Oakland short shifter

[karhawk]

My daughter wanted a shorter shifter so I: took my die grinder and cut approx. 2" off the shaft of the shifter, 1st cut about 3/8" below the bottom of the threads measure down 2" cut again, (touch up your cut on a grinder) after removing the rubber bushings slide the threaded pc. down the shaft and it will wedge itself nicely (smacking it with a hammer and drift) with the thread protruding. You can epoxy it in if you like. I got lucky when I screwed the shifter ball back on it was flush with to top.

10 minutes work for better shifting and better looks.
Chris
Oakland, Ca.

[pope]

How about a pic.

[karhawk]

I'll try get my daughter to post some pics on our blog, it's real easy to do. Now that I have her car mostly done, its the first thing I will do to my car.http://scratchybottom.blogspot.com/

Chris
Oakland, Ca

[So Cal Mark]

shortening the top of the shift lever doesn't shorten the throw. You would have to change the length from the pivot to the point the lever attaches to the linkage. While it may look better it won't improve shifting

[mdrburchette]

It doesn't shorten the throw but it does shorten the movement when changing gears. I also like the looks.

[karhawk]

It doesn't shorten the throw but it does shorten the movement when changing gears. I also like the looks.

Go here for the photos: http://scratchybottom.blogspot.com/ VERY easy to do!

Chris
Oakland, Ca.

[mbouse]

That is the Dale Crandall method.

[mdrburchette]

Isn't this also the way Alvon shortened his? I like the idea since it lets you keep the rubber bushings inside the shifter but I have no complaints with my Jim Fierst short shifter. It makes for a more precise feel.

[karhawk]

That is the Dale Crandall method.

I'll take that as a compliment Sorry Dale your secret is out!
I was always coming up with cheapo delux fabrication ideas that didn't cost much on a car we raced the Thunderhill 24hoursoflemons. Check out the cheap barth bumperettes on my daughters car, cost approx. $34.
http://scratchybottom.blogspot.com/ scroll down to the red car.

Chris
Oakland, CA.

[mbouse]

mine is based of Jim's design. and, the best part of that, is that you can revert back to stock parts / stock look in 10 minutes.

not so for the cut and weld method.

[So Cal Mark]

if it's an improvement, why would you want to change it back?

[mbouse]

don't recall ever using the word improvement in any description, advertisment or other.

some like the modification, other do not.... potential buyers may not. all i was saying was that if a potential buyer were to balk at a shorter shifter, my unit could be replaced by the stock unit in 10 minutes and not be a stumbling block to a potential sale.

a cut/chopped and welded stock shifter would need to be replaced in order to accomplish that. Good luck keeping the potential buyer's attention while you find and install a stock shifter from someone with a stockpile of spare parts.

if you are not intending on selling the car ever.... then none of this applies.

[ventura ace]

Isn't this also the way Alvon shortened his? I like the idea since it lets you keep the rubber bushings inside the shifter but I have no complaints with my Jim Fierst short shifter. It makes for a more precise feel.

Similar, yes. The idea was to keep the rubber bushings to isolate vibrations and retain the 'rotation' feel, yet shorten it for the looks and less reach for shifting.



The chrome shifter is cut at 5" from the bottom, then tapped to accept the same thread as was on the end in the first place.


Here is a pictorial comparison of the shifter extension described above, the stock mid-years chrome extension, and the stock early-years long extension. The shortened chrome extension effectively puts the gear shift knob in the same position as the Fierst / Bouse extension. It looks like the Karhawk / Crandall extension may be a tad shorter.