Short Shifter Install

Given up on this completly today, couldn#t remove the nob so had to slide the shift boot through the silver shoe housing and got it scracthed and I can't remove that central screw no matter what I try. Anyone offer any guidance?

waz did you review the related article in the articles section? Might help.

I installed my short shifter yesterday Here is a link to the article I used http://www.planet-9.com/reviews/showproduct.php?product=27&cat=4 center screw is really PITA to remove.

I followed that and KMan's guide. Couldn't get the lower collor to loosen the knob and trying the way in that guide I couldn't get the silver trim off the gearknob without damaging it. I can't access that screw in the middle at all!

Can you twist the collar? I thought twisting the collar 90 degree will do the job, but it was like 45 degree(clockwise rotation). What I did was twist the collar slowly while pulling it down at the same time. "only one will work" For the middle screw, I just used torx screwdriver insert bit and twist it with long nose plier. After I loosen the screw a bit, just used long nose plier to loosen it.

For the middle screw, go back to K-Man S's article on how to remove/replace the center console and read my comments on the bottom. I think they're quite clear, and will give you full access with a screwdriver to the 'killer' screw. You really should have read it first actually, as it makes the removal of the horseshoe and piece above it much, much easier.

Installed the short shifter yesterday as well. I would never have been able to do it without the help of K-Man S's article and everybody else's feedback on this forum. Thanks everyone!! With that said, I was able to get the silver cap off by using a very small screw driver and "jamming" it into the little hole on top of the shifter where the leather shifter is sewn together. The silver cap is knicked ever so slight but because the mark is facing the front, it can't be seen. As for the collar. Once the screws are removed and the rear half of the shifter is removed. You can twist the collar clockwise 45 degrees. At this point, I had problems removing the collar from he shift knob so I just pulled the leather off of the plastic u-shaped piece and wiggled the other half of the shift knob along with the leather together. With that said, the biggest pain was the u-shaped piece that sits on top of the silver u-shaped piece. I wish I had read Swancoat's comments but didn't even think about reading further beyond the article itself. As for the killer screw, I used a "thin" T20 and was able to attack the screw at a slight angle to remove it. This is my personal opinion but if you can find somebody to do the install for under $150, I'd say it's worth paying somebody else to do the work. Better yet, if you can find somebody who's done it before.... Anyway, hope this helps. Remember not to rush. Take a lot of breaks if you need. Good luck!

Many thanks for the comments guy, very friendly bunch! Yeah Swancoat, your comments make it sound a lot easier, will give it a shot this weekend! I just can't get that damn knob off, tried twisting the collar and nothing!

Yeah, basically, find something that won't mark the leather, stick it in the front between the leather and the plastic console, and just pop it out. The leather boot is permanently attached to a plastic 'frame' (you can feel it underneath) and THAT'S what you're popping off the console.

Finally installed it today and it is easily one of the best mods I have done on any car, it feels nice and tight and the throw over stock is much shorter than you would expect. I removed the the leather side trim at each end of the display consoles to access the screws for the lower tray so that I could remove it and easily access the "killer screw". Only thing I forgot to do when installing the OEM short shifter, was to mark the shifter cables original location. I ended up just putting the black ends of the shifter cables to the bottom (closest) area of the retainer spring "holder". It seems to shift fine (feels a bit notchy though) and all is good so far. Every gear selects too. Anything to worry about or as it seems to work now there is no way anything will mess up?

Mis-marking those cable locations will only affect the 'location' of the shifter (if that makes any sense). i.e. Neutral may be an inch one way or the other, or higher or lower, but won't affect the distance from gear to gear. Just the 'location' of the entire shift pattern (Seriously - this makes perfect sense in my head - I just can't verbalize it). Notchiness has nothing to do with where those things get marked.

If it's an OEM short shifter, it should have come with a green plastic piece that clips onto the shifter and prevents it from shifting. That would be it's natural resting position. Even if you didn't use this, I can't imagine it being a problem. Congrats on the install. Definitely one of the best mods in my opinion. -Moto

If you change out your tranny fluid to Redline or Royal Purple it will smooth out the notchy feeling. At least it had when I installed the SSK in my car.

Many thanks for the comments chaps! I did use the green plastic clips so all is well! Looking to get the tranny fluid changed soon and hopefully going to get my 19" Carrera S alloys done in black in the centers with the lip remaining silver!