Best bang for buck mod ever??

davekmoore · Postby **davekmoore** » Thu Apr 03, 2014 10:47 pm

BARMY the SE has had a fair bit of work done, especially after I exploded him at Winton last year. An early mod was a (not cheap) short shifter kit. Used that while I did 75,000kms repping around country Vic in only a year and subsequently three seasons on the track and more normal ks on the road. Loved it, including the extra effort and the tiny movements, both of which meant I was the only family member who'd drive the car, which was a further bonus. The only downside was the need for a lot of effort and occasional inaccuracies (aka user error) when changing down under heavy braking on the track.

Recently thought I'd try one of these http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/161160800399 ... 1439.l2649

Now I know there will be forumites who'll tell me I could have bought the same thing in Oz for less etc etc, but maybe I just like to support the UK occasionally? It does seem to need help after all.

Gotta tell ya the combo of short shifter plus this cheap-as-chips extension plus a heavy Voodoo knob works just great. Knife thru butter stuff, click click, exact feel for when a gear is engaged (or not), and the knob is nearer the steering wheel, which will be good if I ever get The Beast back on the track, where I reckon downchanging under heavy braking will be more reliable and quicker.

A small further advantage is the extension seems to stop some of the heat from the gearbox reaching the metal gearknob.

No affiliation with the seller. Not looking to organise a group buy or to take a commission (please note Mr M). Just my opinions.

I'll appreciate others' opinions please on how to make a bush to cover the top of the leather gaiter that used to fit the bottom of the gearknob perfectly but now flaps about on the thinner lever extension. Or maybe I just "re-engineer" the leather gaiter? Also the previous occasional buzz from the lower bush at the top of the turret is now worse and more frequent because of the longer leverage. Any thoughts from anyone who has previously sorted such issues?

Postby **NitroDann** » Thu Apr 03, 2014 10:51 pm

TLDR:

Was it this?

davekmoore · Postby **davekmoore** » Thu Apr 03, 2014 10:58 pm

On the back bumper?

kenson · Postby **kenson** » Thu Apr 03, 2014 11:03 pm

No helpful advice, but I think that was the second thing I did on my SE after the intake.
I bought from here: http://garagestar.com/shop/shift_extender_275.html

I don't have a short shifter kit but it definitely made it easier (more leverage) to shift! And now that I think about it, probably the cheapest thing I've done.
So I agree, pretty good!

Postby **NitroDann** » Thu Apr 03, 2014 11:05 pm

Add lightness, go nuts

Postby **NitroDann** » Thu Apr 03, 2014 11:11 pm

The extender is great by the way, I have built a few of them, patricks very quick NA has had one since the turbo setup change we did a back then. Needs a shift shifter to go with it but yeh. 100% agreed.

Dann

TTT · Postby **TTT** » Fri Apr 04, 2014 10:52 am

any links to local places to purchase both extender and short shifter (for NA if it matters)?

Magpie · Postby **Magpie** » Fri Apr 04, 2014 11:31 am

extender - OMGPham can make them I think or NitroDann

short shifter - Whilst not local you cannot go past the MiataRoadster short shifter! I would also suiggest that you go the tall/angled version as there is no need for an extender.

Lokiel · Postby **Lokiel** » Fri Apr 04, 2014 1:08 pm

Magpie wrote:extender - OMGPham can make them I think or NitroDann

short shifter - Whilst not local you cannot go past the MiataRoadster short shifter! I would also suiggest that you go the tall/angled version as there is no need for an extender.

+1 - the tall/angled miataroadster shifter is what you want. I've had both the short and tall versions and the tall version is much easier to change gears.

miataroadster also sells an extender for the short version but that has been known to slip around when used on the track or for autoX work.

PS: Do you really want this:

- "the Boyz" will think you've only had one root since there's only one notch on the gearstick!

hks_kansei · Postby **hks_kansei** » Sat Apr 05, 2014 8:12 am

Best mod on mine was getting a seat with torn fabric etc.

looks sh*t, but means I don't need to crane my neck to fit in the damn thing

Magpie · Postby **Magpie** » Sat Apr 05, 2014 12:50 pm

Best bang for buck, the driver loosing 25kg!

Postby **Okibi** » Sun Apr 06, 2014 12:19 pm

davekmoore wrote:...I'll appreciate others' opinions please on how to make a bush to cover the top of the leather gaiter that used to fit the bottom of the gearknob perfectly but now flaps about on the thinner lever extension...

A bit of rubber hose over the extension should fatten it out enough for the gater to stay up, stick a washer on top of the hose it if needs to be wider.

davekmoore · Postby **davekmoore** » Mon Apr 07, 2014 9:20 pm

Okibi wrote:
davekmoore wrote:...I'll appreciate others' opinions please on how to make a bush to cover the top of the leather gaiter that used to fit the bottom of the gearknob perfectly but now flaps about on the thinner lever extension...

A bit of rubber hose over the extension should fatten it out enough for the gater to stay up, stick a washer on top of the hose it if needs to be wider.

Genius is often simple. This is simple. And genius. Used not hosepipe but some spare rubber tubing with enough heating duct tape to make it an exact fit to the extension. Thanks Okibi.

Mine is a clone of the one in the photo above by the way.

JBT · Postby **JBT** » Tue Apr 08, 2014 5:44 am

Magpie wrote:Best bang for buck, the driver loosing 25kg!

I'll be interested to see if I do better after my recent 10 kg loss. Very cheap mod too - less food and beer = money saved. Going for a walk = less fuel, fitness, more lightness and more money saved. :mrgreen: