Short shifter to suit 2004/2005 MX-5 SE 6-speed?

[Casey]

Casey, what's wrong with SS + Voodo?

As Peter said, it just becomes too short where the potential to miss gears (hitting the gate?) etc becomes a problem. I also had terrible trouble selecting reverse - didn't matter if the gearbox was warm or not. While it was fine 95% of the time, the rest of the time it was a PITA.

Now with the Voo Doo it is back to where it was with the original SP gearknob and short shifter, which is just about perfect.

So there are no SE's owners who have a short shifter in their car or know where to get one?

All this NA/NB talk is making me jealous!

SE is a NB is a SP

[PASHN8]

SE 6-speed does not equal an SP or NB8B/C 6-speed does it? I thought the consensus is the late 6-speeds are different?

I can't seem to find any definitive info regarding this which seems to be the problem!

[Casey]

As far as I know the 10AE six speed is different. Not sure about the rest.

[TieNN89]

So what's the difference with early 6-speed and later 6-speed? 2 notches on the stick in the later 6-speed?

I've seen the gearstick housings for a few NB's (not sure which models) and the notch faces the driver correct? whereas NA's face the front.
Or was it NC's that have the notch on the driver side.
Either way, there is not that many out there for ANY 6-speeders.

Peter where did you get your Simpson one?

1red5 I'm pretty sure my nb8a has two notches one towards the front and one towards the back

[Mick93]

I have a six speed in my NA and I have just got a IL short shift for it. It is fantastic it will make selecting reverse harder but even my 41kg 4'11\" girlfriend can do it. There is differences between a 5 speed and a six speed they are only very small but enough.The height of the spacers are different so is the difference in length from the pivot to the ball, my dad (who is an engo) started drawing picture and making force diagrams and I switch off. So the answer is no you can only use a six speed one I could strongly recommend the IL one I had a Auto Exe 5 spd one (when my car only had 5 speeds) but it was not the same level of quality

[Steampunk]

Hmmm... so what's this talk about the 6-speed stick having 2 notchers and 2 pins? who was the one who first said it a few months ago?

If the only major difference is the spacers and distances between pivot points, then it's pretty negligible to me.
I shall take a look at the gearboxes at MX5Plus this Saturday, if he's open, and confirm.

[pcmx5]

Ired,me!

My NA8A shifter had one pin and one slot(or notch) to take it;my 10AE 6sp gearbox (and from my understanding all 6 speeds) has 2 pins/slots.

Some of the 6 speeds have other (not yet defined) differences according to suppliers who consistently say that the SS for early and later cars are different .

Peter.

[Steampunk]

Ah ok.
So you confirm there are 2 notches and 2 pins whilst others are not sure. I'm taking your word for it.

[Mick93]

I just had a look at my old 6 speed one, two slots so there is two pins. You have to remember these gearboxes are completely different. There not even made by the same companies. The difference in spacers makes all the difference and you will only be able to check it if you have both short shift kits as they supply the spacer with the kit. with the kits I had both at the same time thats how I knew there was a difference. We just don't want you to waste your money buying something that won't work. Most companies that make a 5sp one make a 6sp one whats the issue????

[Casey]

Mine was a universal one ('89-'05) off eBay with a single pin in the spacer collar and correspondingly only a single slot in the shift pivot ball. However, universal is not universal. For the NB8B 6 speed you need to move the pin on the collar 180 degrees from its original position (presumably for the 5 speed box). This involved drilling and tapping a new thread for the screw-in pin.

So - it seems that for this short shift both the 5 speed and NB8B 6 speed only have a single pin, however it required modification to fit the 6 speed. The short shifters with two slots in the shifter pivot ball probably allow fitment to either gearbox just by allowing use of one slot against the pin or the other.

Also - if memory serves me the pin should go closest to the stereo to ensure the selector pattern on the gearknob ends right-way-up. Or was it the other way...... Test fit everything first before replacing all the trim