Would you let someone else install a shifter?
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 20,179
Likes: 673
From: Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction.
St. Jude '03 thru '24
The process is fairly straight forward. Anyone with some general mechanical aptitude and capable of reading should be able to be successful.
Save your money and take your wifey/gf out to dinner.
Save your money and take your wifey/gf out to dinner.
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 158
Likes: 29
From: N. Florida
I'd do it myself. Last weekend I installed my MGW shifter and it took around four hours. However, I was very careful with the plastic dash components, installed new shifter box bushings, chased the threads with cleaner taps, and adjusted the box position as carefully/precise as possible. In the process on reassembly I adjusted the dash/console components with an eye to fit, and was able to achieve a far better result than what I started with.
What it basically boils down to IMHO you'll treat your own car far better than anyone else, so why not? As I drive down the road I'm not concerned if someone else did a thorough correct job, used the factory torque specs, applied Loctite, etc, etc. If they aren't charging anything to do the work they might not take the same degree if time and care you would. Most here will probably laugh at taking half a day to do this simple job, but the satisfaction for me anyway is worth it.
Good luck with whatever decision you make and enjoy the shifter. It's certainly the best modification I've made to my car.
What it basically boils down to IMHO you'll treat your own car far better than anyone else, so why not? As I drive down the road I'm not concerned if someone else did a thorough correct job, used the factory torque specs, applied Loctite, etc, etc. If they aren't charging anything to do the work they might not take the same degree if time and care you would. Most here will probably laugh at taking half a day to do this simple job, but the satisfaction for me anyway is worth it.
Good luck with whatever decision you make and enjoy the shifter. It's certainly the best modification I've made to my car.
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Drifting
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 1,256
Likes: 157
From: Pennsylvania
I was a technician for ford for 2 years and Mazda for 5 then spent 2 years at e one manufacturing fire trucks. The problem is I know what is in those shops and have little trust letting others work on my vehicle. This is mainly because I was one of the better techs and had to fix a lot of others mistakes because they did not have the ability to. The best thing you can do is build a relationship with your service crew. Talk to the Technican but do not stand over his shoulder. When they recognize a car with a owner and you request the same Technican every time you are there it adds accountability and the quality of work will increase.
Running Guns & Moonshine
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 12,671
Likes: 7,304
From: CT
If you're trusting them to do the drive train, then I'd trust them with the shifter. You can always go back and check it. It's a pretty brainless install. But then... I usually have enough common sense to get away with it.
