Hey guys, most of you probably saw the thread I made a few months back about the shifters. I sold out really quick of the limited quantity that I first had made and have been sold out for quite a while. I am just now getting more back in stock so I am compiling a list for people who are definately in.

I decided to post some reviews that people posted over on PreludeOnline so you guys can see just how nice this shifter is. Most all of these are from the "Official Review Thread" in the 4gen forum over there if you would like to read for yourself. I'm sure satan_srv will verify that these are all word for word though. There were absolutely NO bad reviews from ANYONE on these. Here we go...

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I just received the shifter today in the mail. It was packaged very well. My first impressions were of the color, The pictures online do no justice. It looks more like a gunmetal grey than bronze, very palitable in any case. The welds are excellent and the whole shifter feels solid.

The install:

The install for this is pretty straight forward. I did not have any instructions and they really aren't needed. If you have the parts diagram from the Helms manual you are set.

If you have ever changed out your radio you know how to at least get the shifter plate out. I took the liberty of re-greasing the bushings while I was in there and I highly reccommend this if during the install. The entire install took about an hour and a half and I only got one bloody knuckel

After the install I was anxious to see about how far over to the right the shifter sat. To be honest with you I would not have seen any difference had I not been told about it. In all honestly the tiny bit it does sit over actually puts the shifter in a more comfortable position.

The Test Drive:

I used to have a Neuspeed adapter and I would first like to say, there is no comparison. With the adapter I had to fight with the shifter to get it into first but now it just slides into place.
On easy shifts it feels just like stock only shorter. When you want to speed shift this puppy really shines. It is completely smooth and there is next to no resistance. It is soooooooo much better than the adapter.

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Just installed mine after having it sitting in my backseat for over a week. All I can say is this shifter is amazing. It feels way more solid than the stock shifter, and when shifting (especially 2-3) the shifter feels as if it wants to go into the gear instead of you forcing it there. Also, every shift is ended with a very satisfying click into gear. This shifter is top quality... never have I been so happy shifting gears.

I did have to shave about 1/4 inch of plastic off of the underside of the console, but it was no big deal. I melted the plastic with a lighter, and then just scraped it off with a screwdriver. If I had a dremel it would have taken no more than 10 seconds. I did however trim it enough so that the top setting doesnt hit the console either. So now it is very easy to go from stock, to C's, to Race.

Thanks so much 4Bidden!

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i just installed mine today as well. the install was very simple, took less than an hour. i used the instructions that 4bidden provided. the quality of the shifter is outstanding. my initial thoughts after a 10-mile test drive was: its amazing, it certainly cleaned up the sloppy-ness that was there before with the stock shifter. i would definitely recommend purchasing this shifter to any prelude driver that has never been completely satisfied with the oem shifter or if you like to drive hard. if you guys have any more questions on the shifter, or the install feel free to contact me.

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If you havent gottan one yet, Order soon. I finally got mine in Saturday, after having it sitting at my parents house for a week. Had one of my friends (he has a MKIV Jetta 1.8T) come over and take some pics of the install. Very easy to do by the way. Anyway after we got it installed (have it set on the top spot) I let him drive it. he told me that on his way home he wished he could get one for his car . I cant get over how easy the 2nd-3rd shift is, all you have to do is push straight fwd with your palm and it slips right over into 3rd. There is also a solid feel when it goes into gear. you'll know what i am talking about if you drive with one of these

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Just installed mine on the weekend and dam i'm impressed! the shifter is really nice...had to shave a little bit off underneath there, but that was no problem...it definetly lived up to my expectations...

it feels like that is the way honda should have made it in the first place...it's nice and smooth,and much more solid

i totally recommend this shifter to anyone, not just to reduce throw but just for a much more solid feeling, that is the main reason i bought this, and it's all i could have asked for!

even just going into first gear is smoother, lately it's been really sticky and sometimes just didn't want to go in, but seems like it's improved alot...i also regreased everything in the mechanism with moly slip, which i think is a good idea!

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This thing blows any adapter away. I love this thing
4bidden you are the man. Even my friends are impressed.

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Those are all from past customers. As you can see, it's an awesome piece!

Here are some pictures of the shifter. These pictures make it out to be a little brown which it is not. It is a gunmetal/bronze color....very JDM looking! LOL






The shifter is physically .5'' shorter than the stock Prelude unit, and reduces throw by 30-40%. There are 3 different settings that are easily switched between. The unit is extremely solid with beefy TIG welds.

The pricing for the shifter is $124 shipped for money orders/cashiers check within the US ($4 fee for PayPal).

