i have a 5spd and i find the shifter sits too high. I think id like to keep the stock knob for now but id like to lob off a little of the shaft (right word?). Could this be done easily by someone like me with a few basic tools and limited mechanical knowledge? I have a dremel and a crapload of cutoff discs and a hacksaw + vice. I dont know how to get the shaft out, and im kinda scared to mess with the cables, if its not as bad as im thinking it is, please tell me lol.

Check out Rodney's site .... he has some really great items.

mm whos rodney and what is his site lol :P im pretty new here

roemoving the shifter is pretty easy, as for shortening up do a quick search and loads of info on how to do it will pop up, some even have pictures to show you where you would need to cut and re-weld.

dan

Rodney Dickman, here's his website:
http://www.rodneydickman.com/retail.html
Rodney's shifter is shorter but it also has been lengthened below the pivot to further reduce shifter travel. Highly recommended!

You can shorten yours by cutting some of the length out but you will need to re-weld the threaded portion back onto the shaft.

Nolan

Edit to add picture:

Rodney'w shifter is on the left and a stock 84 shifter is on the right:

[This message has been edited by Sourmug (edited 07-07-2007).]

Darn, so no way to do this without welding then lol, i dont know how to weld, and i was hopeing that i wouldn't have to pay someone to do it I think my uncle knows how but ill leave the shortshifter idea on the backburner for a little while.

The search engine is your friend, try a search under TD&Q for short shifter. 90 threads, and that's just active threads
Don't give up so easily, grasshopper.

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Ol' Paint, 88 Base coupe auto.
Turning white on top, like owner.
Leaks a little, like owner.
Doesn't smoke, unlike owner

[This message has been edited by DtheC (edited 07-07-2007).]

My last shifter I cut right in the car. It took me about 15 minutes. The shift knob was the type with the three set screws, so it didn't need threads. The only downside was I slipped with the cut off tool and have a nice scar on my forearm. Now I have Rodney's shifter in both of my Fieros.
Dave

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1999 Mercedes ML430, 450hp 1987 Fiero GT, 1986 Fiero SE-soon to be 3800, certified master technician
www.njautobahn.com

Go with rodney or fiero store rodney has quality products excellent service and is friend to knuckleheaded fiero owners,,did i say rodney easy install inexpensive and it works

I've never tried it, so this is just speculation---but it seems it would be a whole lot easier just to re-thread the shaft rather than welding it. (assuming access to the right die)

I chopped the bends out of an '86 shifter. The shifter is *really* short but I was able to put the stock shift knob back on (minus about 1/2 inch off the bottom.

Looks and works well with the exception that my tranny really needs a fresh dose of GM Syncromesh oil... It's on the list for next week.

Chopping the shifter with a dremel will be an excersize in frustration and patience. You might be able to tap new threads on the shaft but your knob will have to be shortened to not interfere with the bend in the shaft.

EDIT: Found it in the archives: https://www.fiero.nl/forum/A...070315-2-077624.html

I'll try and find where I posted the pictures... The steps I took are the following:
1. $15 shifter from wrecking yard. (This is where I learned how easy it is to pull the shifter.)
2. using an abrasive disk on a metal chop saw cut the section out of the middle.
3. using a bench grinder, bevel the edges of one of the pieces to be welded back together (improves penetration of the weld)
4. Weld.
5. grind smooth.
6. put it back in with all the plastic collars used to keep the shift boot straight.
7. measure, eyeball, guess at how much to remove from the bottom of the shift knob. (I took off about .5 inches)
8. using a new sharp utility knife, cut the shift knob to size.
9. screw it on and enjoy.

My shifter sits in the palm of my hand as my fore arm is laying flat on the arm rest. Your shifting effort will increase.

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Kendall (Icelander) Whitlatch
'85 Fiero 2M4 - 5spd Isuzu
'67 LeMans/GTO clone 6.5 litre TH400
All the rest aren't Pontiacs, so what does it matter?

[This message has been edited by Icelander (edited 07-10-2007).]

If all you are doing is shortening it, just pull it out and hack saw it down. I did it to my 4-speed about a month ago. The only problem you'll probably run into is getting the shift knob back on. The tap and dye you would need to re-thread the shifter is really thick, and I was unable to find one large enough. I have an aftermarket shift knob, and the diameter of the hole in thre shift knob was about the same size as the shaft of the shifter. I used a bench ginger to shave down the shaft a little, and then I just pressure fit (pushed on really hard) the shift knob to the shaft. I'll look into leqarning how to post pics to give you a better idea