Zack

I have a 01' Mazda protege LX Manual and was looking to get a short shifter like this one http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...tem=7965206040 and was curious if anyone has one and your thoughts on them. Easy to install do you really notice a difference?

Thanks
Zack

chiefmg

I have installed two B&M short shifters (my '03 ES and my gf '99 ES), and they really do make a difference. I installed Kartboy shift bushings at the same time, shifting is very positive now. I can't vouch for any of the eBay shifters, I am sure there are a few people on here who have them. The B&M shifters are made from stainless so will hold up for some time. I just bought my gf's from Horsepowerfreaks.com, total cost with shipping was $101. That was the best price I could find anywhere.

2.0GT

I'm using the B&M shifter with the kartboy bushing as well. You can't go wrong with this set-up. Installation should take 1 hour or so. I have no experience with the e-bay stuff, so you might be taking you chances with it, unless somebody else has tried one.

Zack

I have VERY little exp in installing these types of things so is it hard enough to take to my dealer to install at $80 an hour?

chiefmg

If you buy the B&M, you get very comprehensive instructions (to the point of telling you what tools are needed). The Kartboy bushings mount on the end of a steady rod that connects the shifter tower to the transmission (also easy to replace, hardest part is getting the factory rubber bushing out of the rod). You will have to crawl around under the car some, but that gives you the opportunity to check things out under there. Of course I enjoy doing this sort of thing, your mileage may vary. Before you pay a dealer, I would suggest trying to use a friend who may like working on cars, or maybe even someone from this board who lives close. Good luck.

kargoboy

Anyone but a dealer!
Seriously, if you don't think you can do it yourself, have a friend help you. It's not as difficult as it may seem.

mazdabel

Does that particular shifter look good in your gf's ride? Also, what type of shift **** did you install??

macdaddyslomo

They are pretty easy to install with the right tools...especially snap-ring pliers. Looks like a pretty good product..Be prepared to adjust your shift boot, or it will look like crap

Zack

Thanks everyone for the advice. I was sent the instrations before I bid by my request and looks like it will be something I can do, plus the car being shown in the instrations is my exact model Thanks again!

juddz

If I were to do this, I would try out the E-Bay part. Forty or so bucks is a pretty good deal. I am sure that installation between the E-bay brand and the B&M unit is nearly the same, so you could probably use the same instructions.

Correct me if I am wrong, but I do not see any advantage in choosing one brand over the other. After all, this is not a critical, high-load part. It's a slug of metal. As long as the "ball" and other dimensions are correct from the get go, there shouldn't be an issue, right?

Macdaddyslomo, you mean adjusting the boot by trimming around the base and re-inserting it over the tangs, right? There is enough width near the bottom third of the boot to do it this way? If I recall from taking this stuff apart before, there is an embedded plastic washer at the top of the boot, which fits snug between the **** and a land on the lever, so perhaps it is not possible to trim it from the top...

macdaddyslomo

YOu have to remove the console to adjust the boot. then you can trim it. However its a tight fit since the diameter of the boot shrinks as you pull it down

chiefmg

I wasn't going so much for the look as the function, but it does look nice. I was kind of stuck as my gf had driven my car with the SS and bushings, and she wanted one (kept whining about how hers wasn't as good as mine, so all you guys be forewarned!). As for a ****, I installed one I bought from eBay for my RX-7. The red leather matches her car better. I have a factory Mazda 6 leather **** on the way for mine (which hopefully will fit).

I agree with juddz, this is another case like the eBay CAIs (same basic product for a cheaper price). The pictures I have seen of the eBay units look exactly like the B&M shifter. Having said that, from what I have seen most of the eBay shifters are aluminum, while the higher priced ones (like B&M) are stainless. It is a low stress part, but the bottom half is hanging out in the breeze under the car for all the road salt and crap to corrode. With the limited time I have at home, it is worth the extra bucks to me to buy something that I know will last. Also, I tend to hang on to my vehicles for a long time (case in point, my 1981 RX-7 bought new).

juddz

Hmmm.... lets see.
1) E-Bay short shifter is made of aluminum
2) Michigan road salt might turn aluminum into white oxide dust (or at least weaken it)
3) E-Bay short shifter costs only forty or so bucks
4) I have a cell phone, and access to a company car should mine become immobile by the side of the road...
Geez, folks. You might have a guinea pig here to try this thing out. Let me think it over.

juddz

Okay, folks. I did a little research on what is out there, in the way of E-Bay shifters. There are many of them currently, but shop around. You are not always getting a good deal. A few examples:
1) One guy was selling a shifter and **** for $42.00, reasonable enough. Then, I saw that he wanted $50.00 for shipping... from Washington State! Hardy-har-har. What a jerk.
2) I saw an OBX lever for 59.99, with a 16.00 shipping cost. Not a bad brand... but made of aluminum. Why not see if there is a stainless steel one out there?
3) For 44.95, there was a Ni-plated steel one. Shipping was 9.95. Wherever there is a holiday (chip or nick) in the plating, this one is going to rust. Stay away from Ni plated steel parts that hang under your car, esp. if you live in a northern state where they salt the roads. Rocks will nick it, and then it will rust like crazy.
4) And the winner is.... ccis99 is selling a stainless steel short throw shifter for 40.00, plus 15.00 shipping. Looks like a good deal. Worth looking into more thoroughly than my thirty second peek.

I did not post links to all of these listings, as you can do your own search on it. I am just trying to make a point here: shop around for a quality part, pay close attention to the shipping costs, and bear in mind that they vary widely in cost and quality.

If given the choice (for a comparable price) I would take the stainless part over ALL of the others. But then again, I am still thinking it over... if I do this, it will eat into my intake cam money down the road!

chiefmg

Like juddz says, shop around. Back when I was in school (don't ask) we were taught the old Latin phrase Caveat Emptor- let the buyer beware. Search tools are a wonderful thing.