You may remember a couple of weeks ago Rodney posted about a new product for the Getrag 5-speeds. It's a new shifter arm to reduce the throw. As Rodney stated in his original post, it's not as dramatic a reduction as his Ultimate Shift Kit provides, but it's designed to be less expensive while still reducing the throw compared to a stock setup. https://www.fiero.nl/forum/Forum2/HTML/046009.html
He asked for some volunteers to test and evaluate the new arm. I of course volunteered, and lo and behold, two days later there's a package from Rodney in my mailbox. I should have bought a lottery ticket that day, as I never seem to have this kind of good luck . https://www.fiero.nl/forum/Forum2/HTML/046342.html
Anyway, Rodney asked if I would install it and provide feedback, both to him and to the PFF gang. So here's some pictures as well as my thoughts on his new arm.
Here's pic of the new arm. It's typical Rodney quality. Those of you who've ordered from him know he makes great products, reasonably priced, and he ships things fast. In short, my favorite Fiero vendor. The scratches you see are from me installing the arm and then taking it back off for pictures.
A pic of the OEM arm installed:
And a picture of the OEM arm and Rodney's side by side: You can ignore the sockets, I was just using them to prop the arms up . As you can see, Rodney's arm is shorter than the stock arm, and it has a slight angle compared to the original arm. According to Rodney, the new arm is angled because the OEM arm has one of the holes cut at an angle.
OK, here's some views of my shifter with the original OEM arm installed. I don't take the world's best pictures, but hopefully they'll give you an idea. I'm using an 84-style shift lever, and this view is 1st gear:
And here's 2nd gear:
Another view of 2nd with the OEM arm installed:
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02:41 PM
GT86 Member
Posts: 5203 From: Glendale, AZ Registered: Mar 2003
Installation is SIMPLE. Just remove the nut and washer holding the shift cable to the arm, remove the nut and washer holding the arm to the tranny. Install the new arm, and tighten the hex screws. Then just bolt the arm to the tranny and the cable to the arm. Takes all of 5 minutes.
OK, now for the moment of truth. How much reduction in throw am I going to get? Here's a shot of 2nd, with Rodney's arm installed:
And a different angle of 2nd:
[This message has been edited by GT86 (edited 02-16-2004).]
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02:53 PM
GT86 Member
Posts: 5203 From: Glendale, AZ Registered: Mar 2003
And for good measure, a view of 1st with the new arm:
Using some tape and string, I measured the throw with the old arm, then again with the new arm installed. And I also dug out my original, longer shifter lever, to compare it to the short 84 style I'm currently using. I'm getting just under an inch of reduced travel from 1st to 2nd, with both shifters. That may not sound like a lot, but it really transforms the feel of the gearbox. It feels much tighter and more precise than the stock setup. There's a *very* slight increase in shifter effort, almost not worth mentioning. I also don't have to reach as far when the shifter is in 1st, 3rd, or 5th. That makes for a more comfortable shifting position.
I wanted a 2nd opinion, so I had my wife try it out. One of her biggest dislikes with Fieros has always been the long shifter throw, so I wanted to see what she thought. She didn't even notice the increased shift effort, it's that minor. But she really noticed the reduced throw. Her comment was "now it feels more llike a sports car, and not like our pickup truck."
Here's the 2 views of 2nd again, the 1st is with the old arm, the 2nd is with the new arm:
Overall, this is a really nice product. It's built well, it's easy to install, and it works as advertised. Great work, Rodney, and thanks again for letting me try this out.
[This message has been edited by GT86 (edited 02-16-2004).]
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03:08 PM
SplineZ Member
Posts: 952 From: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada Registered: Nov 2002
Hey jscott1, recognize the shifter trim plate? I bought it from you on ebay . Doesn't show up too well in the photos, but it's your pre-Firebird dot matrix piece.
[This message has been edited by GT86 (edited 02-16-2004).]
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09:36 PM
Fierokid87 Member
Posts: 4954 From: N. Ridgeville, Ohio, USA Registered: Jan 2001
hey man can you post pictures of what it looks like 1st to second with the ultimate shift kit?
I could but I have a custom cut down '84 shifter in a firebird console so I'm not sure it would be very useful to the majority of people. Hey GT86, small Fiero world, you now have my dot matrix trim
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10:03 PM
Feb 17th, 2004
PaulJK Member
Posts: 6638 From: Los Angeles Registered: Oct 2001
I was also sent a prototype. But my results were not as good. I measured a little over 1/4th inch of travel reduction with the new arm on there on my 87 5spd with stock shift lever. BUT my transmition isnt working so it is a flawed testing scenario. I will get back to you (rodney) and everyone else once my engine is droped out and i rebuild the drivetrain and clutch. (YIKES) The measurements arent correct though in my opinion because i can tell a big difference in the throw. Its gotta be more than 1/4th inch.
I will get back to you all ASAP
Thanks Cameron
------------------ Cameron Hoag
~*I want more than this world has to offer. AIM: CDubbZ111 Year: 1987 Make/Model: Fiero GT Color: Primer grey and burgundy Transmission: 5spd Manual AC PL PW PM sunroof defrost
Wow, wonder if there will be fix or us Isuzu owners? That with a Sport Shifter from Rodney must feel very exotic! Hmmm, if I did this it would mushroom into the usual total job. New cables, trans mounts, trans bearings.... oh, $$$
------------------ John DuRette Black 85 SE, undergoing work as we speak! Battery re-located up front using a V8 Archie box Remote Start/Window Rollup/Lock/Trunk Release/Alarm White Gauge Faces w/120 MPH Speedometer Conversion Urethane Suspension Bushings Sequential Tallights Custom Painted Dash Panels Oreif's painted door tabs and horn button Shortened Automatic Shifter w/Beretta shiftknob SpyHunter Scoop H4 Headlight Conversion - done right! LED Third Brake Light/Custom Headliner Thunderbird Turbo hood scoops Braided Steel Brake Hoses Lowered an inch
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. As you can see, Rodney's arm is shorter than the stock arm, and it has a slight angle compared to the original arm. According to Rodney, the new arm is angled because the OEM arm has one of the holes cut at an angle.
