CAN-Toronto GI: Short Height shifter
07-26-2013, 02:03 AM
#1
GI: Short Height shifter
Just throwing this out there to see reactions, maybe this is the wrong way to go about it.
There was recently a classified ad in this forum for a short height 6 speed shifter. There was a high demand for it. It's sold. I mentioned that I do this for the local guys up here in Canada and have had quite a bit of interest in making these. Problem is, most of you are in the US, and I am in Canada, so for some of you the price will not be an option for you.
Now I have no problem doing this, but I need to protect my interest. These shifters are getting extremely hard to find. So in order for this to work I need to modify the shifter I have in my basement. Then I have to ship it to you. Then you install it and ship your old one back to me. I modify that one and ship it to the next guy who is interested.
I'm thinking that the best way to guarantee that i get an old one back is to charge a core. I normally charge $100 to do this mod. I do things a bit differently than the original person who did this. I remove the reverse lockout and measure the length and record it. I measure the metal rod of the shifter and record it. I remove the maximum amount of material from the shifter rod. I chamfer both ends of the rod. I have a small jig I use to make sure the tho ends of the rod are straight. I then spend about 1/2 hour or more tig welding the two pieces. A small weld, let it cool, and repeat until done. This prevents the whit UMHW from melting. Then I measure the length of the rod again. I then cut the reverse lockout and machine both ends until I have removed exactly the same amount as what was removed form the rod. Then it is glued back together. Then it is reassembled.
I'm thinking that a payment of 200 up front, (which would include shipping to you). When I get your old shifter back ( the core) You will get a refund of about 70 dollars. (200 minus 100 for the work, minus actual shipping)
So for example if it cost me 23 bucks to ship to you, you will get back 77 bucks, but if shipping is 50 because you live too far away, then you will get back 50. You will have to pay the shipping back to me.
As I said, this isn't going to be cheap for you guys, but this job does take about 3 or 4 hours to do it right. It isn;t worth it for me if I have to pay to get your old shifter back.
I have done this modification about 10 times now. Here is the one in my car.
Feedback please, if you are interested.
There was recently a classified ad in this forum for a short height 6 speed shifter. There was a high demand for it. It's sold. I mentioned that I do this for the local guys up here in Canada and have had quite a bit of interest in making these. Problem is, most of you are in the US, and I am in Canada, so for some of you the price will not be an option for you.
Now I have no problem doing this, but I need to protect my interest. These shifters are getting extremely hard to find. So in order for this to work I need to modify the shifter I have in my basement. Then I have to ship it to you. Then you install it and ship your old one back to me. I modify that one and ship it to the next guy who is interested.
I'm thinking that the best way to guarantee that i get an old one back is to charge a core. I normally charge $100 to do this mod. I do things a bit differently than the original person who did this. I remove the reverse lockout and measure the length and record it. I measure the metal rod of the shifter and record it. I remove the maximum amount of material from the shifter rod. I chamfer both ends of the rod. I have a small jig I use to make sure the tho ends of the rod are straight. I then spend about 1/2 hour or more tig welding the two pieces. A small weld, let it cool, and repeat until done. This prevents the whit UMHW from melting. Then I measure the length of the rod again. I then cut the reverse lockout and machine both ends until I have removed exactly the same amount as what was removed form the rod. Then it is glued back together. Then it is reassembled.
I'm thinking that a payment of 200 up front, (which would include shipping to you). When I get your old shifter back ( the core) You will get a refund of about 70 dollars. (200 minus 100 for the work, minus actual shipping)
So for example if it cost me 23 bucks to ship to you, you will get back 77 bucks, but if shipping is 50 because you live too far away, then you will get back 50. You will have to pay the shipping back to me.
As I said, this isn't going to be cheap for you guys, but this job does take about 3 or 4 hours to do it right. It isn;t worth it for me if I have to pay to get your old shifter back.
I have done this modification about 10 times now. Here is the one in my car.
Feedback please, if you are interested.
07-26-2013, 11:00 AM
#3
I bought Majestics short shifter. I have the TWM Performance short shifter adaptor under the hood and the ES Shifter bushings. All I can say is that EVERY SINGLE 6-speed Maxima owner MUST have this short shifter.....its AWESOME! Totally changes the feel of the car and shifts from that long azz UPS MACK TRUCK shifter on the Maxima! Hope you sell tons of em Knight!!!
07-27-2013, 05:38 AM
#7
Ok, so the first one is chopped and welded. I still have to glue the reverse lockout together when I get home. I took 15 pics of the process which I will link when I get home tonight.
