To Install or Not to Install?

[Rush1204]

So, here's the deal. After reading countless testimonials from people on this site about how excellent the MGW short-throw shifter is, I decided to take the plunge. I got it today, and right out of the box, it looks like an amazing piece of craftsmanship. But where to go from here?

I'm torn between taking the kit and my car to the local speedshop, or trying to do the installation myself. Admittedly, I'm a newbie. But I'm desperate to learn, and I think I pick up things pretty quickly. I really want to know the ins and outs of the car, and I want to be able to take pride in knowing how the thing works.

With that being said, I'm not pumped about the prospect of screwing up my beautiful car. I'm sure there was a time at which even YOU guys were newbs (hard to believe, but it must be true). Advice? Suggestions?

 

[Edbert]

I'm sure there was a time at which even YOU guys were newbs (hard to believe, but it must be true). Advice? Suggestions?

I'm not much help I know but here's the truth...when I was new to turning a wrench I had no choice since I could barely afford my parts, there was no way I could afford to pay someone to install them too. Where I had a major advantage over you is that back in the day when I was learning about cars the ones I owned were made in the 1960s. They were MUCH simpler to work on, in fact I bet I could strip an entire 1967 Mustang with a good set of sockets/wrenches, and maybe a screwdriver or two

I say go for it, you'll never learn until you start. I'm betting the hardest part of the shifter install is getting the console out, I've never taken mine out but I'm betting there's hidden fasteners and clips that need to be dealt with.

 

[Sogwap55]

I would say go for it and just take your time and be careful. I was in the same boat a few years ago, had a pro 5.0 shifter for my then 99 GT, and no money to install so even though I didn't know how to change oil then, I took a day and figured it out.

It wasn't until after I took it for a test drive that I discovered I had set it too high and couldn't shift to third at all. lol. Good thing I hadn't put it all back together yet then

 

[IresGift]

I'll speak for my nephew, who normally posts here, but is currently moving to Louisiana.

I guess you could say he was a "newb" himself when it came to repair or maintenance on his ride, but after watching the DVD and reading various write-ups, in addition to having all the right tools, jack, jackstands, etc; his MGW install went extremely well and he learned alot about his car. I'll also humbly mention that he did the install in less time than I did and I had help!

My recommendation is to study all the directions on the install, have all the right tools, take your time and it will ultimately be a rewarding experience. Have some beer on hand afterwards

 

[Steel Horse]

Definitly do it yourself.
I installed mine on the garage floor with jackstands. The install is very easy to do. The hardest part for me was bolting the front arm to the transmission. I was very uncoordinated that night.
Just be patient and take your time. I'll tell you like I do everyone else. Be careful when installing the Dynamat. The edges are like razorblades and if you aren't careful you will be a bloody mess like I was.

Edbert: the console is very easy to get out. 2 screws and lift in the back and it pops the 2 clips up front.

Oh, don't worry about screwing your car up. It isn't possible when installing an MGW. It makes the car much more fun to drive.
If you have any questions you can always come back here and ask.

 

[DarkFireGT]

Definitely do it yourself. Aside from a CAI, a shifter is one of the easiest things to install.

 

[TBrad]

If you don't want to take a tech. class.
You don't have any friends that are mechanics.
No other way to learn besides tearing into it yourself.


On-line forums can be very helpful..

 

[GreyDiesel]

I used to work in a garage when I was 16. I mainly just changed headlights and drove cars in and out of the bays, but I did watch a lot of the guys as they repaired cars. Here is the thing, you might be better off doing it yourself, because you actually care about your car. To the guys at a shop, it is work. They are more concerned about what they are eating for lunch, than doing your shifter install correctly, and so likely they are going to be much more rough with the install than yourself. Also, unless you can find a shop and a mechanic that has done a lot of shifter installs, whoever ends up doing the work is likely just going to watch the install video and try to replicate it, just like what you would do.

Of course, there is a lot to be said for experience, things like knowing how to unstuck a stuck bolt, not stripping bolts, etc. But again... a shifter install is actually not that difficult, so it will probably go to the greenest tech anyhow.

 

[clintster77]

I'm a newbie. But I'm desperate to learn, and I think I pick up things pretty quickly. I really want to know the ins and outs of the car, and I want to be able to take pride in knowing how the thing works

But I'm desperate to learn,

With that attitude you will be fine if you take your time and follow instructions.

Having the desire to do it is half the battle won.

 

[Rush1204]

Excellent. Man, I wouldn't know what to do with myself if I had this kind of encouragement on a regular basis. Next question: should I apply to law school? Seriously, thanks for the help.
Posted via Mobile Device

 

[darien87]

Glad you decided to do it yourself.

I just put a shifter in my 07 a couple of months ago. Installing a shifter isn't hard at all. It just takes some time. Definitely jack the car up as high as you can. I wasn't able to get mine higher than the lowest height on my jack stands, and lying under my car with the drive shaft right in my face was no fun. The hardest part for me was removing the two 10mm nuts that hold the shifter retaining bracket to the underside of the car. You barely have enough room to squeeze a socket wrench in there, so it takes FOREVER because you can only get about one click out of the wrench per turn.

I'm not sure about the MGW, but with my shifter, you didn't even have to take out the console. The old shifter just pulls right up out of the hole in the console. Like I said, it's not hard, it can just be time consuming, because of the lack of room to work with. Your knuckles will look like hamburger afterwards, but you'll have that awesome sense of self satisfaction that comes from working on your own car.

 

[clintster77]

Glad you decided to do it yourself.

I'm not sure about the MGW, but with my shifter, you didn't even have to take out the console. The old shifter just pulls right up out of the hole in the console. Like I said, it's not hard, it can just be time consuming, because of the lack of room to work with. Your knuckles will look like hamburger afterwards, but you'll have that awesome sense of self satisfaction that comes from working on your own car.

the guy I helped ( I only helped with the tool retrieval and cutting the dyno matt )but he did remove the center console . I am not sure if it was necessary to because I also have helped with a Hurst shifter and we got it in without removing the console .

The MGW guy loves his and the Hurst guy had problems with his and put his stock one back in . So whatever brand you go with I would not go with a Hurst . That is the only experience I have with either .