Imola Ghost

my shifter feels really tough to get into gears. Is there something i need to do? I tried to align the shifter while in neutral, like the write up says, but i really feels tough. Is it supposed to feel this way?

quattrofrog

Its going to require more effort... but I think you might be scraping at the bottom.. This means you need to add more spacers to elevate it higher.

I went through assembling and taking mine apart like 4 times before I really got it right and then wrote the tech article.

The spacers are what makes it work, otherwise you will make the L joint rub on the noise deadening material below it when its in the car. So you need to take it apart and see whats not working right.

Yes there will be an increase in effort in shifting, however it shouldnt be too different. Mica GTIzzy can drive my car without problems and he has difficulty with some shifters due to a disability. So in short... Keep working at it and eventually you will get the spacing correct.

Imola Ghost

where do the spacers go, i didn't see that in the write up?

Imola Ghost

<center><img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/17725/diy_short_shifter.jpg"></center><p>about how much higher does it need to go?

quattrofrog

WHen you have the shift boot off, there are 2 bolts LOOKING UP at you They hold down a rubber thing that is used to keep transmission noise to a minimum. Take that rubber thing off. THere are 2 bolts there that are attached to a couple of screws that stick up at you. The spacers go beneath the shifter's sled thing, and ON those two screws. You need to elevate the ball joint, that white ball that the shaft goes through. YES THAT, it needs to be lifted up a little bit, we do this by putting washers underneath its mounting system, So before you screw it back down you put washers beneath the piece of metal that the ball joint is attached to *you can spin this thing around and around on the ball joint* It has 2 holes, one front and one back, The holes are different sizes. OMG if you dont know what I'm talking about you are a total noob. The washers GO UNDER the ball joint's sled thing. THen you screw it down with those bolts onto the screws that stick up at you.

quattrofrog

They got crushed.... Use WASHERS and stack them up... Get 10 for each of the 2 screws (different sizes) and start out with 4 washers on each. Then add or subtract, to get the right height.

Imola Ghost

first off my assembly doesn't look like that one. I have a 99.5. so its a little different.

EDness

Go buy a strat SS...it's worth the $.

quattrofrog

you should be able to figure it out. I know its simmilar because I have seen a 99.5 2.8. So it isnt all that different, hell the shaft from the 99.5 will fit the 96.

Imola Ghost

i'll post my impressions. But so far it's VERY nice for $0.00 dollars.