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  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-

homemade short shifter??

  • Thread starter Thread starter red93gthb
  • Start date Start date Dec 6, 2008
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red93gthb

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Nov 1, 2008
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Suwanee, Georgia
Dec 6, 2008
#1
  • Dec 6, 2008
  • #1
have any of y'all ever shortened the stock shifter from a mustang. i want to do this with my stock shifter but haven't found any write ups. can y'all post pics?
 

Mustang5L5

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell
Mod Dude
Feb 18, 2001
43,222
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Massachusetts
Dec 6, 2008
#2
  • Dec 6, 2008
  • #2
Just buy a handle.

I forget who made it, but i bought a short handle on EBay with no rubber bushings. I bolted it to my stock base and it was a HUGE improvement. I got it for like $5 on ebay.

It was something like this

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Tri-...itemZ270313138158QQptZOtherQ5fVehicleQ5fParts
 
D

Deleted member 87397

Dec 6, 2008
#3
  • Dec 6, 2008
  • #3
Someone did this to their stocker not too long ago but I can't remember if it was here or another forum I visit. I'll have to look around.
 

5.0Droptop

...all those nights we shared, and you're a dude??
Special Agent Mukity-Muck Whats in Charge Round Here
May 15, 2002
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Dec 6, 2008
#4
  • Dec 6, 2008
  • #4
I took a stock handle cut off the threads then cut off the handle as short as possible welded the threads back on and I have a very short handle now.

This is not a Short throw shifter as they are designed to actualy change the travel of the shifter. This is just a short handled shifter.


View attachment 286493
View attachment 286495
View attachment 286497
 

stykthyn

I want to measure mine. It doesn't look that tall.
15 Year Member
Jul 6, 2006
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gainesville
Dec 6, 2008
#5
  • Dec 6, 2008
  • #5
looks like it is in need of some viagra
 

Gearbanger 101

Straight Outta Locash
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Dec 6, 2008
#6
  • Dec 6, 2008
  • #6
I did the same, but keep in mind when you get rid of the stock rubber bushings, its going to vibrate like crazy. That and if you continuously bang the gears hard, you risk bending your shift forks.....which is going to get you nothing but an expensive rebuild.

For what an aftermarket shifter costs now a days....especially used, its not worth the time, aggravation and possible broken parts of trying to build your own.
 
Y

youngkow

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Sep 16, 2007
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#7
  • Dec 6, 2008
  • #7
Pretty much 5.0drop hit it on the head. On the other hand, has anyone seen a longer handled shifter? I would like to move my hand the least amount of distance from the steering wheel to shift.
 

stykthyn

I want to measure mine. It doesn't look that tall.
15 Year Member
Jul 6, 2006
5,232
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gainesville
Dec 6, 2008
#8
  • Dec 6, 2008
  • #8
the prob with a longer handle is that you will eventually hit the radio, but Steeda I think made a pretty trick piece that looked a tad longer than the stocker. it was just the handle portion. it was designed to bolt to the stock shifter base.
 

dp88

New Member
Oct 30, 2008
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Dec 6, 2008
#9
  • Dec 6, 2008
  • #9
I bent my handle into more of a continuous curve instead of the z and cut about half the threads off and i never have to lift my arm of the arm rest to hit 3rd or 5th.
 

stangster50

New Member
Nov 19, 2006
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cranston ri
Dec 6, 2008
#10
  • Dec 6, 2008
  • #10
youngkow said:
Pretty much 5.0drop hit it on the head. On the other hand, has anyone seen a longer handled shifter? I would like to move my hand the least amount of distance from the steering wheel to shift.
Click to expand...

i have a pro 5.0, didnt like the short handle.... so i welded washers to the shock handle, to take up slack, and so i didnt have to use the rubber bushings, and i have a pistol grip handle on it... its close to the wheel, and has the leverage the t-5's require.
 

1991notchbackLX

Active Member
Dec 25, 2007
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New York
Dec 6, 2008
#11
  • Dec 6, 2008
  • #11
i'm replacing my old short throw with the new SICK MGW shifter i just bought a few days ago... i won't be needing my B&M short throw shifter for the T5 any more... it's a pretty good quality shifter, accepts the stock shift knob and has the shift stops already set, cost me about 180 bucks... you can have it... just pay for shipping! PM me dude

it's this one

http://www.latemodelrestoration.com/iwwida.pvx?;item?item_no=BM-45050 1&comp=LRS

Chris
 
B

bentley429

Banned
Nov 25, 2004
528
3
0
Connecticut
Dec 7, 2008
#12
  • Dec 7, 2008
  • #12
1991notchbackLX said:
i'm replacing my old short throw with the new SICK MGW shifter i just bought a few days ago... i won't be needing my B&M short throw shifter for the T5 any more... it's a pretty good quality shifter, accepts the stock shift knob and has the shift stops already set, cost me about 180 bucks... you can have it... just pay for shipping! PM me dude

it's this one

83-00 SHIFTER, T5/T45 PRECISION SPORT MUSTANG

Chris
Click to expand...

Pay the shipping and take that. Your to nice haha.
 

