B&M SHORT & SHORT Shifter write-up

[94_240sx]

I've been using B&M short shifter for about 4 months now and feeling like the shaft is a little too long for me, so I decided to cut it and see what happens. I paid about $200 shipped for this, so I was nervous, but it came out way better than I thought. It shifts REALLY nice. I wonder why B&M didn't make it this way from the beginning.

First, I completely disassembled the shifter like this. You can start disassembling it by removing 4 hex bolts under the rubber boot. Tricky part is removing the clip that holds black plastic thing in the middle of the shaft.

You will have to remove a clip and two o-rings from these slots.

I used Dremel to cut the o-ring slots like this. I didn't know where to cut, but seemed like these two spots would work. The piece that I removed was exactly 38mm(1 7/16 inch) long.

I also cut a small copper pipe(1/2") like this to help welding them together straight. It was .40 cents from Home Depot.

I dropped it off at the machine shop that I go to yesterday and picked it up this afternoon. He made two passes, so it's really strong. It's straight as an arrow too.

This plastic piece holds the boot up and keep flared, so I had to move it down a little since I cut the upper portion of the shaft.

I was thinking about cutting some from the bottom, but I grinded the inside of it like this instead.

Everything fits perfect like this.

On the side note, there's number '2' written on the bottom of the shifter like this. I wonder this shows that mine is Version 2.

I installed it back on the car and here's the before and after pics. I absolutely love how it shifts now. It was good before and it's even better now. I thought I'd need more force to shift, but it's not that bad at all. I highly recommend this modification if you have time to do it.

BEFORE

AFTER
Modified by 94_240sx at 7:24 PM 8/14/2008

[Clawhammer]

That's weird, my B&M is only as high as your modified one. It's not tall at all, I can wrap my hand around my Grex shift know and the bottom of my arm can touch the boot and bezel. Odd.

[iitywygms]

Frikin Shweet! Nice job!

[Fractur3]

looks 10x better imo

[94_240sx]

That's weird, my B&M is only as high as your modified one. It's not tall at all, I can wrap my hand around my Grex shift know and the bottom of my arm can touch the boot and bezel. Odd.

I doubt that B&M made two different shafts for 240sx. I have a brand new Nismo transmission mount installed recently. Do you think it's possible that your transmission mount is worn out, so it's holding the transmission lower than mine or something? idk...

[MastaYu]

looks better

[Clawhammer]

I guess it could be possible...I do drag my transmission across speedbumps from time to time. Your before pic is like whoa. It's so tall. But I mean could my transmission sag THAT much? I don't know.

[Clawhammer]

Just snapped you a pic of my unmodified B&M, Grex shift knob, and Redline boot.

[punkrocker7788]

That looks incredible... I having a WEIRD time with mine though... I put mine in, everything went smoothly, then I was driving it the next day, and it seemed to not want to go into 2nd very well, I grinded 3 times!!! So I decided to put the stock one back on, and now it is shifting great again... Would there be a way of maybe cutting the stock shifter down so its not 4' tall! That would be WONDERFUL!

[94_240sx]

Just snapped you a pic of my unmodified B&M, Grex shift knob, and Redline boot.

That looks short. How was your stock shifter? Was it way longer or just about same height as B&M? Here's the deal. When I tried to remove 2 front bolts on stock shifter, I had to undo the trnsmission cross member and drop it a little to have some more room. How about you?

Would there be a way of maybe cutting the stock shifter down so its not 4' tall! That would be WONDERFUL!

I checked stock shifter this morning, and oh, boy, that thing's THICK!! I think you can still cut it and weld it just like I did if you have a right tool. I had similar problem with shifting after 5-speed swap. 1st and 2nd gear wouldn't go in easily. I adjusted 30631 and it fixed it. My pedal needed like 2-3mm more travel forward. You should try it.

[Hijacker]

I never understood the fascination of short shifters. I've used them before and I shift just as quickly with a stock shifter.

As for grinding gears, remember we have transmissions that are nearing 15-20 years old. Synchros start to fail given enough time, and 1st and 2nd take a big beating at launch.

[94_240sx]

I never understood the fascination of short shifters. I've used them before and I shift just as quickly with a stock shifter.

I switched them back and forth and compared. You can definitely tell there's a huge difference. Stock shifter feels so loose.

[Hijacker]

That's probably due to old bushings

[94_240sx]

That's probably due to old bushings

Actually, I put new bushings on both. I took both of them apart and looks like this ball joint mechanism is better on B&M shifter and that's one of the reasons why B&M shifter feels better.

[Clawhammer]

When I did my 5 speed swap I went straight to the B&M so I can't say how the old shifter was. I also don't remember clearance issues on there. We did the 5speed and SR swap in a day and a half and I was back on the road driving 200 miles home crossing my fingers we did everything right lol. It was a hectic weekend.

Hijacker: It's just a matter of preference, I personally like how tight my shifter is, how I barely move it and it clicks into place. Others like the sloppy feel of the stock shifter and I only say sloppy compared to short. One of the guys helping me with my swaps hated it, my roommate doesn't like it, but a guy at work got in my car and was like omg I'm getting one of these for my car. /shrug

[1unar3clipse]

^ I'm with clawhammer..

my 93 HB had a loose *** shifter, wobbled all over the place and I would mis-shift from the amount of play it had.

It bugged the **** out of me because I like a heavy shifter feel, so I played around with an HKS spring kit I got as a gift from my GF and the B&M and found a mix of the heavy+medium springs and the B&M gave me the feel I wanted in the shifter.

