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So I have owned this shifter for close to a year and a half and never installed it because everytime I read the directions I get turned off... Well I had some time this weekend and figured Id give it another shot...
Ive gotten everything done except trying to push the pin OUT of the gear shift rod that runs from the bottom of the shifter to the top of the trans... I released the spring clip and have been hitting the pin with a drift and hammer with no luck... Ive hit it with penetrating lube and heat... and nothing is working... do any of you have any experience with this... Im starting to get extremely agrivated. I just want this to pin out! Once I get past this the rest will be a breeze...
It would be nice if there was some kind of press to use. Some folks have resorted to drilling them out - sometimes just a bit of drilling can get it to spin and come loose. But if it gets boogered up, it's an odd size to replace - 7mm, I believe. I lucked out when I did mine - just a couple of taps and it was out.
AHAHA! Yeah man.. this was rediculous... It took the better part of 4 hours to get this done. The supplied pin that is inserted through the rod and the bottom of the shifter was WAY too big so I reused the stock one and mushroomed the head to be sure it wouldnt slide out... also putting the rubber boot back over the shift rod was a pain...
All I have to say is that this better be worth it... WHAT A PITA!!!!
I can tell you my throws are all ready 99.999999999999% shorter... thats pretty cool at least! Now I dont have to go for a row boat ride every time I take my car out
It's a shame they didn't come with the short shifter from the factory - makes for much more enjoyable driving. My install had its own problems - removing the boot on top of the transmission was a nightmare, as it had all kinds of glue on it, and no room to get at it from underneath. Took me about a half hour just to clean the goo off of it once I got it out.
I think you will find it very worth it. I've had mine on for about 3 years now, and was worth the time it took to install, twice. I didnt tighten the bottom nut and bolt properly, and it fell out after about a week of driving. I was stuck in 3rd gear, luckly I did make it home without frying the clutch.
I've got one that's been sitting in a box for a while too... I don't remember how far I got but I remember I didn't get the old one off either. Did you have to go at yours from underneath at all?? remove exhaust or anything???
having driven both the B&M I would say is slightly shorter but requires a fair amount more effort than the Hurst. I've got a B&M in mine and tbh after shifting for a while when normal driving it does become a bit of a PITA - Powershifting is lovely and just spot on with the feel though.
I've got one that's been sitting in a box for a while too... I don't remember how far I got but I remember I didn't get the old one off either. Did you have to go at yours from underneath at all?? remove exhaust or anything???
Yes a small amount of work has to be done from underneath... But I did not have to drop the exhaust... I did it all with the exhaust in place! But I also do not have the stock exhaust system... The stock system might require you to lower everything...
I found a thread with good pics on this forum! I will have to find it and post it up here...
How does it feel. I'm debating on getting a hurst or b&m.
I havent driven it yet... But in the car it seems to feel exactly like what dan just stated below!
Originally Posted by dan_t
having driven both the B&M I would say is slightly shorter but requires a fair amount more effort than the Hurst. I've got a B&M in mine and tbh after shifting for a while when normal driving it does become a bit of a PITA - Powershifting is lovely and just spot on with the feel though.
I've driven both and greatly prefer the B&M over the Hurst. As much of a PITA it is to replace the shifter, I want it to be worth the effort! It can be a little stiff to get in gear sometimes, but when you consider how much mechanical advantage you gave up, it's understandable.
Some people complain that the B&M is really clunky whereas the Hurst and the stock ones are silky. Again it boils down to mechanical advantage.
The B&M was the first mod I ever did to my car and probably the most appreciated. A friend of mine bought a '92 just like mine some years ago. We were at the track and he wanted me to drive his car. I went to slam his from 2nd to 3rd gear and punched the dash. I'm not real sure how, because I usually just slap it forward with my palm, but somehow I had my fingers wrapped around the front of it. As a scary side note, my fingers are nowhere near the dash when the car is in third gear normally. This means that in order for me to have punched his dash the stock shifter had to bend! I've heard stories of them actually breaking.
This same friend has since replaced his with a B&M as well.
I like the feel of the Hurst really disliked the B&M, too high of effort and just didnt feel "natural", like it wasnt all the way in each gear.
Personal preference.
Good luck finding a Hurst I hear they are discontinued and the ones out there are getting big $....To think I sold a brand new one 2 weeks ago for $150
Talk to ZF Doc, he can mod a stock one reasonable shorten up the throw and keep the reverse lockout.