Forbidden short shifter review
11-02-2006, 06:01 PM
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Forbidden short shifter review
Backround
I've been involoved with motorsports a large part of my life, from racing r/c cars, go-karts, bicycles, and a unshakable prelude obsession for the last four years. I've been modding my 92' 4th gen for years and have gotten to the point of no return and it has turned into a car that I'll most likely keep for many years to come. Its my daily driver and auto-x attack machine. It might not be that fast with 160k on the original H23, but the milano red is flawless with no pick to be found
Now to the business of my review.
Ordering
Since I have no checking account or paypal or credit card I pm'ed 4bidden to see if a money order will do. He accepted it and I sent it off on the 13th of october, and I recived the short shifter in only ten days.
Initial impressions
As soon as the shifter arrived I torn into it like a wild animal. It was all that I expected and more. The powder coating was very uniform and the threading for the **** was well cut with very little need for cleaning of the threads. My only concern was the ball that the plastic cube attaches to had a small "drip" of powder coating that made it a little less than perfectly round (more on this later).
Installation
I knew I was going to have a new shifter and feel so I decided to go the whole nine yards and get new shifter bushings to match. I could feel a bit of slop if I turned my shift **** left and right, so figured they would help. I ordered a new plastic cube since I've read a few people have broken them during install.
I got the parts from the stellarship a week later and instantly broke the cube upon pressing it onto the ball
Off to the dealership to order another, one, er, lats make that two.
I got the cube today and preceeded to the install, this time I heated the cube up with a heat gun and used teflon ball hitch grease to lube the ball It snapped on with little effort and much less swearing.
Now to the dissassembly of the console, and everyone here knows how to do this so I won't go into it much. I got my stock shifter out along with the "topspeed" shortshifter adapter that was the evil clingon from hell.
I proceeded to install a new lower pivot ball surround and new yellow bushings and cubes. These mainly help aid in reducing the slop in the shifter and quiteness (more later).
I got all this installed with plently of the same ball hitch lube and proceeded to reinstallation. It was fairly straight foward except for the little drip was causing a few problems with getting the pivot cube to slide into the shift lever. I cured this by shaving the drip down with a razor blade and this allows the cube to fit more easily and it spins a bit more freely on the ball, but with a little more resistance than the stock fare. I actually found this benificial due to the small void (which led to slop) that the stock shifter and cube created was eliminated by the more "expanded" cube on the forbidden unit.
I got it all reinstalled and since I've eliminated the bushing between the baseplate and tranny tunnel I was able to reduce the slop even more and moved the base plate closer to the driver side to compensate for the lack of a second bend in the forbidden unit.
Feel
I tried all the postions in my car while it was in my garage. I found the middle spot to be much like my original clingon adaptor. I of course moved it into the top hole or race postion as jermey calls it. It felt much better but I didn't really notice any difference in "feel."
Driving impressions
My apprenhensions about the feel were all but erased with my first drive with the forbidden short shifter installed. It felt much more solid in the 1-2 and 3-4 shifts. Also the 2-3 and 4-5 shifts with much more smooth. And the biggest improvment I felt was the buttery smooth 4-5 shift. My first change into that gear led me to yell "DAMN!
" to myself. Where the oem shifter in a long up and over and up again move the forbidden unit is a flick of the wrist action away from a 5th gear highway beatdown. 
Also since I cut down my stock shifter, the added height of the forbidden unit helped in restoring the ease of getting the car into the gears, so I'm actually happy the lever is a nice balance between the oem unit and not too short like I did to mine. The shifts are much more easily excuited with a flick of the wrist and ALL of the notchy-ness associated with the adaptor is eliminated with the forbidden unit.
Overall
My impressions over of Jermey's prodect is one of awe, how he was able to take an OEM part and improve it as much as he did is absoultly amazing to me. I honestly believe that this is THE BEST mod I've made to my car as far as feel and connection from drive to car go. I honestly thought that the shifter was going to be a small improvement compared to my clingon short shifter adaptor but it was so much more than I expected.
If I had known what it felt like before I bought it, I would have paid twice the price, no questions asked! The bushings were just icing on the cake and added to the sti/miatia shifter like feel now in my prelude. When trying to turn the shift **** like a bottle cap there is NO slop at all. Also the weird metallic clicking noise that was coming from my old shifter is now gone. This is a huge relief due to the fact that I though I was going to have to rebuild the tranny.
Man this is the most I've typed in a long time, but I feel it in necessary to give this product an 11 out of 10 rating overall for ease of install and fitment it is an easy decision when trying to pick your next upgrade. My only regret was not ordering the cooling plate, too.
Thanks Jermey for makeing such an outstanding product! X 100
I've been involoved with motorsports a large part of my life, from racing r/c cars, go-karts, bicycles, and a unshakable prelude obsession for the last four years. I've been modding my 92' 4th gen for years and have gotten to the point of no return and it has turned into a car that I'll most likely keep for many years to come. Its my daily driver and auto-x attack machine. It might not be that fast with 160k on the original H23, but the milano red is flawless with no pick to be found
Now to the business of my review.Ordering
Since I have no checking account or paypal or credit card I pm'ed 4bidden to see if a money order will do. He accepted it and I sent it off on the 13th of october, and I recived the short shifter in only ten days.
