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

PASHN8 · Postby **PASHN8** » Mon Mar 17, 2008 4:14 pm

Hey guys,

After googling and searching on here I couldn't seem to find a definitive answer to this question.

Basically i'm after a quality short shifter in both stick height AND throw/travel between gears that is a direct replacement for my standard shifter in my SE.

Anyone know where I can get one and how much?

Cheers!
Dino.

Steampunk · Postby **Steampunk** » Mon Mar 17, 2008 4:25 pm

This is the only one that i found, but I am highly suspicious cause of 2 things:
1) it looks exactly like the one for the 5-speed
2) the gearstick does not have a chunky top-half like the standard ones. I would think this is fairly important cause you need alot of weight up top to help shifting. The law of inertia and all that.

IL Motorsports

PASHN8 · Postby **PASHN8** » Mon Mar 17, 2008 4:34 pm

Hmm, is this for early or late 6-speeds?

wun911 · Postby **wun911** » Mon Mar 17, 2008 5:46 pm

I also have a 6spd NB...

I would probably only trust a mazda speed one...

If there is a GB I would be interested...

PASHN8 · Postby **PASHN8** » Mon Mar 17, 2008 11:16 pm

Hey Wun,

Problem is with this, is that no one can confirm if the Mazdaspeed one will fit the later 6-speed box, I would buy one if it did!

pcmx5 · Postby **pcmx5** » Tue Mar 18, 2008 7:57 am

[quote="1red5"]This is the only one that i found, but I am highly suspicious cause of 2 things:
1) it looks exactly like the one for the 5-speed
2) the gearstick does not have a chunky top-half like the standard ones. I would think this is fairly important cause you need alot of weight up top to help shifting. The law of inertia and all that.

My(early 6 speed)- Simpson shifter is also just a straight shaft, I had to build it up with some hose and sealant so that the shift boots fitted snugly.

Peter

Steampunk · Postby **Steampunk** » Tue Mar 18, 2008 9:24 am

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?

AB7 · Postby **AB7** » Tue Mar 18, 2008 10:44 am

AFAIK the only one that make short shift for 6 speed is Simpson Design.

http://www.simpsondesign.net/short_shifter2.htm

They have mixed review, this is due to a delron pivot ball that they are using. Most of the 5 speed ones is made off metal. Delron is like plastic and it will wear out in time...however Tom from FFS reckon they are the goods. He lost count the number of his customer whom replaced their worn out SD stick with the same one...so they must be good.

Peter, do you have any other problem with the install?

Benny · Postby **Benny** » Tue Mar 18, 2008 12:51 pm

I have an IL short shifter on my SP, and it's fantastic!

Would never want to go back to a normal shifter again.

pcmx5 · Postby **pcmx5** » Tue Mar 18, 2008 1:41 pm

I got mine direct from Jim Simpson,(Simpson Design) a great guy but doesn't take Paypal. About $180 including a peddle set I think from memory,landed

No problems on the install except building up the shaft to make the boot a snug fit.

I felt it improved the quality and range of movement, but then drove Chris Hoskin\"s NB8C with a standard set up and shorter knob and it felt much the same!!

Peter

Casey · Postby **Casey** » Tue Mar 18, 2008 2:02 pm

Benny wrote:I have an IL short shifter on my SP, and it's fantastic!

Would never want to go back to a normal shifter again.

I just took my short shifter out. Now I have a Voo Doo Bob gearknob, the combination of the two was too much.

Therefore:

Short Shifter + normal gearknob =

Normal Shifter + Voo Doo =

Short shifter + Voo Doo =

Steampunk · Postby **Steampunk** » Tue Mar 18, 2008 2:12 pm

Short Shifter + Skunk2 .... ? :wink:

Now you see why I was very unhappy that the second round of my group buy did not eventuate?

AB7 · Postby **AB7** » Tue Mar 18, 2008 2:17 pm

Casey wrote:I just took my short shifter out. Now I have a Voo Doo Bob gearknob, the combination of the two was too much.

Therefore:

Short Shifter + normal gearknob =
Normal Shifter + Voo Doo =
Short shifter + Voo Doo =

Casey, what's wrong with SS + Voodo?

pcmx5 · Postby **pcmx5** » Tue Mar 18, 2008 2:58 pm

Chris has a Voodoo and its works great with his box and i would agree that further reduction in travel by having both SS and Voodoo may be too much;I still feel that the Simpson design improved my shift quality, which was never as good as Chris's..

Peter.