meGrimlock

parts ready for install + roomate's cat (not installed):


**** on shifter--note the **** is fairly tall but the MSP shifter is designed to accodate, however the top of the boot does not meet bottom of the ****. so i had to use the rubberband trick to hold the boot up:


kartboy MSP short throw shifter with 03.5 MSP **** & shaundarbie boot:
you can compare with my old pic thread: https://www.mazda3club.com/photo-video-gallery-29/nsfd-not-safe-dialup-38886/




the shiftboot is fantastic, it changes the whole feel of the interior. you can get it at www.horsepowerfreaks.com. call in and ask for Ben on the discount for the boot. you can get it and a matching leather (also available in vinyl) boot for the e-brake. its called the SR Shiftboot. look at all the space the shorter shifter opens up and the nice updated look the small piece of leather provides.



fartsy shot:


i think i bent my heatshield way too much and it rattles up against the exhaust at certain rpms or when my foot is off the gas pedal while the car is in motion. might be time to hit up twm and see if they sell their heatshield spacers separately from their shifter kit.
-meGrimlock

kargoboy

Nice pics. I just got around to installing mine yesterday. I like it a lot so far, and damn, that thing is short! It's right at the height I normally held the stock lever, about halfway down.

The best thing about it is my coffee cup is easier to get to!

scotty878

Yeah, I like mine too! I have come to find out, that every so often, on a shift into 1st or 3rd, it will hit the heat sheild, but not everytime. Aside from that, I only have one other problem...This morning was probably one of the coldest days so far this Fall, and when I went to shift, the KB **** was FREEZING cold. So I'll either just have to live with that or get a new ****...Or drive with gloves on.

Oh yeah, Grim, I looked on the TWM site today and I didnt see the heatsheild spacers anywhere. Maybe if you contacted them they might sell you some, but their wasnt any listed.

meGrimlock

yea, i still bump up against the heatshield if i push to hard into 1st (usually in the cold morning) or push to hard into 5th. i've got a set of sparco gloves on order from horsepowerfreaks, but you could give this store a shot: www.ogracing.com, they are on the east coast instead of in the west coast like most stores are, and i believe they carry their own inventory. i've found that driving with gloves in any weather helps with your grip on the steering wheel and shift ****. i've also PMed twm about the spacers on one of the other mazda forums, seeing if i can get a more personal response.
-meGrimlock

kargoboy

Hmmm, driving gloves---I could use a new pair.

scotty878

I think once I get a few extra dollars, maybe I'll order a nice pair of gloves! One pair of Sparco's was like $150! Wouldnt get them, but damn!

Also, when you get a responce from TWM, let me know, as I'd be interested aswell. Thanks.

meGrimlock

sorry i forgot to update: i got a response from twm, they said they dont normally sell the spacers. however, they did offer to sell them to me for $10 + $10 shipping/handling. so $20 total, not too expensive, but i think i'll hold off till spring. they also said you could probably make spacers on your own with a bunch of washers & 2 M6 x 30 bolts from a hardware store. with my luck i'll mess that up real bad so i might just email them for the spacers.

also, i said earlier i'm getting a noticable vibration noise coming from the shifter area whenever i lift off the gas pedal or sometimes when i lift my foot off the clutch near the engagement point. i dont think its the heatshield making the noise. any thoughts? should i regrease the ball joint and see if it makes any difference?
-meGrimlock

pass the peas

You installed the stiffer bushings, right? That's probably where your vibes are coming from.

meGrimlock

hmmm...so the stiffness translates to more noticable vibration. i guess the old rubber bushings absorbed most of it to begin with. thanks.

amrit

Hey meGrimlock, that shifter looks kind wierd how it's not shaped like a ball on top but I like how it's short and how it got the gear numbers on it. Looks really hawt! BTW, you got an Alpine player too? I've got the dva9860.

meGrimlock

thanks, its a stock mazdaspeed protege shifter from the later iterations. i wanted a leather shifter that was an exact fit and it was one of my 1st choices. i like the ball shaped shifter better because its easier to hold on to during shifting, but this one doesn't disappoint. i have the alpine cda-9851 or something like that, but i wish i had the 9855 so i can change the color of the face to match the protege's red gauges & dash lights. my friend has that one, but he's found the glidetouch to be a pain. i wish alpine made a double DIN dvd/satnav/lcd monitor cuz thats what i'd really like.
-meGrimlock

amrit

Yeah I know what you mean. Mine can't change colors either, unless I missed something in the manual and somehow the manufacturers don't always make what consumers want until after you've already bought something else.