[Hijacker]

There's more than just the nylon bushing on the bottom of the shifter that plays into the feeling of slop of the stock shifter. The nylon collar that goes into the retainer plate is also part of the assembly.

Every short shifter I have dealt with so far has been too notchy and requires too much precision to get the car in gear. I've missed more shifts due to that than with stock equipment.

But it's all preference

[hbpignosePA]

looks good, im still a skeptic on the short shifter...

i definately need first and second gear syncro work

eh one of these days

[94_240sx]

Part II

I drove for a week and felt like I could chop off some more, so I went ahead and removed about 20mm more. It still feels real good. I don't think it's a good idea if I make it shorter than this, so I'll stop here. Anyway, here's before and after pics.

BEFORE

AFTER

[AZ89two4Tsx]

Your interior is rediculously clean.

[S13xCrazy]

Your interior is rediculously clean.

I take it you have never seen the exterior of his car....*drools*

[Nacho_240]

How much harder is it to shift compared to the original B&M height?

Also, seeing as how you took your shifter apart already, could you possibly tell me how the B&M shifter is assembled. Some douche sold me one and sent it in pieces and then never answered my calls.

I have 2 stubby springs, 1 long skinny spring, 2 odd shaped clips, 2 black things (they look like mini hockey pucks), 3 hex bolts (need one more), and of course the black cover, shifter shaft and the base. PLEASE HELP ME MAN!

[94_240sx]

Your interior is rediculously clean.

I take it you have never seen the exterior of his car....*drools*.

Thanks, guys. I've been trying my best to keep it in best condition inside and outside.

How much harder is it to shift compared to the original B&M height?

Not by much. I've tried numerous times, but I've never missed a single gear. It goes in just perfect and smooth. I really like how it feels now.

I have 2 stubby springs, 1 long skinny spring, 2 odd shaped clips, 2 black things (they look like mini hockey pucks), 3 hex bolts (need one more), and of course the black cover, shifter shaft and the base. PLEASE HELP ME MAN!

I have no idea about that 1 long skinny spring. I don't have it on mine. I think it's going to be hard to find same hex bolt, but 3 bolts should be enough to hold the cover down. You should ask B&M and see you can buy any missing parts. Their phone number is (818) 882-6422, and ask for Drew. He's in charge of any problems with short shifter.

This is how it looks. If you add a couple of small washers on top of that hockey puck thing, shifter will be even more solid. I know someone who fixed rattle from eBay B&M knock off shifter by adding washers there. I added to my B&M and it didn't feel good. Let me know if you have any questions.

P.S.: Make sure to use some grease.


Modified by 94_240sx at 6:33 AM 8/22/2008

[Nacho_240]

Not by much. I've tried numerous times, but I've never missed a single gear. It goes in just perfect and smooth. I really like how it feels now.

I have no idea about that 1 long skinny spring. I don't have it on mine. I think it's going to be hard to find same hex bolt, but 3 bolts should be enough to hold the cover down. You should ask B&M and see you can buy any missing parts. Their phone number is (818) 882-6422, and ask for Drew. He's in charge of any problems with short shifter.

This is how it looks. If you add a couple of small washers on top of that hockey puck thing, shifter will be even more solid. I know someone who fixed rattle from eBay B&M knock off shifter by adding washers there. I added to my B&M and it didn't feel good. Let me know if you have any questions.

P.S.: Make sure to use some grease.



Modified by 94_240sx at 6:33 AM 8/22/2008

I called B&M tech support, but they weren't able to tell me the assembly procedure. I think he said they were assembled off-site and they weren't allowed to take them apart. I'll definitely give them a call if I can't find the correct hex bolt.

regarding the long spring, someone told me it goes in underneath the shifter unit but I don't see the purpose.

That pic is exactly what I needed! Thanks a bunch 94_240sx

[94_240sx]

regarding the long spring, someone told me it goes in underneath the shifter unit but I don't see the purpose.

You don't have to use it for sure.

That pic is exactly what I needed! Thanks a bunch 94_240sx

Not a problem. You can still install it without one hex bolt, so just go ahead install the shifter and add the bolt later once you find it. Or... it doesn't have to be exact same bolt, so you can get any bolt with same thread and pitch from hardware store. There's some space between black cover and rubber boot as you can see.

[fourLUG_hero]

Holy sh*t that was a long shifter before you modified it. I have a B&M as well and it was NEVER that long. Its position is exactly where clawhammer's is.

[94_240sx]

Holy sh*t that was a long shifter before you modified it. I have a B&M as well and it was NEVER that long. Its position is exactly where clawhammer's is.

Trust me. I usually have bad luck when it comes to my car, so I bet only mine is screwed up somehow.

Some good example are...Circuit Sports hood dampers don't fit on mine. Seems like they work great on other s13s. Got the Nismo engine mounts and front strut tower bar won't fit.

[fourLUG_hero]

Trust me. I usually have bad luck when it comes to my car, so I bet only mine is screwed up somehow.

Some good example are...Circuit Sports hood dampers don't fit on mine. Seems like they work great on other s13s. Got the Nismo engine mounts and front strut tower bar won't fit.

Lol what do you have, KA or SR ? If you have a KA with non-stock mounts, the engine will raise. Why ? I dunno. I test fitted my Greddy before I put on my Kazama mounts and after I put the mounts on, the STB touched the top of my valve cover.

[240sxvaj]

it isnt a B&M anymore LOL!

[Clawhammer]

Haha add something else wrong to you list.

If I put my arm level on the top of the shift knob it lines up with the middle of the two DIN slots, with no mods.