Hey, just curious if anyone else has ever done any modifying to their shifters... stock or not.

Check out what I did over the last couple of days with my T5 shaft... Its now got a stainless steel threaded end on it (stock length) but its a different than stock thread, so now I know typical aftermarket ***** will fit.

I also gave my shifter a bit of a curve. The original reason was because its always a PITA to do anything with my CD player with the shifter always in the way, and my passengers always have a hard time doing anything with my CD player too (yes, I let a select few touch my CD player, lol )

After I put it back on today, just to see how it fit and worked, I actually REALLY like the way it feels now, with the curve in the shaft. Not really sure what it is, but to me, this shifter feels much more like 'muscle car' stuff than it did when it was untouched.

Right now, it just needs a little grinding of the welding to clean it up, then paint and a new ****.

Whatcha think? Have any of you guys/gals modified your shifters?

 

... forgot the pic

 

I modified mine by throwing mine in the trash and going aftermarket. All that work ain't worth it on the piece of junk they give you from the factory. Adjustable stops, strong solid feel, you just don't get that with the tin and pot metal stock shifter.

But if you like it, more power to ya.

 

I can't spend $150 on a new one now, got too much other stuff to spend it on, like the new project motor.

Just thought I'd have some fun with the stocker, and it turned out ok

 

Done, in car, in 15mins (doesn't look it but it's as short as can be made)...

 

Well done deadbird
Is that the stock ****? I haven't seen that one before.

 

nicely done

 

Thank you Adam
As far as I'm aware, it's original to the car. I've had it (the car) for about 8-10 years now and bought it from a middle aged lady. I've yet to see another like it but, I'm assuming they're out there.

I really like the curve idea you did with yours for a little extra clearing of the radidio. I wish I would have thought of that myself when I chopped the shifter in my camaro when I got it awhile back. Maybe sometime this summer I'll have to steal your design

I do agree with karps somewhat about the stock shifters being crap but, they aren't that bad. Especially if you're not into racing (such as myself) and slamming the crap outta gears. Myself, I certainly couldn't justify $150+ just for a shifter. When shortened to anything under the stock 14" length, the shifter does have a much more positive feel and slightly shorter throw. And, when you can do it for free & minimal effort... even more appealing

 

when you do something on a thirdgen thats free and improves the car its always a good feeling

 

well while i had my interior completly out of the car i decided to go ahead a take an angle grinder to my shifter and cut thst baby down. i got maybe an inch off and compared to the crappy stock shifting it feels incredible!!! i didnt bother threading it again because my aftermaret shiftknobs use allen screws.

 

I have the same shiftknob from the '87 Trans Am I took the dash/center console from.

 

Mine's cut too... the firebird **** seems to fit a lot better and it sits lower.



I honestly dont know how the guys with 97+ consoles keep the stock length shifters. Looked like a truck before I cut mine.

...and less effort to shift is nice.


-Bud

 

Looks like choping the shifter is a pretty common mod. Looks good too

I like the look of my curved shifter too... I painted it gloss black today, but before that, I put it in the car and stood back just to take a look... looks really unique I think. I have never seen another 3rdgen with a curved shifter before.

Earlier today at school, where I did all the welding, I got the shifter really, really smooth looking... since the new threaded top is a slightly smaller diameter then the shifter shaft, it kinda looks like those stepped headers. Looks pretty cool.

I'll post another pic of it later, when the painting is done and dry (I have to put it in my scanner to take a pic, lol)

 

Heres a little update pic of it... almost ready for paint.

How do you like my job cleaning up the welds and seams?

 

wow i really like the 4th gen center swap. you do the guage and lighter and switches yourself or did it come like that? excellent job

 

I don't think the 4thgen dash had that gauge there originally.. he must have done that himself. Dunno about the lighter though,

 

thats modded. you can see where the lighter goes on the side. i like it, looks neat

 

Looks like my console, the lighter is stock and ther is an aux. 'cig' jack on the side as well.

 

Adam ... that shifter looks really good. Wonder if I still have room on mine to do it. That's good stuff

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The cig lighters are "stock locations" but I did make the panel that it and the gauge go into. It was a piece cut from a thirdgen camaro console to match the rest of the interior... but I buffed it clean and polished it last time I was home (no more texture). The firebird pod cover... the squares are buffed out as well... Both look like mirrors. Meguires clear plastic cleaner and polish are awesome.

The window switchs.... lots of test fitting to get the panel to fit inside there and have the door close with no resistance, but still having the slits on the sides as small as possible. It fits like a glove. Buffed/polished that plate too.

Also used thirdgen Camaro hexscrews to mount it all... so it'd match a bit.


-Bud

 

Thanks 67
I'm pretty proud of that shifter... I still can't beleive how clean my welding turned out!

 

That cleaned up nicely and will look real good after some paint. One question, am I crazy or did you shorten the bolt just a little more and cut some of the threads off ?

Here's the chopped off one in my camaro.. not quite as short as the 'bird but still, much nicer than stock length...