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Before I start this method worked for me. I tried to improve the stock shifter since all I really wanted was to shorten the length…. read carefully before you try this….and excuse my spelling.
I purchased a short shifter for 14.50 shipped off ebay …I thought sweet deal…however when I tried to install it I found out the hard way v6 m5 transmissions have the shifter rod built into the shifter….I did not do my homework…however since I had the entire console off I noticed the shifter felt fine its just the length of it was to long…..so I cut a little more than one inch off with a hack saw and now I have a short throw shifter for free….keep in mind I have a aftermarket knob that I do not screw but slip in….so I don’t need to make threads and I still have room to cut more I just wanted to be safe since it was the first time I did this…..
Tools……
1. Ratchet with a long extension
2. 13mm(shifter) , 10mm socket(bottom console), 8mm socket or wrench (battery)
3. screwdriver
4. hacksaw, or grinder what ever you got to cut the shifter rod
5. Some silicone, not specific just something to put between the floor and the bottom shifter boot to keep noise out…..the picture under this will explain more.
6. And about 1 hour….maybe a little over kill but just so you can take your time.
1.Disconnect the battery, why? Because you have to disconnect the cigarette lighter and once I pulled the wire to much and cause me to blow a fuse…plus almost scared me to death.
2. Before you remove the knob mark its position on the rod and how far you can make it come down….making sure you have clearance for 2nd , 4rth , and reverse…..Now remove the shifter knob…. And top boot…..remember mine was a aftermarket so I just had two small screws in the side….i don’t know how to take off the stock knob off so that one is on you…plus my old one just fell off...:shhh:
http://www.z28.com/gallery/data/500/...escription.jpg
[IMG]
3. Now remove the top part of the center console by removing the coin holder in the capartment and removing the two bolts…. Mine did not have this next one but im pretty sure I read it should be there…. Under the ashtray check for and extra bolt…if not there then you car is as ghetto as mine and doesn’t have it…jk.
http://www.z28.com/gallery/data/500/...ESCRIPTION.jpg
4.Now remove the bottom console witch is the whole console……first remove the two 10 mm bolts in the capartment then remove the one 10mm bolt inside the console before the shifter…..next lift up the ebrake as high as you can….now slip the back of the console up intill it slides off the ebrake and remove and put aside.
(i dont have a pic for this one but its the only two bolts left in the carpartment and the third is right underneath the ashtray.)
5. Now you must remove the bottom boot of the shifter that is connected to the floor…and like always my car was missing those screws as well…Then the boot slides off….and you now see the entire shifter on its own.
http://www.z28.com/gallery/data/500/...ESCRIPTION.jpg
6.You should have had the shifter already marked at where the knob was at and how far you want to drop it…to give you an idea of where to cut… so now remove the small boot on the shifter itselft to acces the four 13 mm bolts with a ratchet and extension.
7.Now that you have a the stock shifter off cut away what you desire….TIP….I cut away one inch first and put everything back to see how it felt…because you have to keep in mind you have to compensate for the knob because it slides in and might slide down to far…the more you cut down the rod the bigger its diam. Gets….and to make sure you have clearance for all gears…..its better to cut 2-3 times and get it right then to do it once and get it wrong(to short)
http://www.z28.com/gallery/data/500/...escription.jpg
8. Now you are done and have a short shifter for free congrats ….so the steps now are pretty much backwards…..now I put a small silicone (homedepot) under the boot that screws to the floor to keep noise away….I did not put any silicone on the shifter …however I have seen people do so ….so these two things are totally up to you..
http://www.z28.com/gallery/data/500/...scription_.jpg
ok if any bolt size might be off its not that you or me is wrong my car is so ghetto that this are the bolts it had....and like mention above it was missing alot so dont force anything out and take your time...but if there is something way off let me know and ill check and correct it....plus dont be alarm by the last pic of the final results....as you see the angle was a lil off...but surely the mod is worth it and very easy.
i tried to post it on the how to but no luck plus i thought maybe you guys can read this and if like it then we can make it a sticky...up to ya.
