DIY: Shifter Plate
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From: NorthWest, Oregon :)
DIY: Shifter Plate
Ok this is for 96-00 civic's it may work on other modles with slight mods but i dont know for shure so dont bitch.
Alright so lets first start off with what youl need...
1.a dremel with asorted sanding and cutting bits
2. a pice of plexi glass about 10"x7"
3. a good file with one rounded side and one flat side.
4. krylon fusion satin black paint. (or whatever color you wish)
5. 320 grit sand paper.
Ok now that you went out and got all of thew tools youl need ill take you through the steps.
1. take out the 6 screws holding the arm rest and lift it up and pull it back a few inches.
2. take out the 4 screws holding in the shifter center console thing.
3. remover your shift ****
4. now the shifter console pice should be loos pull up and back and it will slide out.
5. flip it over and youl see a silver metal pice that holds the shift boot in place. Remove the 2 screws that hold it on and take the boot out. Remember to not break or lose this metal braket because it is what will hold the plate in place.
Ok now that you have the console out on your bench you can cut out a pice of cardboard that fits right inside of the shifter hole. (you are makeing an exact replica of what your finished plate so take your time and make it perfect.
now take out the cardboard pice and set it to the side.
next you will need to find out where you need to cut for the shifter to come through the plate.
So you will have to put the shifter console back over the shifter and use a tape measure to see how big of a whole you need to make.
You need to make 4 measurments 1 in 3rd gear to the edge of the plastic 1 in 3rd, and 1 on each side when the shifter is in nutral pushed to the far left and right. Be shure to leave about a half of an inch room on all sides so that nothing hits.
I have a B&M shifter and my measurments were 1" on top a little under 3/4" on the sides and a little under 2" on the bottom.
Sorry i hope this makes sence i dont have any pictures of this part but if you have any questions pm me and i will help you.
ok now transfer your measurments to the pice of paper. You should end up with a square drawn in the middle of your template. Now you can use a curved object like a role of tape to curve the corners. Be shure to take your time to make the template right.
Now you can install the template in the shifter console, put the old shifter boot bracket over the template and screw it back on. Put the console back over your shifter and snap in place. Move the shifter around and in every gear to make shure nothing will hit.
Ok now the fun part, take the template you spent the last 2 hours makeing perfect and trase the the patern onto the plexiglass.
i used an dremel and cutting bit to cut out the patern, there maybe better tools to use but this worked ok. Be shure not to cut right on your line because youl need to sand and file it later to make it nice.
after you cut out the patern you can use the sanding bit to get close to the line you made.
I found it very hard to make it look perfect with the dremel so i had to use files to make the whole semetrical. keep in mind this will take a while. with the tools i used i spend about 2 hours on this one step.
now that you are happy with the inside hole you can sand the whole pice of plexiglass with 320 grit sand paper untill there is no shiny spots.
after you do this install the plate and again make shure your happy with the fit this will be the last time you can change anything.
remove the plate and wash it with soap and water to remove any dirt, dry with a towel.
now your ready to paint, place the plate vertical and spray very light coats and wait 30 seconds between them, i put on about 10, let dry for about 2 hours.
now that your plate in all done its time to reinstall.
the new plate will be thicker that the old boot so the boot bracket will be a tight fit but it works fine, i used my fingers to bend it in places so it wasnt so tight.
Well i hope this will help at least 1 person. any questions feel free to pm me.
excuse my grammar
ok now for finished pictures
this is it finished and done with the skunk2 shift ****. I cut a pice of speaker box carpet to fit inside of the console. I jst cut an X in the middle so it would fit snug around the shifter. It matches the stock carpet and looks like it belongs there.
Modified by chads at 5:10 PM 7/11/2005
Alright so lets first start off with what youl need...
1.a dremel with asorted sanding and cutting bits
2. a pice of plexi glass about 10"x7"
3. a good file with one rounded side and one flat side.
4. krylon fusion satin black paint. (or whatever color you wish)
5. 320 grit sand paper.
Ok now that you went out and got all of thew tools youl need ill take you through the steps.
1. take out the 6 screws holding the arm rest and lift it up and pull it back a few inches.
2. take out the 4 screws holding in the shifter center console thing.
3. remover your shift ****
4. now the shifter console pice should be loos pull up and back and it will slide out.
5. flip it over and youl see a silver metal pice that holds the shift boot in place. Remove the 2 screws that hold it on and take the boot out. Remember to not break or lose this metal braket because it is what will hold the plate in place.
Ok now that you have the console out on your bench you can cut out a pice of cardboard that fits right inside of the shifter hole. (you are makeing an exact replica of what your finished plate so take your time and make it perfect.
now take out the cardboard pice and set it to the side.
next you will need to find out where you need to cut for the shifter to come through the plate.
So you will have to put the shifter console back over the shifter and use a tape measure to see how big of a whole you need to make.
You need to make 4 measurments 1 in 3rd gear to the edge of the plastic 1 in 3rd, and 1 on each side when the shifter is in nutral pushed to the far left and right. Be shure to leave about a half of an inch room on all sides so that nothing hits.
I have a B&M shifter and my measurments were 1" on top a little under 3/4" on the sides and a little under 2" on the bottom.
Sorry i hope this makes sence i dont have any pictures of this part but if you have any questions pm me and i will help you.
ok now transfer your measurments to the pice of paper. You should end up with a square drawn in the middle of your template. Now you can use a curved object like a role of tape to curve the corners. Be shure to take your time to make the template right.
Now you can install the template in the shifter console, put the old shifter boot bracket over the template and screw it back on. Put the console back over your shifter and snap in place. Move the shifter around and in every gear to make shure nothing will hit.
