the shifter down:




and one of these to narrow the width of the shifter:





Need a little muscle power but at least metal pieces & sparks don't go all over the place, I pushed a hole through an old shop rag to cover the shifter housing to catch the metal bits.