Initial impressions
As soon as the shifter arrived I torn into it like a wild animal. It was all that I expected and more. The powder coating was very uniform and the threading for the **** was well cut with very little need for cleaning of the threads. My only concern was the ball that the plastic cube attaches to had a small "drip" of powder coating that made it a little less than perfectly round (more on this later).
Installation
I knew I was going to have a new shifter and feel so I decided to go the whole nine yards and get new shifter bushings to match. I could feel a bit of slop if I turned my shift **** left and right, so figured they would help. I ordered a new plastic cube since I've read a few people have broken them during install.
I got the parts from the stellarship a week later and instantly broke the cube upon pressing it onto the ball
Off to the dealership to order another, one, er, lats make that two. I got the cube today and preceeded to the install, this time I heated the cube up with a heat gun and used teflon ball hitch grease to lube the ball
It snapped on with little effort and much less swearing. Now to the dissassembly of the console, and everyone here knows how to do this so I won't go into it much. I got my stock shifter out along with the "topspeed" shortshifter adapter that was the evil clingon from hell.
I proceeded to install a new lower pivot ball surround and new yellow bushings and cubes. These mainly help aid in reducing the slop in the shifter and quiteness (more later).
I got all this installed with plently of the same ball hitch lube and proceeded to reinstallation. It was fairly straight foward except for the little drip was causing a few problems with getting the pivot cube to slide into the shift lever. I cured this by shaving the drip down with a razor blade and this allows the cube to fit more easily and it spins a bit more freely on the ball, but with a little more resistance than the stock fare. I actually found this benificial due to the small void (which led to slop) that the stock shifter and cube created was eliminated by the more "expanded" cube on the forbidden unit.
I got it all reinstalled and since I've eliminated the bushing between the baseplate and tranny tunnel I was able to reduce the slop even more and moved the base plate closer to the driver side to compensate for the lack of a second bend in the forbidden unit.
Feel
I tried all the postions in my car while it was in my garage. I found the middle spot to be much like my original clingon adaptor. I of course moved it into the top hole or race postion as jermey calls it. It felt much better but I didn't really notice any difference in "feel."
Driving impressions
My apprenhensions about the feel were all but erased with my first drive with the forbidden short shifter installed. It felt much more solid in the 1-2 and 3-4 shifts. Also the 2-3 and 4-5 shifts with much more smooth. And the biggest improvment I felt was the buttery smooth 4-5 shift. My first change into that gear led me to yell "DAMN!
" to myself. Where the oem shifter in a long up and over and up again move the forbidden unit is a flick of the wrist action away from a 5th gear highway beatdown. Also since I cut down my stock shifter, the added height of the forbidden unit helped in restoring the ease of getting the car into the gears, so I'm actually happy the lever is a nice balance between the oem unit and not too short like I did to mine. The shifts are much more easily excuited with a flick of the wrist and ALL of the notchy-ness associated with the adaptor is eliminated with the forbidden unit.Overall
My impressions over of Jermey's prodect is one of awe, how he was able to take an OEM part and improve it as much as he did is absoultly amazing to me. I honestly believe that this is THE BEST mod I've made to my car as far as feel and connection from drive to car go. I honestly thought that the shifter was going to be a small improvement compared to my clingon short shifter adaptor but it was so much more than I expected.
If I had known what it felt like before I bought it, I would have paid twice the price, no questions asked! The bushings were just icing on the cake and added to the sti/miatia shifter like feel now in my prelude. When trying to turn the shift **** like a bottle cap there is NO slop at all. Also the weird metallic clicking noise that was coming from my old shifter is now gone. This is a huge relief due to the fact that I though I was going to have to rebuild the tranny.
Man this is the most I've typed in a long time, but I feel it in necessary to give this product an 11 out of 10 rating overall for ease of install and fitment it is an easy decision when trying to pick your next upgrade. My only regret was not ordering the cooling plate, too.
Thanks Jermey for makeing such an outstanding product!
X 100
11-02-2006, 06:14 PM
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Re: (GraphiteMW)
That might be a tranny problem!<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by GraphiteMW »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I wish I woulda used my money to get this :[ I hate my 2 to 1 shift, its hard as hell to get it in there.. I literally have to struggle a bit.</TD></TR></TABLE>
11-02-2006, 06:51 PM
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Re: (soundbomber)
could it also be that the clutch needs to be adjusted? <TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by soundbomber »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">that's not a tranny problem...it's a semi lockout built in so you don't go back into first at speed...</TD></TR></TABLE>
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11-02-2006, 07:17 PM
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Re: Forbidden short shifter review (hella_usdm)
nice reveiw, I may need to pick one up now.
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by GraphiteMW »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I wish I woulda used my money to get this :[ I hate my 2 to 1 shift, its hard as hell to get it in there.. I literally have to struggle a bit.
</TD></TR></TABLE>
Why are you down shifting from second to first?
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by GraphiteMW »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I wish I woulda used my money to get this :[ I hate my 2 to 1 shift, its hard as hell to get it in there.. I literally have to struggle a bit.