I am currently starting a list of people who definately want one. I will start collecting payment beginning of this coming week (02/10). The shifters will be ready around the 17th. There is a limited quantity and I ship based on when payment was received. If you have any questions or would like to be emailed when I start accepting payment, please email me at 4bidden@***.net. You guys can also IM me on AIM at forbiddenimports, if I have an away msg on, email me because I sometimes don't get my msgs off of AIM.

 

Any plans for the 5th Gen?

 

Your username reminds me.....the shifters are powdercoatd by HPC, a well known high-temp coating company in Gilbert, Arizona.

I am planning on having a 5gen done prototyping in late March.

 

i am all for the 5th gen when you get it done

\

 

44 views and 4 replies? Come on guys....at least state your opinions!

I already have over 25 confirmed buyers and like I said, production is limited so get one while you can.

 

when do you think your next supply of the true short shifters will be out for those of us less fortunate with money at the moment?

 

After this production run, I will probably only supply them in group buys, I won't have a stock on hand. I'll probably require like 10 orders for a group buy after I run out of my current stock.

 

how much are these again? i almost got one last time and am thinking about it again. i just need to see if i have the extra cash.

Vinny

 

124 shipped w/ cashiers check or m.o., 128 shipped if you use pay pal ($4 fee). ^ ^
4bidden, did you say you were starting taking orders and shipping on the 10th? If so how many do you have in stock? Id like to scrape up some funds and see if i can buy one.

 

Do you have any pics of it installed (before the boot cover, etc.)?

PM/email me some pics...


[Modified by XES, 12:25 PM 2/9/2003]

 

Hey I'm in for sure.. When do you need the money by??

 

Just like the last production run, I started accepting money about a week before so the funds could clear Paypal, and money orders could be here by the time they were done. I am accepting payment soon, with a tentative send date of the 17th of this month.

I will try and find pics without the console installed of thie finished product.

The pricing is listed in the the first post.

If you are definately in, email me at 4bidden@***.net with the title of "Shifter Waiting List". Thanks guys!

 

Alright guys, as of today I am accepting payment. I made a small site for ordering and will have the rest functional tomorrow.

http://members.***.net/4bidden

 

omg, i want one so bad. i am SO close to getting my lude, and im 99% sure ill be getting one. i wanna buy one but i dont know if i should yet in case i dont get my lude. is there ANY way possible i could reserve one, cuz i got the money, just not the car. thanks.

 

Just let me know when you get the car and I'll see what I can do for you. Even if I am sold out, I'm sure we can get a group together and get a few more made.

 

thanks a lot, hopefully ill be getting it soon. wow, i havent bought something from you yet and i can already tell you will be a GREAT person to buy stuff off of. good customer service.

 

 

I kept my eye on the last batch you did and they looked like they got great reviews as is further supported by the ones you posted at the top of this thread. I would like to know one thing, though. I have a B&M adapter and it works well, if not a little notchy. My gripe is that when in 1st or 2nd the shifter is only about a half to a quarter of an inch away from the handbrake. My question is, in relation to the stock shifter, how much to the right does this one bend so as to make it farther from the handbrake?

Thanks for any input

-elliott

 

I am not quite sure what you are asking. I'll make my best guess though....

I'm guessing you have a 94-96 console with the e-brake that Honda forgot about, and had to stuff right beside your right thigh? The only way I could see this being a problem would maybe be when the e-brake is up? Explain a little better so I can help you out. Remember, the actual lever is a half inch shorter than stock so that will help you also.

 

I suspect the brunt of the demand for the 4th gen shifter was filled with the previous batch.

When can we expect a 5th generation application? There's a lot more of us around . . . . .

 

Has anybody or urself experienced quicker ETs using your short shifter?
If not, wut would one expect to shave off the 1320 with it..........

 

I am aiming for late March for a 5gen shifter. Hopefully it doesn't get pushed back.

As for cutting time off of your 1320. I don't know that it will cut seconds off your ET, but you will be much more consistent, no accidental 3-2 shifts, you'll probably feel faster and possibly gain a little bit of time.

 

Yeah, I doubt you'd see quarter mile improvements that were measurable. But think of it as getting a better mouse for your computer, you're improving the interface between you & the machine. No, it won't make the computer any faster - but it'll sure make it more enjoyable.

 

Good Analogy

So is it safe to say that the even though the throws are shorter, the amount of work and time by the cable is the same regardless of having a shortshifter or not?

 

No...not at all. It's not even 100% for racing, it makes driving around town a lot more fun and easy.

If you are asking if the cable still moves the same distance, then yes, you are right. The cable still moves the same distance, but your hand doesnt. The time however is obviously decreased.