SteedaGT9150

Advanced Member
Nov 10, 2004
1,351
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Dec 7, 2008
#13
  • Dec 7, 2008
  • #13
1991notchbackLX said:
i'm replacing my old short throw with the new SICK MGW shifter i just bought a few days ago... i won't be needing my B&M short throw shifter for the T5 any more... it's a pretty good quality shifter, accepts the stock shift knob and has the shift stops already set, cost me about 180 bucks... you can have it... just pay for shipping! PM me dude

it's this one

83-00 SHIFTER, T5/T45 PRECISION SPORT MUSTANG

Chris
Click to expand...

wow, the world needs more people like you
 

85_SS_302_Coupe

it sucks (I know) to be on the receiving end
15 Year Member
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Northern KY
Dec 7, 2008
#14
  • Dec 7, 2008
  • #14
Every handle i've ever had was custom made. Mine right now is loosely based off the Tri Ax handle but slightly more back towards the driver since i sit all the way back. There isn't much of a write up to it...just get out a welder and some scrap metal and make something. We used some stainless threaded rod for the thread section and some 1 inch by 1/4 inch metal strip for the arm part and bent it in a press to how i wanted it to angle towards the side, and then cut/welded the bends going back towards the rear of the car.
 

SVT32VDOHC

waiting for the next hack atta
Founding Member
Nov 22, 2001
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Dec 7, 2008
#15
  • Dec 7, 2008
  • #15
5.0Droptop said:
I took a stock handle cut off the threads then cut off the handle as short as possible welded the threads back on and I have a very short handle now.

This is not a Short throw shifter as they are designed to actualy change the travel of the shifter. This is just a short handled shifter.


View attachment 286368
View attachment 286371
View attachment 286373
Click to expand...

That is badass!!! Did it shorten up at all?

Gearbanger 101 said:
I did the same, but keep in mind when you get rid of the stock rubber bushings, its going to vibrate like crazy. That and if you continuously bang the gears hard, you risk bending your shift forks.....which is going to get you nothing but an expensive rebuild.

For what an aftermarket shifter costs now a days....especially used, its not worth the time, aggravation and possible broken parts of trying to build your own.
Click to expand...

+1. Gotta keep the rubber bushings if you do this, just like 5.0DropTop did. He should take 1991notchbackLX up on his deal. B&M shifters are around 199-219 depending on which one you get. I had one in my Cobra for 7 years, it's a great shifter.

1991notchbackLX said:
i'm replacing my old short throw with the new SICK MGW shifter i just bought a few days ago... i won't be needing my B&M short throw shifter for the T5 any more... it's a pretty good quality shifter, accepts the stock shift knob and has the shift stops already set, cost me about 180 bucks... you can have it... just pay for shipping! PM me dude

it's this one

83-00 SHIFTER, T5/T45 PRECISION SPORT MUSTANG

Chris
Click to expand...

MGW BABY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Welcome to the club. You are gonna love it!!!

P.S.....your too nice....hahaha
 

5.0Droptop

...all those nights we shared, and you're a dude??
Special Agent Mukity-Muck Whats in Charge Round Here
May 15, 2002
1,785
1,130
233
Indiana
Dec 7, 2008
#16
  • Dec 7, 2008
  • #16
SVT32VDOHC said:
That is badass!!! Did it shorten up at all?
Click to expand...

It makes it feel like it has tighter shifts, but thats because the handle is so short.
 

1991notchbackLX

Active Member
Dec 25, 2007
1,483
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48
New York
Dec 7, 2008
#17
  • Dec 7, 2008
  • #17
HAHA maybe I am too nice... but I remember what it was like to be 17 and delivering pizza trying to scrape together money to buy car parts... plus it's the holidays! as soon as he pays the shipping it'll be on its' way down to GA...

Chris
 

SVT32VDOHC

waiting for the next hack atta
Founding Member
Nov 22, 2001
3,501
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119
Motor City
Dec 7, 2008
#18
  • Dec 7, 2008
  • #18
Yeah, that's nice of you. I sold mine on Ebay.
 

NIKwoaC

中國製造
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Oct 31, 2006
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Dec 7, 2008
#19
  • Dec 7, 2008
  • #19
Gearbanger 101 said:
I did the same, but keep in mind when you get rid of the stock rubber bushings, its going to vibrate like crazy. That and if you continuously bang the gears hard, you risk bending your shift forks.....which is going to get you nothing but an expensive rebuild.

For what an aftermarket shifter costs now a days....especially used, its not worth the time, aggravation and possible broken parts of trying to build your own.
Click to expand...


+1

Knowing how finicky T5s can be, a good shifter with shift stops should be first on everybody's list of mods. The stock ones are sooo sloppy, too.
 
B

bstrd86

New Member
Oct 17, 2003
44
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0
DFW tx
Dec 7, 2008
#20
  • Dec 7, 2008
  • #20
I took about 3/4" off my B&M Ripper. When I was measuring the threads to make a shift knob (I'll be damned if I'm gonna pay $40 or more for a stinkin KNOB) I realized there was still some of the necked down shaft that wasn't threaded. I threaded it the rest of the way down & cut some off the top.
 
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