to get a short throw shifter or not

CinHer · Post by **CinHer** » Fri Jan 04, 2008 4:52 am

I would like to get a short throw shifter for my 1990 subaru legacy wagon. does anyone have any sites or recommendations?

also is it even worth it to buy one and put it in? or should i just stick with the stock shifter?

Aerotech · Post by **Aerotech** » Fri Jan 04, 2008 5:03 am

Watch Ebay, Craigslist, and NASIOC & other Subaru sites. Many people put aftermarket shifters in WRXs and STIs, and dump the stock one cheap. I have a stock STI shifter in my '91 SS, and it made a HUGE difference; nice short throw, and very precise. If you get one, you will probably also have to buy an additional U-joint that is different from our cars' setup, it's about $60 from Subaru.
Easy install, the hardest part is getting at the roll pin that secures the linkage to the selector on the trans; you need a long punch.

dirtyhandssubaru555 · Post by **dirtyhandssubaru555** » Fri Jan 04, 2008 9:14 pm

you can make your own, someone on here has done it and a write with good pics aswell. i looked but couldnt find it again, i just read it the other day

asc_up · Post by **asc_up** » Fri Jan 04, 2008 10:21 pm

Go to the main page, it's on there. www.legacycentral.org

DLC fabbed one up I believe.

bmxpunk · Post by **bmxpunk** » Fri Jan 18, 2008 4:57 am

I did my own just like DLC wrote up. It made the throw front to back short, but it is still sloppy side to side even with all new bushings. I am trying to rectify that one now.

ultrasonic · Post by **ultrasonic** » Fri Jan 18, 2008 5:39 am

bmxpunk wrote:I did my own just like DLC wrote up. It made the throw front to back short, but it is still sloppy side to side even with all new bushings. I am trying to rectify that one now.

You might be missing the spring at the bottom of the shifter by the big round bushing. They sometimes rust and fall off.

New92 · Post by **New92** » Fri Jan 18, 2008 12:30 pm

To aid in the side to side slop.....................
You also can replace the stock bolt and bushings where the linkage attaches to the boss on the selector rod with a solid metal pin, I think I used 1/2 inch by 2 inches with a smooth shaft (threaded only at the end). I had to grind just a bit off the edges of the boss to make room for the 1/2 washers I used to cap it off. Fill the hole up with a good bearing grease, add your washers, line up the linkage, insert bolt and viola you have a solid bushing, and as a side benefit, it is easily accessible from the ground without dismantling so much of the other stuff that normally blocks your access.

t3h L3g4cy · Post by **t3h L3g4cy** » Tue Feb 19, 2008 8:32 pm

Well this is wat i did. I got a whizzer tool or something like that which required the use of compressed air to power it. I twisted off the stock shift knob and cut off 1 and 1/4" off. Basically I cut off all the thread haha. Well my friend bought me a really nice shift knob from dojo before I even thought of making my own short shifter. It's really heavy but feels nice. This shift knob is the kind where it doesn't need threads to be secured so it's a good design. You just gotta put up some cardboard to cover the radio and some fire retardant material on the seats to prevent scorching. One inch may not sound like much but I felt a huge difference in feel while shifting though gears. Estimated time to replace shift knob: 30-45 min.

Hope this helps

vrg3 · Post by **vrg3** » Tue Feb 19, 2008 11:11 pm

You can also use an M12x1.25 die to cut new threads on the now-shorter shift rod, and then still use your stock knob.

IronMonkeyL255 · Post by **IronMonkeyL255** » Wed Feb 20, 2008 3:17 am

I got a free factory short shifter kit (I think. All the comparison pics I have seen identify it as such) with my purchase of a 2006 WRX tranny...

t3h L3g4cy · Post by **t3h L3g4cy** » Thu Feb 28, 2008 1:13 am

You can also use an M12x1.25 die to cut new threads on the now-shorter shift rod, and then still use your stock knob.

I would but my friend got me a nice billet aluminum shift knob

I personally think that the aluminum shift knob is better than the stock but that's just my opinion

Aerotech · Post by **Aerotech** » Wed Mar 05, 2008 8:26 am

[quote="t3h L3g4cyI would but my friend got me a nice billet aluminum shift knob

I personally think that the aluminum shift knob is better than the stock but that's just my opinion

[/quote]

Yeah, until you jump into the car after it's sitting in the sun all day, and flash-fry your palm.

You'll end up like the little nazi in Raiders; high-fiveing with a 5-speed pattern embossed in your hand.

t3h L3g4cy · Post by **t3h L3g4cy** » Fri Mar 07, 2008 5:17 pm

HAHAHA yeah true, but u learn to shift quicker

lol. I guess it's just a matter of opinion

BAC5.2 · Post by **BAC5.2** » Tue Mar 11, 2008 9:56 pm

You can use a pipe-cutter to cut the stock shifter too. No mess, no fire hazard.

Canadian Turbo · Post by **Canadian Turbo** » Sat Mar 15, 2008 6:50 am

ultrasonic wrote: You might be missing the spring at the bottom of the shifter by the big round bushing. They sometimes rust and fall off.

Ultrasonic or anyone else, can you be more specific about this spring. I bought what seems to be the entire shifter asembly, bushings, rubber cover and all from Bratt4X4. I will be instaling it when I put my new engine and tranny in this week. I'm worried because my shifter is beyond sloppy. It has NO sping at all, it is basically totally limp and needs to be placed into every gear. The assembly that I bought seems to be way better than stock, from what I can see, but it has no spring to it. Where are these springs exactly and does anyone know where to get them??

vrg3 · Post by **vrg3** » Mon Mar 17, 2008 4:35 pm

http://bbs.legacycentral.org/viewtopic.php?t=20945

Canadian Turbo · Post by **Canadian Turbo** » Wed Mar 19, 2008 7:20 pm

Thanks a million Vikash.

I honestly did spend time looking for that info, and that is exactly my problem. I think the spring for N to 5th and reverse is inside the transmision. I have a spare 5MT and if I manualy use the gear selector, no resistance to 1 - 4th but feel the spring when going for 5 th.

I was about to start playing around with the tranny to find this spring!!!!

vrg3 · Post by **vrg3** » Wed Mar 19, 2008 8:02 pm

No problem. I replaced mine a short while ago and it was easy; the approach I recommend is: jack up the front driver's side corner of the car, put a jackstand under it, and then slide under from the side with a flashlight, the spring, and a pair of needle-nose pliers. I can't remember if I was on my stomach or on my back though.

n2x4 · Post by **n2x4** » Wed Mar 19, 2008 8:39 pm

Keep in mind, since you have a '90 Legacy, your shifter will be of a different design than the one modded for short throw on the legacycentral.org library page.

Yours is of the 2 piece design which won't work for the mod. If you try and trim it down too far there won't be much for you to reattach your shift knob to.

I'm a believer in true short throw, which moves the connection point of the linkage. I would replace the spring and the shift bushings before I got a new shifter. They're the cheaper routes.

Canadian Turbo · Post by **Canadian Turbo** » Thu Mar 20, 2008 4:58 pm

Going to give my car some viagra right now (put the spring in)

I know Vikash, noise to signal ratio, I couldn't help myself.

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to get a short throw shifter or not

to get a short throw shifter or not