I have been trying to think of mods that I can afford. I noticed the PaceSetter Short Throw Shifter on Custommax.com

how does a short throw shifter differ from my stock shift? (2k1 manual tranny of course). Is it something that you would recommend as far as handling/ease of shifting?

will a short throw shifter allow me to shift "faster"

thanks for POSITIVE input!!

ttfn

 

I don't have one on my max but uhm uhm I had one on my Civic Si. Everything will feel a bit more notchier and I guess you could say it will make you shift faster b/c you will be traveling like half the distance. So for example, your 1st-2nd distance will be reduced. In my civic it was so short I could basically shift with one finger from 1st-2nd. It does not enhance anything else. Only make your shifts faster by traveling a shorter distance hence the name short throw shifter.

 

ahhh..thanks!! I wasn't sure if the short referred to!!

muchos gracias

ttfn

 

I'd recommend getting an STS if for no other reason than to stop hitting your elbow on the damned arm rest release.

 

Good point on that.... The 2002 Sentra Spec V has a short throw shifter....I took it out and the gears were all like a millimeter apart. Kinda cool...

 

you too, huh?

 

I just installed the Pacesetter STS last night. It really was kind of a pain to install, but the results are well worth the effort. My 2k SE shift travel was enormous. With this shifter, it's an amazing different. From 2nd to 3rd gear prior to the shift install, seemed like 6-8 inches. Now, it's less than half that.

I hate to admit it, but I used to miss 3rd often because I was already coming out on the clutch. Now I'm definitely in gear in time. It really is an awesome improvement!

If you have any questions about the install, I'd be more than willing to share that joyful experience.

 

If you have any questions about the install, I'd be more than willing to share that joyful experience. [/QUOTE]



yes please!! do share...pics too if you have them!! Did you also replace your shift **** or did you use the stock ****??? and how in the sam hill did you get the **** off w/o damage if you did reuse it???

impart all of your wisdom on me boo!!

ttfn

 

You got a good idea of one of the obstacles already...removal of the stock ****. That sucker was on there tight. I used a c-clamp and a rag to protect the **** to break it free, but it wasn't easy.

I really should have taken some pics, but I didn't. Sorry. Someone really should document this with pics, because the directions that come with the Pacesetter are all text.

I have a 2k SE which has been driven in the Northeast it's whole life. So removing the Cat was not an option for me (would have sheared the rusty bolts). So it is entirely possible to do this install without taking the Cat off. The heat shield above the Cat can be removed and most likely will need to be 'altered' to allow for the new shifter hanging a bit lower.

Here's basically what I did (I apologize for not knowing the proper names of all this stuff):
* Find a friend to help you and bribe him/her with their favorite beverage.
* Remove your stock shifter ****
* Remove the trim, and shifter boot from the center console.
* Four studs w/ bolts (10mm) secure the inner rubber boot trim (two are accessed from inside the center console and the other two from underneath). Remove all four nuts and remove the inner rubber boot and metal retainer.
* Now go back under the car and remove the pivot pin that holds the stock shifter shaft to the main bar (13mm nut and 14mm bolt).
* There's four more nuts to remove before you can remove the shifter assembly. Two nuts hold the retaining bracket to the car, and the other two hold the shifter (the part with the pivot ball) assembly to the bracket.
* Remove the shifter assembly through the top of the car. It has to be angled wierd to fit through the hole in the floor, but it definitely comes through there.
* Now that you have the stock assembling out, you will need to remove the housing around the pivot ball (2-piece nylon collar, and rubber gasket).
* Position your delron ball on the new shifter. The hieght of this ball on the new shifter will control the throw of the shift. I put mine for a very short throw. I positioned the top of the ball even with the top of the threads (I threaded it on until I saw threads just exposed).
* Your biggest challenge as stated in the other threads on this topic will be to get the Pacesetter delron ball into the stock assembly. A little persuasion (vice, channel locks, hammer, patience can help).
* Now install everything back to the way it came out.
* Your heat shield WILL NEED MODIFICATION. There's three thoughts on this 1.) Cut a hole in it. 2.) Dent a cavity in it 3.) Offset the heat shield lower using spacers.
Personally, I dented cavity in mine and I offset it lower with washers/spacers.

If I left anything out, or if you have any questions, just let me know I'd be happy to elaborate.

I took this opportuntiy (will the car was jacked up) to change my tranny fluid (Redline MT90 - good stuff).

This shifter is awesome. What a difference!

 

thank you for the write up!!

but you didn't say....did you keep the stock ****???

what do you think of the lighted/indiglo shift ****???


one of the guys at my local nissan service center said that he got a ticket for having the lighted/indiglo shift ****.....

ttfn

 

Sorry, yes, I kept the stock **** for now because it came off intact. I think a lighted **** would be cool.

Cops can pull a reason out of their a$$ to ticket you about anything. So I just do what I want anyway...

