![Image](http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f68/scottahicks/Subaru%20Mods/Stockshftr1.jpg)
I started messing with the linkage and the actual shaft. I realized that the shaft that the shift knob goes on to is not actually attached to the shifter linkage. So with a lot of wiggeling and pulling...
![Image](http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f68/scottahicks/Subaru%20Mods/Stockshftr2.jpg)
And eventually...
![Image](http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f68/scottahicks/Subaru%20Mods/stockshftr3.jpg)
So upon inspecting the rubberized shaft, I realized that the metal part of the shaft it is rather similar in diameter to the original threaded shaft that the shift knob screwed onto, just a little smaller. the length is also just slightly longer than the depth of the shift knob. so the lightbulb went on...
Get out the knife!!!
![Image](http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f68/scottahicks/Subaru%20Mods/knife1.jpg)
Start hacking away the wretched mushy rubber.
![Image](http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f68/scottahicks/Subaru%20Mods/knife2.jpg)
Cut away most but not all of the rubber, you need a little to create tension and keep the knob from spinning.
![Image](http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f68/scottahicks/Subaru%20Mods/knife3.jpg)
Make sure you test fit before you cut off too much rubber to get the right fit. Next push the shift knob down as far as it will go. and it will look like this.
![Image](http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f68/scottahicks/Subaru%20Mods/Shortshftr1.jpg)
Now you can find a drill bit that is the same diameter as the shaft and drill out the threads that are in the knob to get it to sit lower, but I found that without drilling it is at the proper height for me. Once you put all the plastic back and pop the boot back onto the knob in neutral it will look like this...
![Image](http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f68/scottahicks/Subaru%20Mods/shortshftr2.jpg)
In 1st it will look like this...
![Image](http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f68/scottahicks/Subaru%20Mods/shortshftr3.jpg)
In 2nd it will look like this...
![Image](http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f68/scottahicks/Subaru%20Mods/shortshftr4.jpg)
The differance in the shifting was AMAZING... Dont get me wrong its not a race shifter, but it is certianly WAY better. the shift is short and relativly crisp. I will be attending to the 200,000mi+ worn out bushings in the linkage later, but this was FREE!!!!! I still can't belive they used a rubber mounted divorced shifter but whatever it worked out for a quick fix!
Price Free, Time about 30 minutes.