Last edited by knight_yyz; 07-27-2013 at 05:42 AM.
07-27-2013, 12:39 PM
#8
Ok here's the pics
Dirty as sin...
Cleaned up
Reverse lockout removed - cutting the shaft
Machining the shaft to length
Ready to weld
Machine the reverse lockout to length
Welded
Buff and blend the excess weld
Shortened shaft ready for reassembly
Dirty as sin...
Cleaned up
Reverse lockout removed - cutting the shaft
Machining the shaft to length
Ready to weld
Machine the reverse lockout to length
Welded
Buff and blend the excess weld
Shortened shaft ready for reassembly
07-27-2013, 02:50 PM
#10
Reverse lockout chopped and "welded". I'm using a plastic weld product, you apply the epoxy then warm it with a heat gun. The phenolic dowel is to make sure the pieces are aligned/square with each other.
07-27-2013, 06:25 PM
#12
LOL, everyone wants this done in two weeks, but at the most i will get done 2 shifters per month. I ship one, you get it a week later, you install and ship to me and i get it a week later.
For those of you that have a spare shifter, you can ship that to me without a core charge. I will modify it and ship it back to you
For those of you that have a spare shifter, you can ship that to me without a core charge. I will modify it and ship it back to you
08-15-2013, 03:17 PM
#21
Just a FYI. I was talking to an engineer buddy of mine and he suggested that I use a soldering iron to weld the 2 pieces of the plastic reverse lockout back together. So the last time I cut out the chunk of plastic I cut it into 2 pieces. Last night I tried the soldering iron method and it worked better than any glue or plastic weld product I have tried. So from now on I'll be using that method. It is a far superior bond
I should be receiving the next shifter over the next few days. Who's next?
I should be receiving the next shifter over the next few days. Who's next?
08-15-2013, 03:19 PM
#22
Just a FYI. I was talking to an engineer buddy of mine and he suggested that I use a soldering iron to weld the 2 pieces of the plastic reverse lockout back together. So the last time I cut out the chunk of plastic I cut it into 2 pieces. Last night I tried the soldering iron method and it worked better than any glue or plastic weld product I have tried. So from now on I'll be using that method. It is a far superior bond
I should be receiving the next shifter over the next few days. Who's next?
I should be receiving the next shifter over the next few days. Who's next?
thats what i was thinking. i guess its a good thing ive got a plastic welder. which rod did you use? (what type of plastic is the lockout)
08-15-2013, 04:25 PM
#23
I have no idea what plastic it is. I didn't use a filler rod. I just stuck the two pieces together on an aluminum rod and ran the iron along the edge. I can't get the two pieces apart.
08-28-2013, 09:51 AM
#28
I have an extra shifter, how much for labor if i send it out to you?
Please let me know if this is something you can do...or perhaps swap your new stock for the one you have available and i send the one i have?
Thanks.
Please let me know if this is something you can do...or perhaps swap your new stock for the one you have available and i send the one i have?
Thanks.
08-28-2013, 05:13 PM
#30
She's done. This is the strongest reverse lockout I have done to date. usually i glue it but I have always been worried that a slight shock will break the lockout. it hasn;t happened to date, but it still bugs me. I used a soldering iron and "welded" the two pieces together. i used the scrap piece that was cut out to make the filler. I doesn;t look amazing in this photo, but it is strong as hell.
08-28-2013, 05:27 PM
#31
def a great mod, been wanting something like this for years never really messed with much though.
def a good value too.
and my cables are still in stock location, so once i move that itll really be short throw
def a good value too.
and my cables are still in stock location, so once i move that itll really be short throw
08-28-2013, 05:36 PM
#32
Thanks to Darren, you guys can save a few bucks on shipping if you have the nads to take this apart. It's simple really. In the photo the spring pin with the yellow line has to be knocked out, and the starlock washer (white line) needs to be removed to allow the part with the green line to be removed. To remove the starlock washer put a socket at the opposite end of the green arrow to support everything and give the other end where the starlock is a good whack with the hammer in the direction of the green arrow.
Flip the unit over and remove the white sleeve. Remove the shaft and ship it.
Flip the unit over and remove the white sleeve. Remove the shaft and ship it.
09-27-2013, 05:09 PM
#40
I'm interested for sure. In almost every car I have owned I have had a short throw shifter. I don't understand why they don't make them for the Maxima.
Anyone have any feedback on this buy?
What would shipping be to me? Zip code 96826.
Thanks.
Anyone have any feedback on this buy?
What would shipping be to me? Zip code 96826.
Thanks.