| Mazda
RX7
| Mazda Miata Short
Throw Shifter on Mazda RX7 |
Here it is finally, my writeup
for the Mazda Miata Short Throw Shifter:
Find
the Miata Short Shifter on eBay HERE
As
well you will need 1 upper shifter bushing, I purchased one from the
local mazda dealer for approx $7 including tax and it took 2 days to
receive.
Upper Bushing Part Number is #M508-17-481A
Find the Bushing(s) on eBay also.
You
may also want to replace any ripped or torn boots after you see the
condition of yours upon disassembly.
I prefer
this style of shifter as it is a 2 piece shaft so you can choose
whether you want a mild short throw or an extremely short throw.
To start:
1) Remove the shift knob by using a crescent wrench or suitable open ended
wrench and loosen the jamb nut at the base of the shift knob.
2)
with a rag or something to get a good grip on the knob with, make a
sharp counterclockwise twisting motion with the knob and it should
break loose from the shaft. remove the knob and the jamb nut.
3)
take a flat tip small screwdriver and place it under the shifter trim
surround and pry it upwards to pop the locking tabs loose and remove
the shifter surround.
4) remove all the boots that seal the top of the shifter housing.
5)remove the shifter housing top seal/gasket.
6)remove
any remnants of the top shifter bushing and pull out the shifter shaft
being careful not to drop any pieces of bushings or other materials
into the housing.
7) remove the bottom shifter bushing or pieces of the steel cage that
is left.
8)clean out the housing of any debris.
9)siphon
any excess lubricant out of the shifter slide bore and housing, you can
remove as much of the gear oil as possible and refill it so that the
level of lubricant is half way up the shifter slide bore(the square
piece with a bore in it).
10)now you have to remove the slip collar
from the new shifter assembly and sand approx 1mm from it's diameter as
the stock miata shifter is slightly too large for the FC3S shifter
bore. you can do this by placing some medium grit sandpaper on a flat
surface and rolling the collar while sanding it. place the collar back
onto the shifter ball and try placing it into the bore, when it slips
in and pulls out easily you are ready to install it.
11)once you have the shifter collar ready you can setup the pieces for
assembly.
12)now
place the smaller aluminum collar into the bore of the shift housing
with the groove in the collar face down interlocking with the dowel in
the housing:
13) now remove the steel collar from the white
lower bushing that came with your short shifter and lube it up with
some petroleum jelly or gear oil and place it on top of the collar you
just installed:
14)take the large diameter spacer collar and
remove the allen key screw, place a srop of blue locktite onto the
threads and install it snug into the collar.
15)install the large
diameter collar onto the housing aligning the holes with the bolt holes
in the stock housing, the allen guide screw will face forward and be
near the bottom of the collar bore.
16)install the shifter shaft,
guide the bottom slide bushing into the shifter bore and align the
keyway in front with the allen guide screw. push the shifter down into
the bore so it all is aligned:
17)take the top bushing you
purchased seperately and install it on top of the shifter ball in the
bore so that everything is snug, do not add a spring washer to this
bushing unless your shifter happens to be loose, more than likely it
will be a bit tight until it breaks in(i have the washer installed in
this picture, disregard unless your shifter happens to fit loosely):
18)now
install the top cover gasket, if you don't have one you can substitute
anaerobic sealer, gasket maker or even a small amount of silicone.
install the top cover and boot assembly and tighten the bolts snug.
19)now reinstall the rubber boots for the top of the shifter housing in
the reverse order you removed them.
20) install the shifter console cover.
21)
now you can play with the different lengths of the shifter and see
which you prefer, the super short or the stock length shifter with
short throw.
The shifter may be a little tight, it will
break in slightly. if you think it is too tough you can disassemble and
remove the bottom bushing steel spring washer to help loosen it up.
keep in mind as you drive it you will get used to how it shifts, the
super short shifter is an acquired taste and it will free up as you
drive it. the stock height shifter is easier to shift but the throw is
also a bit more than the super short shifter but a bit less than the
stock shifter.
Also, you will need to pick up a shift knob
insert for the knob to fit this shifter as the threads are a bit small
for the stock shift knob, you can try varying suppliers for a thread
fit adapter for the stock knob or fabricate your own with PVC. as you
can see i just purchased a tall B+M shifter knob for my super short
shifter, the adapters needed are in the kit.
Yes I know I need to clean my car.
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This Write-Up is For . . .
Mazda RX7 | 2nd
Generation (FC3S)
Submitted By:
Karack
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