Ok now the fun part, take the template you spent the last 2 hours makeing perfect and trase the the patern onto the plexiglass.
i used an dremel and cutting bit to cut out the patern, there maybe better tools to use but this worked ok. Be shure not to cut right on your line because youl need to sand and file it later to make it nice.
after you cut out the patern you can use the sanding bit to get close to the line you made.
I found it very hard to make it look perfect with the dremel so i had to use files to make the whole semetrical. keep in mind this will take a while. with the tools i used i spend about 2 hours on this one step.
now that you are happy with the inside hole you can sand the whole pice of plexiglass with 320 grit sand paper untill there is no shiny spots.
after you do this install the plate and again make shure your happy with the fit this will be the last time you can change anything.
remove the plate and wash it with soap and water to remove any dirt, dry with a towel.
now your ready to paint, place the plate vertical and spray very light coats and wait 30 seconds between them, i put on about 10, let dry for about 2 hours.
now that your plate in all done its time to reinstall.
the new plate will be thicker that the old boot so the boot bracket will be a tight fit but it works fine, i used my fingers to bend it in places so it wasnt so tight.
Well i hope this will help at least 1 person. any questions feel free to pm me.
excuse my grammar
ok now for finished pictures
this is it finished and done with the skunk2 shift ****. I cut a pice of speaker box carpet to fit inside of the console. I jst cut an X in the middle so it would fit snug around the shifter. It matches the stock carpet and looks like it belongs there.
Modified by chads at 5:10 PM 7/11/2005
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From: no en den
Re: DIY: Shifter Plate (chads)
Great job, it really does look good. But did you do this because you didn't have the oem piece or did you have an automatic console or does your new shifter shift differently and require this?
Thread Starter
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From: NorthWest, Oregon :)
Re: DIY: Shifter Plate (litterbox)
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by litterbox »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Great job, it really does look good. But did you do this because you didn't have the oem piece or did you have an automatic console or does your new shifter shift differently and require this?</TD></TR></TABLE>
actually it was all stock but with the new b&m shifter the boot sat weird.
but really i did it just because i had the tools and i was bored
actually it was all stock but with the new b&m shifter the boot sat weird.
but really i did it just because i had the tools and i was bored
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Thread Starter
Honda-Tech Member
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 4,022
Likes: 1
From: NorthWest, Oregon :)
Re: DIY: Shifter Plate (litterbox)
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by litterbox »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Do you have pics with the boot and **** installed?
</TD></TR></TABLE>
what do you mean, you dont use a boot with a shifter plate.
as for the **** i havent gotten one yet, the stock one looks stuped. I am gunna get the skunk2 ****.
I can take a pic with one of my DIY ***** though if you want
</TD></TR></TABLE>
what do you mean, you dont use a boot with a shifter plate.
as for the **** i havent gotten one yet, the stock one looks stuped. I am gunna get the skunk2 ****.
I can take a pic with one of my DIY ***** though if you want
Member
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 3,047
Likes: 1
From: CA, USA
Re: (rukawa1one)
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by rukawa1one »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">so that replaces the boot or what?</TD></TR></TABLE>
Yes.
Yes.
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Joined: May 2004
Posts: 1,951
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From: San Benito, Tx, USA
Re: (H.crx-si)
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by H.crx-si »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">What are the benefits of this mod? I see more negative things then positive. Looks like dirt and **** will just build up badly around the shifter.</TD></TR></TABLE>
Not if you keep your car clean...
Not if you keep your car clean...
Thread Starter
Honda-Tech Member
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 4,022
Likes: 1
From: NorthWest, Oregon :)
Re: (H.crx-si)
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by H.crx-si »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">What are the benefits of this mod? I see more negative things then positive. Looks like dirt and **** will just build up badly around the shifter.</TD></TR></TABLE>
sorry but dirt and **** doesnt come in contact with my car and if it does it is removed.
sorry but dirt and **** doesnt come in contact with my car and if it does it is removed.
* B A N N E D *
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 3,101
Likes: 2
From: Alpharetta, GA, U.S.A.
Re: (chads)
I'll let ya know when i make a metal gate like on lamborghinis and ferraris, where the shifter stick goes into a slot.
P.S. I know this girl that had a custom DIY shifter ****, but she didn't let me take a picture of it. It was dual purpose if ya get my drift. Doubled as a play thing as well as overdrive, hehe.
P.S. I know this girl that had a custom DIY shifter ****, but she didn't let me take a picture of it. It was dual purpose if ya get my drift. Doubled as a play thing as well as overdrive, hehe.
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From: NorthWest, Oregon :)
Re: (chowmien)
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by chowmien »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Nice plate.
Maybe someone can DIY one that has the 6 fork grooves on it.</TD></TR></TABLE>
i thought about it but it wont work not with my shifter set up anyways.
my shifter is too fat and the gears are too close, also you can move the shifter around. it would just end up hitting the forks and breaking them
that would be sweet though
Maybe someone can DIY one that has the 6 fork grooves on it.</TD></TR></TABLE>
i thought about it but it wont work not with my shifter set up anyways.
my shifter is too fat and the gears are too close, also you can move the shifter around. it would just end up hitting the forks and breaking them
that would be sweet though
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Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 5,555
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From: Seattle
Re: (chads)
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by chads »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
i thought about it but it wont work not with my shifter set up anyways.
my shifter is too fat and the gears are too close, also you can move the shifter around. it would just end up hitting the forks and breaking them
that would be sweet though</TD></TR></TABLE>
Oh yeah I forgot how fat our shifters are.
i thought about it but it wont work not with my shifter set up anyways.
my shifter is too fat and the gears are too close, also you can move the shifter around. it would just end up hitting the forks and breaking them
that would be sweet though</TD></TR></TABLE>
Oh yeah I forgot how fat our shifters are.