In lieu of buying a high dollar replacement shifter, is there any way to improve the flimsy original F-body T5 shifter? Seems like one could cut the hollow tube that is the shifter stick off (or take it off some other way depending on how it's attached) and weld a solid steel rod where it used to be, then you could use a more standard threaded shifter **** and have a stronger stick to boot. I have also seem a conversion kit sold on eBay which has some kind of adapter that allows to to bolt on the style stick that you select from them: I can't seem to find this listing when I look for it now, though. The shifter **** was missing on the shifter that came with the transmission I sourced for my T5 swap and it seems silly to pay $60 or more for a new one for the cheesy oddball "stick" these shifters had.

 

I'm sure it's possible, but how much is your time worth? I would pay the $180 for a pro-5.0 shifter and wouldn't waste time farting around with the stock shifter. It's hot garbage and belongs in the trash.

 

My t5 shifter is like that. It works well but it's still lots of through. It's much better than the 18 inch shifter was stock. It's like 6-7 inches and eliminated the rubber isolating rubber section. It looks like you could do it in 30 min w a welder. It's like a poor man's short shifter.

 

The pro-5.0 is excellent. Beauty is you can ram the gear and the stop bolts will do the trick.

 

See if you can find a used one to cut the cost. The stock stamped based shifter is really bad. Don't waste your time on it. Any aftermarket shifter will better than stock. So don't solely look for a pro 5.0.

 

The other thing I don't like about the woopdedo replacement shifters for our cars is they are too short for my taste. I never bought into the "short shifter" fad.

 

The Pro 5.0 is super short and sounds like you would not like that unit. Other aftermarket shifters, although similar, aren't that extreme.

 

Super short? Compared to what, an 80s F600?😄 I never thought it was much different in throw over the stocker, just more precise feeling. I can understand not liking the spring setup to set it into neutral though I prefer it. To each their own, if stock doesn't feel vague to you then its fine. Always thought the bigger issue was the joint, not the stick