MSA short shifter fix

[dmorales-bello]

I had installed an MSA short shifter kit about a year and a half ago and noticed that the rod supplied by MSA was curved differently from the stock shifter which positioned it about 2.5 inches forward from the stock neutral position, The first pic shows the forward position of the short shifter with the car in neutral. The second picture compares the new black rod to the superimposed chrome OEM rod.

 

This forced me to stretch forward to shift into first, third and fifth gear, and to pull the knob backward with the tips of my fingers when downshifting into second and fourth gear. So even though I liked the feel of the short throw associated with this shifter rod, the experience was tolerable but definitely not comfortable. Called MSA and they said most people had no complaints but other people had in fact decided to bend the rod. I could not find references in the forum.

I finally decided to take my center console apart once again and take out the shifter. Using the chrome stock shifter as the model I heated the MSA rod and gave it two different bends and one twist until the correct form was achieved.

After a little polishing and a couple of coats of satin black lacquer I'm ready to mount again in a much more ergonomic position. 

I'll post final pics tomorrow and report on the degree of comfort.

 

[Captain Obvious]

Nice. I often find it's the little things like that which really add to driving satisfaction.

[wheee!]

Do the 240 and 280 have different positions for the shifter too? I thought the 280 was a little farther forward than the 240?

[siteunseen]

Nice looking interior dmoralesbello.  I have a ZX short shift rod I used when I switched transmissions, 4sp to a 5sp in my 240.  I hated that thing's position but I liked the way it popped back to the neutral position when I moved it out of gear.  I may try what you've done someday, looks like something I might could do.

Wheee here's a good read if you haven't already, http://www.zcarz.us/TechnicalInformationPageTransmission.htm

 

[wheee!]

Thanks for the reminder, I have that bookmarked somewhere...

This is something I will look into later as I get more into rebuilding the late model 5 speed I have.

[Mike]

I don't know much about this short throw shifter, but, something doesn't look right to me in the comparison between the shifters.  The old one looks like it has a short length between the pin and the knob where it enters the transmission.  Does that work in your installation, or, did you pick up a shifter for a 240z perhaps?

There is definitely a difference between the 4-speed and later 5-speed transmissions.  If you've done a 5-speed swap you'll know what I'm talking about.  I had to modify my shifter to get the 5-speed to work with my '71 240z.

[wheee!]

He has the MSA kit that extends the tabs on the transmission to create the throw height change, hence the short shifting. I have one in my 370Z

[wheee!]

Forum is doing funky things again...

[Mike]

7 minutes ago, wheee! said:

Forum is doing funky things again...

Yea, it looks like our nightly backup is causing the issue.  I'm working on it now.

[Mike]

10 minutes ago, wheee! said:

He has the MSA kit that extends the tabs on the transmission to create the throw height change, hence the short shifting. I have one in my 370Z

Ah, ok I didn't know there was a transmission-side update too.  It would be good to get this feedback to MSA.  I'm tagging @James@TheZStore to see if we can help them get this part updated.

[wheee!]

MSA kit

[wheee!]

Forum is boosting my post count with double posts