 

yes please!! do share...pics too if you have them!! Did you also replace your shift **** or did you use the stock ****??? and how in the sam hill did you get the **** off w/o damage if you did reuse it???

impart all of your wisdom on me boo!!

ttfn [/QUOTE]

Before you do it, check out [URL=http://maxima.cardomain.com/member_pages/view_page.pl?page_id=143972&page=7]. This is the best looking setup with the short throw shifter that i've seen yet. I did this to my max back in feb and have loved my car so much more since then. [IMG]Mvc-003f.jpg[/IMG]

 

Chances are you won't get your shifter **** off in one piece anyway. Might want to go buy one so you don't have to drive around with the stick and leather cover for a few days . . .

My shifter is starting to loosen up after about 300 miles. Funny, it is looser when the car is cold and as it heats up the shifter becomes stickier. It still won't snap back to the middle from the reverse side while car is hot. It does snap back from 1st side though!

Also, I didn't even take the rubber boot assembly off. I just pulled the shifter through the boot.

I think there are instructions at russ' site and at
www.maximadriver.com

 

mi have one

 

Max_Gator, I too find that when the car is cold is shifts a lot easier. Does anyone have a theory behind this? This is my only complaint about the sifter, other than that you can't complain about shorter throws and no grinding of 3rd

 

I just used that lovely search feature that we have and finally located pics of the install of an STS

STS install

I'm still reading up..trying to decided WHICH STS is the best value for the money

I keep seeing the pacesetter the OBX not too many folks have spoken about the Stillen....and then there is one other that is similiar to the pacesetter but custommaxima.com doesn't sell it anymore....


but I'm a librarian....so I have to fully investigate this before I commit myself! Espcially with that heat shield on the cat...I'll probably hook up with my favorite mechanic as usual for the install!!

I'm trying to limit myself to one install a dang month!!!

ttfn

 

I think it has to do with the composition of the ball. I'm betting that the ball swells with the heat and then shrinks when it cools. Hopefully, this process will continue until it is loosened up. That's my only complaint too.

 

I will speak about the Stillen. It's not adjustable like the Pacesetter, but I love it. Like everything else Stillen makes, it's top drawer. It's also Godawful expensive, particularly compared to the Pacesetter.

If you want a guaranteed no-hassle install and a bulletproof product, buy the Stillen. If you can live with the the possibility that you might have to exert a little elbow grease, buy the Pacesetter.

 

It is not so much the elbow grease as it is the product performance. If you know up front that you have to force the pieces together with pliers - there is almost no difference in effort to install.

Now, they ought to tell you that in the instructions - and - if hogan hadn't gotten himself banned and his how-to deleted, I would have never gotten so aggravated.

If the pacesetter doesn't loosen up to my liking - and enough so that I can go back and adjust for shorter throws - I'll likely buy the Stillen despite the $$$.

 

That's one area where I have to give credit to Stillen. Their instructions are COMPLETE! In fact, I've used Stillen's instructions to install other manufacturer's products when the products didn't contain instructions or the instructions were incomplete. And I've never had to "modify" a Stillen product to install it.

 

Yeah, I noticed that when re-installing my intake. It seems that for most of the others, some mechanic sat down months after the job and wrote notes from memory.

Stillen appears to make some attempt to create directions contemporaneously with actually installing the product.

 

Yup. But you pay through the nose for that level of excellence.

 

I will agree with y2kse on both points, I also have the Stillen STS and I love the feel and perfect engagements. One thing I did hear about the Pace STS is that you may sometimes not find the gear. Not to flame thier products cause thats not me, but the stillen is the superior quality product in this case. And if your interested in the stillen one I could get you a discount. PM me if interested. By the way thick, nice looking Grill!

 

I want to see if the pacesetter frees up. If it doesn't I'll PM you.

 

I will do that....and thanks

 

That's really weird. Mine loosens up after driving it for 15 minutes. Did you put the heat shield back on?

 

now there's a word that one doesn't hear every day....

all those syllables just roll off my tongue...almost kinky!!

 

Extemporaneously put!

 

Well, I think that's the point - who wants it to loosen up after 15 minutes.

 

Well it sure as hell goes into gear really damn easy. Isn't that the point?

 

I've only had mine (Pacesetter STS) on for a day and it's almost to my satisfaction. It could break in a but more, but if it stayed as is, I'd still be happy.
I think there's some question to the install of the ball/socket portion of the Pacesetter that some people have approached differently. It fit tight, and it took 10-15 minutes to work it in there, but once it was in, it's cool.
The shift on my car feels really good. I know a few others that installed the Pacesetter and had little to no break-in. So by and large the results have varied, and I don't think it's because of the product - the difference must be in how people are installing it.

Pacesetter could have definitely provided better instruction. Wait, scratch that. They should have provided instructions with photos.

 

I've had mine installed for over a month now and I'm satisfied. For those worried about the stiffness, give it time cuz it will loosen up. I had it installed but was up close and saw how it was done, real simple but you do need the right tools. The mechanic used a press machine to get the STS delrin ball in. When I got home my friend and I had to take it apart because it was rubbing against the heatshield. Solved that by banging a groove along the middle.

thickness, custommaxima does still sell it Pacesetter STS $68 bucks.

 

thanks to all of you who replied!!! I will definately be buying the Pacesetter STS from custommaxima



and JohnNixon...I printed out your directions!!!



ttfn

 

Now can you just do something about that front plate?