FTO AUSTRALIA

smorison wrote:i'll be pulling mine apart next week (for different reasons) ... ummm... someone remind me and i will measure it

Actually, I'd really like to know if it's possible to lop about an inch off the top of the gear knob shaft because the new knob I put on is an inch hire than the stock one and thus I've lost that "race feel" gear changes.
Anyone know if that is possible before I go pulling the gear knob off?

HiRAEdd wrote: Actually, I'd really like to know if it's possible to lop about an inch off the top of the gear knob shaft because the new knob I put on is an inch hire than the stock one and thus I've lost that "race feel" gear changes.
Anyone know if that is possible before I go pulling the gear knob off?

umm... manual or tip???

with the tip probably not... well not easily anyway as there is a moveable stick down the middle which is used for locking the key in the ignition and the push button... would take quite a bit of work but could be done...

the Manual... i don't see why not, not sure what would be required to make it a short shifter... i imagine it could be shortened, put a thread back on it and bob's ya uncle

smorison wrote: umm... manual or tip???

the Manual... i don't see why not, not sure what would be required to make it a short shifter... i imagine it could be shortened, put a thread back on it and bob's ya uncle

Manual. I've got a cruise control gear knob that sits down over the top and two pinch screws come in and hold it in place. I asked the blokes that fitted it if they could cut an inch off the top and still fit it and they said it couldn't be done. I think they were just being lazy.

Is the top of the shaft tapered at all or just cylindrical all the way to the top?

HiRAEdd wrote:

smorison wrote: umm... manual or tip???

the Manual... i don't see why not, not sure what would be required to make it a short shifter... i imagine it could be shortened, put a thread back on it and bob's ya uncle

Manual. I've got a cruise control gear knob that sits down over the top and two pinch screws come in and hold it in place. I asked the blokes that fitted it if they could cut an inch off the top and still fit it and they said it couldn't be done. I think they were just being lazy.

Is the top of the shaft tapered at all or just cylindrical all the way to the top?

can you post a few picks?

I would guess that it's probably tapered - I can't check my car as I don't have access to it atm, but my old VR-4 used exactly the same stock gear knob and it had a tapered threaded end. Most Mitsi's that I've seen have been tapered...

On my old gsr it was tapered too...

I filed it down and tapped it to fit the gearknob again.

If you have the right tools it shouldnt take longer then 1 hour.

Michael

smorison wrote: can you post a few picks?

See http://www.ftoaustralia.com/modules.php ... highlight= down the bottom of the page...

HiRAEdd wrote:

smorison wrote:i'll be pulling mine apart next week (for different reasons) ... ummm... someone remind me and i will measure it

Actually, I'd really like to know if it's possible to lop about an inch off the top of the gear knob shaft because the new knob I put on is an inch hire than the stock one and thus I've lost that "race feel" gear changes.
Anyone know if that is possible before I go pulling the gear knob off?

While I agree in theory, you don't want the thing too short, otherwise it can become a right pain to change gears. The FTO manual box is not the slickest thing around (compared to say Honda 'boxes) as it is fairly notchy, but it is very positive feel.

My car came with a short Razo gear knob, and made it very short. Put a new gear knob on and made the experience much easier. But, your car may be a bit different.

mrx wrote: While I agree in theory, you don't want the thing too short, otherwise it can become a right pain to change gears.

I only want it back to the same height as the stock gear knob, I liked the feel at that height. With the cruise control knob I have now, it's about an inch and a quarter higher which actually makes changes less comfortable because instead of just knudging through gears, my hand position now sits beside rather than on top of the gear knob.

HiRAEdd wrote:I only want it back to the same height as the stock gear knob, I liked the feel at that height. With the cruise control knob I have now, it's about an inch and a quarter higher which actually makes changes less comfortable because instead of just knudging through gears, my hand position now sits beside rather than on top of the gear knob.

My gear knob sits also maybe an inch higher then stock, and after driving another FTO, with a lower gear knob... man I have to say, it makes heaps of difference...

I will have to look into this...

Boris wrote:...after driving another FTO, with a lower gear knob... man I have to say, it makes heaps of difference.

So I guess what we're saying is that shorter knobs make it more pleasurable?

just look at your avatar hiRAEdd

*note to self* get more manly avatar

Keep it, its funny!

So I still haven't been game to pull the gear knob off and have a look to see if I can cut the shaft down at all. Has anyone else done this or can tell me if it's likely to be possible?

Do yourself a favour, save your pocket money & go buy a quickshifter...
Best $300 bucks I ever spent - I'll never look back...
Its the same height as the normal stick - but the physical distance you have to move between gears is all but halved..

Did you buy it from perfect run bennoz?

EURO wrote:Did you buy it from perfect run bennoz?

Yep, thats the one. Did the credit card net order thing & was here in about a week

I have cruise control on the gear knob (see post higher up), it made the gear stick higher, I just want to bring it back to stock height.

are there any other short shifter kits available to FTO? Seems that you can get one for a wrx etc for about $150 and its more like $380 for fto...

I understand there is not the same market to FTO's but wondering if there were locallly made alternatives?