First, thanks to whoever got the forums back up.... I missed it. Anyways, about two weeks ago, I installed the Stillen short shifter. It is very easy, relatively. Having small hands for this job is a plus, because you have to work behind the cat, unless you want to remove the whole exhaust system. The throws on the new shifter are increadibly short. I love it. Each gear sits firmly in its place. The only thing is that in neutral, when you wiggle the shifter, it clangs against the cat heat shield. Thats no problem when you are driving, though. Its nice for showing that honda civic who's the boss. Soon on my website i'll have some how to's and some articles on it.

 

Where did you get your shifter, and how much did it cost? I have a 99 and dont like the long throw. I am a fairly good mechanic, but I am always afraid of making that one big expensive mistake! let me know when you have the site up with some instructions!

 

down you can knock a 'dent' into it... it helps alot. I shoulda knocked it in more but didn't realize how much room i had with the RT cat replacing the stock unit... too lazy to take it down again.

 

I've had my Stillen short throw shifter in my car for over three years now. I remember that it clunked against the cat shield in neutral and when putting it in reverse for about the first six months or so, but I haven't heard it do it anymore since then.

 

hmm... does yours move back and forth while it's in gear? i mean does it have alot of play in it? cuz mine does that and it's annoying the hell out of me.

 

at all... not to scare you, but are you sure the bolts are still tight? I would imagine that the play would gradually increase if some of the bolts are loosening up. Mine is still pretty tight with virtually no play while in a gear.

 

which bolts? the two that screw in from the top of the shifter on the mount?

 

top ones are easy enough to check...

 

yeah, cuz i checked those already. i've just been too lazy to get under the car and unbolt everything to get to those bolts... it's a pain

 

My shifter doesn't have any play in it after three years/27,000 miles. I'd recommend checking the bolts so it doesn't come loose on you out on the road somewhere.

 

I got the SMC adjustable short throw shifter. I needed to cut a whole in the heat shield so that it clears it in neutral. Nice to have the adjustable one, it is shorter then the stillen one and only cost me 80 bucks.

go here to see more about it: http://webstu.messiah.edu/~gc1160/Sh...owShifter.html

 

Where can i find that smc shifter? i am thinking of putting in a short shifter but i dont know if i want to pay like 250 for it from Stillen.. 80 dollars sounds real good.. Anyone else have this shifter? Also i already have a dash kit on and i was thinking that to put the new shifter in i would have to take the dash kit out.Is that the only way to go? thanks

 

I don't know if you can get it for $80. A bunch of us got ours through the group deal a couple months ago.

 

yeah nick your right, my bad. I am looking at my receipt right now, i paid 120 for mine from SMC Products. I cannot seem to find their web site, but their number is (626)- 355-3763

If you have the means I highly suggest you picking one up

 

I had recently installed a short throw and had the same clanging noise against the heat shield. I called Stillen and they said it was due to production variations. They recommended to remove the heat shield enitrely.

 

there's really no need to do so... if you just dent it, it will not make any noises unless you smack down on the shifter hard... if you put a large enough dent... it probably won't even do that.

The heat shield is there for a reason....

 

I just had it installed friday. I like it so far. I just wonder if it could curve toward the armrest instaed of towards the radio,if you know what i mean.
Also the bottom thing feels liek it hits the top of the console where the boot and plastic meet.
Anyone recommdn what settings to use?

 

I had the same complaint of the shifter being located too much forward... but it makes a great hand rest when you have to adjust the radio...

I have the Stillen unit so i don't know about the other concerns...