What is the downside to a cheap short shifter like this one:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors...33736

verses a B&M short shifter. I was thinking about a B&M, but I keep seeing these for under 10 bucks.

 

i've heard of people breaking their ebay shifters. i had a b&m but recently switched to C's...i'm letting it go for like $30 +shipping if you're interested.

 

My buddy never broke his. But atleast go apc if you must

 

You have to shift pretty damn hard to snap a shifter, even if it is a $15 ebay special. Id say get it since it is only $6 and will perform the same as a $100 skunk 2.

 

Well, what is the deal with the curved shifters? I see mostly straight shifters for ef civics, but a few that are curved. What is the difference in performance?

 

They are supposed to be built stronger thats why they have the curve and also its more comfortable because its closer to you.

 

And being closer, it still works with the existing console, boot, etc?

 

Yes of course. You will notice a big difference once you get it. Driving is even easier.

 

Is B&M the best? Or what is the best for no more than 40 shipped?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Two_K Si &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">You have to shift pretty damn hard to snap a shifter, even if it is a $15 ebay special. Id say get it since it is only $6 and will perform the same as a $100 skunk 2.</TD></TR></TABLE>

please dont assume.

i know 2 people that have personally broke cheap shifters...they crack off at the threads...so youll end up shifting knobless. If you want a cheap priced shifter then go with the Evasive CNC machined short shifter for $35 here on h-t. My friend has one, its very nice.

 

yeah i think so but i mean its all in how hard of a driver and budget you have. They also have skunk2 dc and others. Just find whats best for you. U may fall in love with this one yoou get.

 

From what I have found on ebay, onlt APC has the curved shifter. All the others are straight. Is curved better overall? I would like to keep anything APC away from my car. Here is something: I knew someone back in high school that had a 93 civic hatch and instead of buying a short shifter, he used a hacksaw and cut down the factory shifter (he was using a spoon **** held on with a bolt instead of using the threads so that was no issue.) What about that?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by X-Static &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

please dont assume.

i know 2 people that have personally broke cheap shifters...they crack off at the threads...so youll end up shifting knobless. If you want a cheap priced shifter then go with the Evasive CNC machined short shifter for $35 here on h-t. My friend has one, its very nice.</TD></TR></TABLE>

And i have witnessed people snap solos and once a skunk 2, both of which are supposed to be reinforced internally. **** happens, but **** happens quicker when you shift harder.

 

you get what you pay for and homemade **** works to but just cause something is cheap doesnt make it cheap in quality but because something is 100 dollars its the best in the world. best bet research if its that important to you but the hacksaw i wouldnt do that

 

i never broke any shifter. shifting is like sex you cant be rough on her the whole time or you give out soon.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by johnclaunch &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">... instead of buying a short shifter, he used a hacksaw and cut down the factory shifter (he was using a spoon **** held on with a bolt instead of using the threads so that was no issue.) What about that?</TD></TR></TABLE>
That's just shortening the shifter. A "true" short shifter is when the throw is shortened. Take a look at a stock one and a short shifter....look at the length of the part that pivots (in the console) and compare the lengths that actually bolt to the shift rod. They are not the same.

Are there any physics guys in here that can clarify/correct me?

 

ha i hack sawed mines it feels little different

 

I have a $15 ebay shifter in my car and I bang gears all the time at the track and have yet to break one..

If your changing out the shifter also get a set of the polyurthane shifter bushing from prothane..

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by kaoss_11 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">i never broke any shifter. shifting is like sex you cant be rough on her the whole time or you give out soon.</TD></TR></TABLE>
love that
i got a $7 shiftder and so dose my friend we both shift hard as hell at the track or ******* around town nothing has happen
i have a friend who had a b&m shifter in a mr2 and he broke his its all aboult your driveing
plus **** happens

 

short shifters suck imo. learn to drive

 

Hey tgreaves I got an ebay one too and it works perfectly. I just wish i had upgraded bushings too. Can you give me a site where you got yours. TIA

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by az17xscrub &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">short shifters suck imo. learn to drive</TD></TR></TABLE>

are you sure you installed the shifter correctly? learning to drive on a short shifter is the SAME as driving without one...just have to move your hand less.

anyways Hacking the shifter does NOT make the throw the of shifter shorter it just makes the handle shorter it will not shorten the throw which is the point of the short shifter.

My rule of thumb is to buy what i want. if its a $6 short shifter you want get it. personally i wouldn't buy it because you get what you pay for and i have learned that over time. i would buy the b&m piece because its been around for A LONG TIME and the name goes hand and hand with shifter performance. also the skunk2 piece is great. i've used a few and the throw is perfect. you barley have to move the shifter to put it in gear.

some people say short shifters are bad for the tranny because your putting the linkage at a different angle, but i really don't know from experience if that is true or not. either way i think short shifters are great and i would gladly put one on my CRX if i was in the market for one... i currently do not have one on my car and i am not in the market for one, but if i had to choose it would be the b&m or Skunk2.

good luck with your purchase.

EDIT... also buy new bushings when you install the shifter. Poly bushings are the best...huge improvment.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by manson &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

are you sure you installed the shifter correctly? learning to drive on a short shifter is the SAME as driving without one...just have to move your hand less.

</TD></TR></TABLE>

no you actually have to move the hand MORE because it's lower and farther away from the steering wheel. i personally prefer the stock shifter because of it's optimal height. if there is one in the market where it maintains the stock height and reduces the throw, i'll be very happy to purchase it. just my personal opinion and .02, though. btw, gsr shifters are great also.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by az17xscrub &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">...because it's lower and farther away from the steering wheel...</TD></TR></TABLE>

both my b&m and c's maintain stock height.

 

raretrick.com has b&m shifters for like $10 or $15. He has a total overstock ( 150+ shifters ) and has to get rid of them...