Shorten Height of the shift knob

[RobPaulson]

OK so i know this idea has been thrown around a bit, but i wanted a fresh start on this one. ESP touched on it here

I REALLY would like to shorten the height of the shift knob in my A/C (is it the same extremely high design in the sedans?) So does anyone have any idea where to start with this? Any manufacturers who may want to develop/produce something like this? or maybe even get a custom job / writeup going on here?

I would be willing to 'attempt' some ideas as long as I agree with them, I'll send emails / do leg work, i just need some names / suggestions!

(@mods, if this can apply to sedans as well feel free to move this to a general or something, i'm just unaware of sedans have the same issue/desires)

[blackteam02]

Good move ROB!Im tired of my A/C Shift knob feeling like this pic here!!

[bunda4th]

http://www.bmracing.com/PRODUCTS/Nissan

If lots of us are willing to email and get an interest thread for these B&M makes really good short shifter.

They are located up in CA, but they are located 3 hours away from me.

[RobPaulson]

awesome, i will write up a generic, well worded email for u guys to send if you want.

ill copy it up here within 24hrs hopefully... stupid busy atm

[bunda4th]

I just did a search on their website and I do not see any email....just a number to call.

I just gave them a call...They have no plans for it because of the small market for them....maybe if more of us call and keep bugging them they will!

[JDRosenberg07]

i was thinking about doing this to but more so to the reverse lockout. i dont mind the height of the shifter cause its a pretty much perfect fit for me when i use my armrest. but i was wondering if there is a way to shorten the reverse lockout mechanism so it would open up more options for shift knobs.

[lilojoj]

idk if this is true or not but i heard that some sti 6speed owners actually take off the reverse lock. they're just careful when going into 1st

[JDRosenberg07]

Oh yeah that wouldn't be hard to do at all, i think it would be pretty simply actually. It's just a piece of plastic that goes around the gear shifter. The thing is I don't want to remove it completely cause I don't mind it. I just want to make it shorter.. I was thinking cutting it and using crazy glue btw I don't think I would trust it to hold right. Lol

[lilojoj]

if you take off the reverse lock you could probably shave off like an inch. maybe that would work?

[DEFTON35]

Has anybody looked into maybe swapping the shifter to a 350 or 370 z maybe even G37 shifter. I've removed the cover of the altima shifter and there seems to be a lot of space going on in there. I don't even know if I'd be possible but both the z and g shifters are much shorter and push down for reverse.

[Racingline]

No love for the STS? it's not shorter height but it's the next best thing

[RobPaulson]

No love for the STS? it's not shorter height but it's the next best thing

see sig =P haha i alrdy haz one, it is AWESOME guys, but .... but... i just need it lower to the ground, it is SSSOOOOOO high up its almost awkward...

the STS RL produced was great, it shortened the throw, i just want that low to the ground feeling to it now ... maybe u guys could come up with something else that works with the STS? i would totally buy it ... i think ALOT of other 6MT owners would be aaalllllllll over this.

[mcheddadi]

this knob will shorten your shifter by more than one inchhttp://www.optionsauto.com/pro...RA122

[lilojoj]

this knob will shorten your shifter by more than one inchhttp://www.optionsauto.com/pro...RA122

looks alright

No love for the STS? it's not shorter height but it's the next best thing

i have the sts too. mr. coupe claims that someone he knows said that a sts is a transmission killer. what do you say to that?

[bunda4th]

Well, I mention in another thread that I was going to get the STS and Mr.Coupe mention that as well.

So seeing how it is mention again here, I decided to do some research on it and It does not kill the transmission at all.

The STS is in no way in connection with the transmission. What the STS does is of course shorten the throw (the distance between each gear). By allowing us to hit each gear faster and more accurate.

Basically the STS makes the shifter straighter and angle to be reduce. With the bolt place change, all it basically did was alter it, which by no means change anything of the transmission. With this simple alter it reduced the distance between gears in the most simplest way.

So basically what kills the transmission is not the STS but the DRIVER! The part does not make it so you can slam into each gear faster or redline then shift. Another thing is since the throw is shorter you must change your driving habit a bit so that when you release the clutch you are in gear and not grinding.

From that note if B&M do not release a short shifter, which will also reduce the throw but at the same time shorten the height of the shifter I will be getting myself the STS from Racing Line.

[lilojoj]

yeah thats where i saw him say that. i was thinking no way its a transmission killer because when i was installing it i didnt even touch the transmission lol. maybe his friend knows people that race a lot and end up blowing their trannys and then blame it on the sts...? haha

... maybe u guys could come up with something else that works with the STS? i would totally buy it ... i think ALOT of other 6MT owners would be aaalllllllll over this.

[trigger_storey]

Anything ever come from this thread...no companies are ever going to offer a reverse lockout sts...they are made for plenty of other cars...

[Desire1314]

No love for or cars from manufactures. Cuz at the end of the day, we all still drive an Altima.

[2008AltiCoupeDan]

No love for or cars from manufactures. Cuz at the end of the day, we all still drive an Altima.

+1

but racingline seems to gravitate towards us- keep that in mind. it was the first sts to come out for us, and imo- the best, (if only the 4 bolts on the straddle didnt rust... >.> )

and we need sum updated pics of darryls car on the site, and i think i should b on the site too- not to mention rsb and endlinks :P

[trigger_storey]

I cut the shaft down and got rid of the reserve lockout. Feels alot better shifting and throw feels easier without all the bulky plastic bunching up in there, Im sure the heavy shift knob helps too.

[foxx310]

wow!! SO YOU GOT IT DOWN HA.. impressive, What do you recommend to use on cutting the shaft? thanks, thinking of doing it, your ride looks sweet!!

[trigger_storey]

Well there are 2 ways Id go about doing something like this. Both I considered but I was just lazy and ended up using my dremel with a cutting wheel and took it right off in about 20 seconds. Then I just grinded it down smooth and flat and put the knob on. They also make a tool you can rent at most auto parts stores that cuts pipe that woud work really well if your afraid your going to mess the threads up etc. Using a dremel you have to make sure you stay straight on your cut or you can damage the remaining threads and then the knob will never go on and youll be f*****. Either way Id say works fine though. I threw a towel down so the metal shavings didnt go everywhere inside the car. Other than that It was a breeze. Any questions just pm me.

[trigger_storey]

Here are some pics of the finished product. This was after everything was cut down, shifter was removed and modified and I welded everything back together and then reinstalled everything and replaced my shift boot with one I had from a 93 Maxima. Came out really good and I couldnt be happier with the height and throw. My own custom version of a Altima Coupe short throw shifter. Compare the previous pictures with the new pictures and you can tell how short is actually is now. I couldnt be happier with how it turned out.