Man they should have called it a short stiff shifter! This thing is soooooo stiff. I have been missing my 2 - 3 shifts like crazy. It will take me about a week to adjust to the new shifter. I also need to fasten my aftermarket **** on a bit better because you really got to pound out the shifts, and you need a good grip on the shifter. Thanks for the referral Doug.

 

there was some thing rubbing or something inside the shift area,I can't remember exactly what was wrong though but try looking through the old posts and you will find a large multiple post on this subject with a solution on fixing the problem.Good Luck

 

Really. You think it's not supposed to be that bad?

 

What shifter kit did you use? How much $$$? and where did you get it? I was thinking of doing this for my car. Did you make sure to put tons of grease on all of the linkages?

 

just keep banging away.

 

I got the SMC adjustable shifter. I had Bob Sharp Nissan In Wilton, CT put it in . Andrew in service either used to or still races w/ bob sharp racing. They did Doug's too. He told me that the short throw eliminated the linkages and connects you directly to the tranny. I don't know that much about how the tranny is setup, so I don't know.

 

What type or what's the name of the grease that I would put on the "ball and socket" joint type thing that is located under the shift boot. Where can I get that stuff?

-Thanks

 

I read where if you adjust the shifter too low, the end of it rubs on the heat shield. Some folks have pounded a dent in the heat shield to accomodate the end of the shifter. I suppose you could adjust the shifter up, too. I think folks have been using white lithium grease on these so they shift easier. Good luck.

 

A couple of things:

1 - I adjusted my SMC to be about 2/3rds minimum throws (throws not as short as possible, but pretty close). I had to do a LOT of adjusting (ie hammered the top of the shield to give a large dent to clear the shifter bottom) to my cat heat shield to keep the shifter bottom from rubbing against the shield. I adjusted it I thought enough at first, but found that it still banged against the shield. I also thought that the shifter seemed awefully stiff in 1st/2nd, but didn't think it was related to rubbing because I didn't hear any noises. A week later, I dented the heat shield some more, and lo and behold, not only was the banging noise gone, but 1st/2nd gears were much easier to shift again. There was definitely contact/rubbing with the heat shield. After that final adjustment, the throws became much like stock, albeit a little notchier and stiffer, but certainly nothing like the very stiff action I had prior to the final adjustment.

2 - I used like the entire tube of supplied lithium grease when I installed the SMC shifter. I lubed everything like crazy. I don't know for sure, but believe that the more, the better. Gotta keep everything lubed to prevent binding.

My advice? Go back to the shop and make them pound the heat shield to give clearance, and don't let them give the car back to you until all interference is GONE.

Also, the SMC short shifter kit still uses the same linkages as stock. The only thing replaced is the stock shifter lever.

One more thing, I'd recommend having the shop re-check the throw adjustment of the shifter. I have my ball adjusted so that it's moved 2/3rds of the way (on the threaded section) towards the shift ****-end of the lever. Seems to give nicely shortened throws without being overly notchy. Not much point in putting in a short throw shifter if the throws are adjusted to be as long as stock, right?

 

I do not think that any dents were made in the Cat Shield. I can definitely hear some contact with the Cat Shield, especially when I shift into reverse. This gentleman that worked on my car said that the are no linkages now. Can this be true? Wouldn't that mean the the tranny is right under the shifter? I have no clue. I'm gonna go buy some more lithium grease and am probably gonna take my Cat Shield off and start banging.

 

Take the shield off and shift it to see if there is a difference. Then you will know if it's the shield or if the guy just adjusted the ball too high on the shifter. Also if some of the bolts are too tight, it will make the shifting stiffer. Keven is 100% right, the SMC shifter is exactly the same as the stock, except that the shifter is threaded to allow movement of the ball (up or down)

 

The SMC is supposed to be the same as stock? Hmm....OK, I gotta check this stuff out.