</TD></TR></TABLE>
Why are you down shifting from second to first?
11-02-2006, 09:07 PM
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Re: (M@)
Thanks for the post! 
There are new guys running the show at HPC and there is also the new gunmetal color for the shifters, so the ball issue is something I will work on with them. That clearance is tough because if you get too much and it has any freeplay in the cube, multiply it by about 4 and thats how much play you'll have at the actual ****. So it is better to be a little tigh and sand it down to a perfect fit if needed.
GraphiteMW - Please do not do the 2-1 downshift unless absolutely necessary. And even when you do, please rev match. Honda transmissions in general do not like to go into first unless at a dead stop.
EDIT: Also, if customers could write or copy/paste a review here I would appreciate it!
There are new guys running the show at HPC and there is also the new gunmetal color for the shifters, so the ball issue is something I will work on with them. That clearance is tough because if you get too much and it has any freeplay in the cube, multiply it by about 4 and thats how much play you'll have at the actual ****. So it is better to be a little tigh and sand it down to a perfect fit if needed.
GraphiteMW - Please do not do the 2-1 downshift unless absolutely necessary. And even when you do, please rev match. Honda transmissions in general do not like to go into first unless at a dead stop.
EDIT: Also, if customers could write or copy/paste a review here I would appreciate it!
11-02-2006, 09:08 PM
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Re: (M@)
i love it. im gunna replace the change lever bushing again b/c i think mines kinda damaged when i installed so its kinda rough feeling but the shifter itself is great.
11-02-2006, 09:30 PM
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Re: Forbidden short shifter review (hella_usdm)
Good review and to 4bidden.
I certainly don't mean to change the topic, but another thing you can do that will have a dramatic effect on your driving experience is a good 300-330mm steering wheel.
to 4bidden.I certainly don't mean to change the topic, but another thing you can do that will have a dramatic effect on your driving experience is a good 300-330mm steering wheel.
11-02-2006, 10:00 PM
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I know I drive an Accord, but I got this shifter I love it. Its not to different from the Prelude, if I wasn't able to save for the 4bidden I would have just done the prelude swap in my car. But i'm soooo glad I got the 4bidden A+++
11-03-2006, 03:59 PM
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its a good product
but the only wierd thing i have to say about it is with my 1st - 2nd gear shifts....
its a little blotchy
every other gear is fine....
i just gotta ease into 2nd to be safe
and i get no feedback from the weighted skunk2 ****
but i tell you...driving the other lude without the forbidden SS feels soo different....i can see how much throw that has been reduced
but the only wierd thing i have to say about it is with my 1st - 2nd gear shifts....
its a little blotchy
every other gear is fine....
i just gotta ease into 2nd to be safe
and i get no feedback from the weighted skunk2 ****
but i tell you...driving the other lude without the forbidden SS feels soo different....i can see how much throw that has been reduced
11-03-2006, 04:17 PM
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Re: (SnlpeR)
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by SnlpeR »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">and i get no feedback from the weighted skunk2 ****</TD></TR></TABLE>
I was just about to order one if these Shift *****...are you saying that since the shifter itself is weighted that getting this **** is kinda pointlss now?
I was just about to order one if these Shift *****...are you saying that since the shifter itself is weighted that getting this **** is kinda pointlss now?
11-04-2006, 06:22 AM
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Re: (SnlpeR)
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by SnlpeR »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">its a good product
but the only wierd thing i have to say about it is with my 1st - 2nd gear shifts....
its a little blotchy
every other gear is fine....
i just gotta ease into 2nd to be safe
and i get no feedback from the weighted skunk2 ****
but i tell you...driving the other lude without the forbidden SS feels soo different....i can see how much throw that has been reduced</TD></TR></TABLE>
What really is the point of a weighted shift **** ?
but the only wierd thing i have to say about it is with my 1st - 2nd gear shifts....
its a little blotchy
every other gear is fine....
i just gotta ease into 2nd to be safe
and i get no feedback from the weighted skunk2 ****
but i tell you...driving the other lude without the forbidden SS feels soo different....i can see how much throw that has been reduced</TD></TR></TABLE>
What really is the point of a weighted shift **** ?
11-04-2006, 08:19 AM
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Re: (sport_injected_prelude)
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by sport_injected_prelude »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">It sounds like a great product. I have to get on the next order.</TD></TR></TABLE>
They're always available....I don't sell them in orders.
They're always available....I don't sell them in orders.
11-04-2006, 11:49 AM
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Re: (4bidden)
anyone wanna post a site so i can get me one of these?
edit nvm lol hes right above me (how much for everything also)?? Thanks
Modified by drew338 at 1:04 PM 11/4/2006
Modified by drew338 at 1:24 PM 11/4/2006
edit nvm lol hes right above me (how much for everything also)?? Thanks
Modified by drew338 at 1:04 PM 11/4/2006
Modified by drew338 at 1:24 PM 11/4/2006
11-10-2006, 08:58 AM
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Re: Forbidden short shifter review (hella_usdm)
I installed mine a couple weeks ago and I love it. It's a nice solid piece, great feel to it, and craftsmanship is grade A.
