T5 Manual Short Shift

[bobby_wayne]

Hi

I'm wondering what I need to make the throw of the selector shorter for my vp v6 manual. I don't mean shortening the length of the selector but the distance of travel the stick moves between 1st and 2nd, 2nd-3rd etc etc. I know a ripshift allows the stick take shortcuts between gears via angles from 2nd-3rd and 4th-5th but I want to know what makes the selection between gears shorter so that the gear stick doesn't have to travel so far. I work as a mechanic and we have cars in our workshop with short throws but no one at work can explain how the setup works. any help appreciated

[cander24]

The fulcrum point is changed to give a lesser mechanical advantage. This is how the knob on the shifter can move a shorter distance yet have the same travel on the shifter linkages. This is also why they are typically a firmer shift that takes a little more force. Basically comes down to leverage points.

[GTP 85]

i made my own short shifter. Used a 20mm thick plate of billet ally and machined the holes into it. It spaces the entire pivot point of the shifter 20mm higher. I then used some steel rod welded in to extend the length of the 'rod' that goes into the gearbox. Bolt it all down with new longer bolts and hey presto, budget short shifter!

Beats payin $400 for a rip shifter, cost me about $30. Mite not have the positive stops and the spring into 3rd, but i never miss the 3rd shift anyway

[maldotcom2]

Do you have any pictures?

[GTP 85]

Do you have any pictures?

i dont unfortunately cause it's in the car lol. It definitely shortens the throw by heaps. Both my cars have T5's, going from one to the other (other being the one without) it seems almost twice the distance between gears.

If you can score a spare shifter.. the part that bolts into the gearbox.. turn it upside down and look at the imprint the gearbox leaves on the lid... Basically you need to make a sandwich plate to fit snug in there between it and the gearbox. Need a hole of course so the rod can pass thru.

Pretty straight forward if you have basic mech skills. Rule of thumb... the exact thickness of the plate also needs to be added to the rod

hope it makes sense