I purchased a short shifter for 14.50 shipped off ebay …I thought sweet deal…however when I tried to install it I found out the hard way v6 m5 transmissions have the shifter rod built into the shifter….I did not do my homework…however since I had the entire console off I noticed the shifter felt fine its just the length of it was to long…..so I cut a little more than one inch off with a hack saw and now I have a short throw shifter for free….keep in mind I have a aftermarket knob that I do not screw but slip in….so I don’t need to make threads and I still have room to cut more I just wanted to be safe since it was the first time I did this…..
Tools……
1. Ratchet with a long extension
2. 13mm(shifter) , 10mm socket(bottom console), 8mm socket or wrench (battery)
3. screwdriver
4. hacksaw, or grinder what ever you got to cut the shifter rod
5. Some silicone, not specific just something to put between the floor and the bottom shifter boot to keep noise out…..the picture under this will explain more.
6. And about 1 hour….maybe a little over kill but just so you can take your time.
1.Disconnect the battery, why? Because you have to disconnect the cigarette lighter and once I pulled the wire to much and cause me to blow a fuse…plus almost scared me to death.
2. Before you remove the knob mark its position on the rod and how far you can make it come down….making sure you have clearance for 2nd , 4rth , and reverse…..Now remove the shifter knob…. And top boot…..remember mine was a aftermarket so I just had two small screws in the side….i don’t know how to take off the stock knob off so that one is on you…plus my old one just fell off...:shhh:
http://www.z28.com/gallery/data/500/...escription.jpg
[IMG]
3. Now remove the top part of the center console by removing the coin holder in the capartment and removing the two bolts…. Mine did not have this next one but im pretty sure I read it should be there…. Under the ashtray check for and extra bolt…if not there then you car is as ghetto as mine and doesn’t have it…jk.
http://www.z28.com/gallery/data/500/...ESCRIPTION.jpg
4.Now remove the bottom console witch is the whole console……first remove the two 10 mm bolts in the capartment then remove the one 10mm bolt inside the console before the shifter…..next lift up the ebrake as high as you can….now slip the back of the console up intill it slides off the ebrake and remove and put aside.
(i dont have a pic for this one but its the only two bolts left in the carpartment and the third is right underneath the ashtray.)
5. Now you must remove the bottom boot of the shifter that is connected to the floor…and like always my car was missing those screws as well…Then the boot slides off….and you now see the entire shifter on its own.
http://www.z28.com/gallery/data/500/...ESCRIPTION.jpg
6.You should have had the shifter already marked at where the knob was at and how far you want to drop it…to give you an idea of where to cut… so now remove the small boot on the shifter itselft to acces the four 13 mm bolts with a ratchet and extension.
7.Now that you have a the stock shifter off cut away what you desire….TIP….I cut away one inch first and put everything back to see how it felt…because you have to keep in mind you have to compensate for the knob because it slides in and might slide down to far…the more you cut down the rod the bigger its diam. Gets….and to make sure you have clearance for all gears…..its better to cut 2-3 times and get it right then to do it once and get it wrong(to short)
http://www.z28.com/gallery/data/500/...escription.jpg
8. Now you are done and have a short shifter for free congrats ….so the steps now are pretty much backwards…..now I put a small silicone (homedepot) under the boot that screws to the floor to keep noise away….I did not put any silicone on the shifter …however I have seen people do so ….so these two things are totally up to you..
http://www.z28.com/gallery/data/500/...scription_.jpg
ok if any bolt size might be off its not that you or me is wrong my car is so ghetto that this are the bolts it had....and like mention above it was missing alot so dont force anything out and take your time...but if there is something way off let me know and ill check and correct it....plus dont be alarm by the last pic of the final results....as you see the angle was a lil off...but surely the mod is worth it and very easy.
i tried to post it on the how to but no luck plus i thought maybe you guys can read this and if like it then we can make it a sticky...up to ya.
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