I have seen a few shortened auto shifters out there...I was wondering if it's a custom job or if there is a manufacturer out there that makes one. Anybody have the answer?

 

Ttt

 

Since there is little performance advantage,

can you elaborate why one would need a short A4 shifter?

 

It puts your knuckles into the radio everytime you put it in park.

I think it could be done but the shaft will require some internal machining. I haven't really looked at it but it is a nuisence. Some day I will do something about it.

 

Cause it just looks bada$$

This was posted in the C4 Cockpit Pics thread...

 

Yep,it does.I did mine but I need a bushing to complete the job.

 

Tell us the complete process on how you did it.

 

 

Its not as easy as I thought it would be.Its been a few years since I did this so cant remember the process in detail.There is a stamped type jobber that holds the shifter together that need to be drilled out to get the whole thing apart.I cut 2 inches out of the handle,beveled both ends and welded it bach together but before I welded it back together I used a piece of rod through the middle of the handle to keep it true while I welded it back together.Theres a part of the process that really stumped me but right now I cant remember what it was.Ill have to dig everything out and look at it.These shifter handles can be found for next to nothing,Get one and see how its put together,theres really nothing to the handle.I just found the shortened shaft,Ill get a picture and post it soon.

 

This is my car...

It wasn't that hard to shorten. I actually did it while it was in the car.

You need to remove the trim around the shifter.

1) Get an old sheet or something similar and cut a hole in it to fit around the shifter.
2) Remove the center button by gently prying it up with a small flathead screwdriver.
3) The **** is held on with a snapring that you must get off using whatever method you can. I used snapring pliers and a flathead screwdriver. You probably won't be using it again so if it gets bent don't worry.
4) Once you pull the snapring off, then the **** should pull off. (I had to work with it to pull it up.)
5) After the **** is off you will see what the outer and inner shafts look like. You must cut both of them and then make a notch so it looks like it does now.
6) Measure the difference between the inner shaft and outer shaft. Then decide how low you want the shift **** to be. At this point it is personal preference AND you must "eyeball" the measurement since there is no real way to measure it acurately.
7) Once you decide how low you want it, then take some sort of cutting tool (dremel, air cutting tool, etc.) and cut the outer shaft to the proper length. This is where the sheet comes it to protect your interior from sparks and metal.
8) After you cut the outer shaft, then cut the inner shaft so that it sticks up a little higher (per your measurements earlier).
9) Then you have to cut a notch in the outer shaft so the **** will fit back on. I cut mine a little smaller so the **** was hard to push on and therefore will stay on without the snapring.
10) Push the center button back in.

Reinstall trim around shifter. To get the shift boot to clear the new shortened shifter, push it through the the trimwork (turning it inside out) then push it back through with the top part still pushed in on itself. This may not sound clear, but it will be when you are doing it.

That's it. Any questions, send me a PM or email.

 

wow, that doesn't sound too bad. Thanks so much for the info. Looks like I have a fun weekend project in the near future...hmmm, now where did that dremel go...

 

Hi heres some pics of my 92' that i altered the shift **** shaft and replaced the original with this Momo shift ****. I had to cut 2 1/2" off the length easily done with a plumbers pipe cutter. Then the shaft in the middle i cut as well as i could with side cutters, then just bent it back anf fourth and it broke where i needed it, i had to come up with some idea to lower the shift **** because when my video screen comes out of the dash it was hitting the shift **** so i had to customize it. I found the shift **** on Ebay. Hope this helps

 

Since I have received requests for this info in the past, I just added my instructions to the tech tips section.

 

 

works better shortened!!

 

Well, I got it done. Took 1.5 inches out, now it looks perfect and allows full access to the radio. I did the weld option--cut the end off with a dremel (7 discs and 45 minutes later it was off), then I cut out an inch and a half (this time using a pipe cutter which sliced through the shaft in about 2 minutes), then I welded the original shaft end back on.

 

Just done this as well. Took 2.25 inches out, now it looks great and now with my arm on the arm rest my hand is right on the shifter **** feels nice...allows full access to the radio and more room around the cup holders.

I did used a pipe cutter which sliced through the shaft in a few minutes, then I groved a ring at the end for the snap ring. Filed the inside of the **** round. Cut the inner shaft so that it sticks up a little higher than the measurments that I made earlier. My measure 7/8 I added a 1/4 to it now my button sets up a little higher than before and easier to push.

 

Sweet, you guys should post pics up! I don't think I could do it...LOL.