[planetSlowCar1]

First off, is there an RL specific short shifter and who makes it? If not, the Sunfire and Cavalier 5 speeds look identical and I'm sure the regular Ion is probably the same too, so do the short shifters for those cars work?

And does anyone have basic instructions for the install (mostly for getting the stock one out). If its like typical new cars I'm guessing the whole interior needs to be gutted to take the boot off.

 

[Aeain]

We already have a short throw shifter.

 

[Sp00ner]

We already have a short throw shifter.

We really don't have a true short throw, we have a shortER throw, but it's still not a good solid short throw like people are used to. I like it fine, but I have one for my Camaro that's not installed yet, B&M, and it move like an inch, if even, for each gear. Feels like you're not moving your hand at all.

 

[Sp00ner]

First off, is there an RL specific short shifter and who makes it? If not, the Sunfire and Cavalier 5 speeds look identical and I'm sure the regular Ion is probably the same too, so do the short shifters for those cars work?

And does anyone have basic instructions for the install (mostly for getting the stock one out). If its like typical new cars I'm guessing the whole interior needs to be gutted to take the boot off.

Perhaps you could email a few of the tranny/shifter companies, or possibly the guy at Gravana tuning, he's pretty good on these questions. I'm not sure who exactly to ask, someone here said they ordered one for a Getrag and installed it, but that confused me since we don't have one.

 

[Aeain]

Our shifter is shorter than most cars. Only cars who beat us in my experience (mostly Sitting in cars at autoshows) is the C6 Corvette, S2000, and Mazdaspeed Miata.

Notably bad throws are the SRT-4(Long) and Scion TC.(Somewhat Choppy)

 

[unknownsuperhero]

The reg ion/cavi/sunfire/cobalt (not SS) are all diferent. As far as I know there is not a specific short(er) [there you go Aeain]. I am sure eventually one will be out, but aftermaket . . . well just plain sucks right now (except the K&N )

 

[Sp00ner]

Our shifter is shorter than most cars. Only cars who beat us in my experience (mostly Sitting in cars at autoshows) is the C6 Corvette, S2000, and Mazdaspeed Miata.

Notably bad throws are the SRT-4(Long) and Scion TC.(Somewhat Choppy)

The C5-C6 Vettes have beautiful short shifters, couldnt buy a better one to me...

 

[[DeVo]]

This is from the www.gmdelta.com forums. The guy who posted it owns carcustoms.net - his name is karo, and he's been around in the j-body (cav/sunfire) world for quite some time. Really well known and reputable.

"As for the Cobalt and the Ion Redline. B&M is making the shifter as we speak. I have about 50 of them on order. They have a few prototypes out and the real deal should be out with in 8-12 weeks. " - Posted March 16.

So, looks like we should have a B&M short throw in the next few months. I'm sure you can always check www.carcustoms.net to see if it is up there yet or not, or just e-mail karo (i think his addy is on the car customs page somewhere, if not, i can get it).

Hopefully that should make some people happy, i know i'll be getting it as soon as it comes out!

 

[Sp00ner]

Presale!

They're taking preorders already at Gravana, just found this!

http://www.gravanatuning.com/applic...52/_B_M_Short_Shifter_PRE_SALE_FREE_SHIPPING_

Anyone interested in a group buy after the K&N one? I might be! I like our stock one, but if the price was right!

 

[Hyperion]

Hmmm... I WOULD like a true short-throw but I'm betting installation is a bitch plus I'm not sure I'll like grabbing a 500-degree piece of aluminum on those hot summer days. We need to find out how hard it is to install, if there's a leather nob we could opt for or replace with, & if it's it's possible & practical to modify the stock shifter.

 

[Hyperion]

Dammit... this car is going to end up making me work OT to be able to get all the goodies.

 

[Sp00ner]

I've never heard of a shifter install that's incredibly complex, nor have I installed 20 of them or anything, more like 2. Usually it's just a matter of a new mounting bracket, and the shifter itself is just a different pivot point that works with the new bracket. Basically just moves the pivot up closer to your hand, so the bottom of the shifter is moving a large amount compared with the top.

 

[planetSlowCar1]

Thanks for all the fast answers.

IMO if what they have on there now is a "short shifter", I'd hate to see how long the throws on the regular Ion are. The throws on this thing are rediculous and just barely shorter than rowing a boat. If you want to see a real stock short shifter, drive a 350Z. Its just like what sp00ner discribed for his Camaro short shifter, <1" throws and only the knob sticks up. That's how a short shifter should be.


A new question. Has anyone taken it apart and looked at the stock linkage and how hard its gona be to install? Or what do you guys think about a temporary ghetto "short" shifter, dremel away..... Would that work with that reverse lift thing.

 

[Sp00ner]

Thanks for all the fast answers.

IMO if what they have on there now is a "short shifter", I'd hate to see how long the throws on the regular Ion are. The throws on this thing are rediculous and just barely shorter than rowing a boat. If you want to see a real stock short shifter, drive a 350Z. Its just like what sp00ner discribed for his Camaro short shifter, <1" throws and only the knob sticks up. That's how a short shifter should be.


A new question. Has anyone taken it apart and looked at the stock linkage and how hard its gona be to install? Or what do you guys think about a temporary ghetto "short" shifter, dremel away..... Would that work with that reverse lift thing.

I'm not too sure I'd wanna start messing around like that... you might end up with no reverse! I can handle the stock shifter just fine, no it's not a true short throw, but it's got a good firm shift, and the throw is not rediculously long or anything. If you dremel it, I think you're still going to need to fab a bracket to get the same effect. You have to lengthen the throw on the bottom, and shorten it on the top. If you could just build a new bracket, you could more than likely shorten up the throws without cutting anything else. For $150 though, the B&M is a nice unit, and it costs less than my Camaro one did, which is pretty suprising since there's a million Camaros and Mustangs that are running nearly the same short throw from them.

 

[Vita]

still on pre-order...

anyone order these?

 

[urbanmonkeygod04]

If you think our car has long throws in the shifter, drive an 89-95 Taurus SHO - truck transmission, seriously like (mildly exaggerating) 2 feet between gears. I do like cars with short-throws, I drove an SVT Contour with the short shifter before I bought the R/L and it was impressive. Honestly, I'm happy with the one we have though.

 

[Vita]

i'm happy with what we've got, but what i think we need is new shifter bushings. i've never had a short shift kit, so i don't know if they'd have them included or not.

i wouldn't complain about a shorter/smoother shift though.

i would pay for a complete shifter/bushing/linkage setup in a heartbeat

 

[Sp00ner]

What happened to the B&M shifter on Gravana.com? It seems to have vanished...

 

[Vita]

i looked at the link this morning, and it's there as pre-order, same as the other link on the first page, but gravanna's was a couple bucks more

 

[xian]

IMO if what they have on there now is a "short shifter", I'd hate to see how long the throws on the regular Ion are. The throws on this thing are rediculous and just barely shorter than rowing a boat.

The Redline is nothing compared to older Saturns. Testdriving the RL, coming from my '97 SC2, it was night and day...I really can't explain how different it was.



Xian