And it was the best upgrade driveability wise I have had done to the car yet. I bought it off chrishahn87.
He charges $35 with a trade in of your old shifter and $50 without your old shifter. I must say it works great.

Thanks Chris.

[This message has been edited by pontiackid86 (edited 10-04-2009).]

Im glad that you like it Pontiackid! Thanks for the kind words!

I agree that it is the best driveablility upgrade that you can do to a Fiero (in about 5 minutes), IMO every manual transmission Fiero should have one of these shifters!

Self promotion:
I still have 3 short shifters ready to go, will have two more by tuesday for a total of 5.
Chris

Whew, for a second there I thought you were gonna post a certain.... picture mail......

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BAZOOKAFIERO's Junk

"I can feel your fear and weakness, I see my own in the mirrors of your eyes"

The short shifter makes it shift like a whole new car. I recently did mine as well, and put in Rodney's bushing kit. What a difference! I bought just the shaft and welded my own in....not brain surgery, but for an extra $35, if I had it to do over again, I would buy one already made. I highly recommend this to anyone still using the old factory paint mixer.

Yep. Short shifter = a nice mod
Did it years ago and never had any regrets..

what's the benefits of a short shifter. I've heard a lot of hype, but what's it all about?

For me it's mostly ergonomic. The handle sits down where it should, and my arm in horizontal as opposed to being canted up at an angle while shifting. Much more comfortable. Secondarily, it looks more at home in the car than the paint mixer. And it shortens up the throw of the shifts.

quote Originally posted by FreakyFastFiero: what's the benefits of a short shifter. I've heard a lot of hype, but what's it all about?

Get one, you will understand! It takes about 5 minutes to install, and will give you a whole new outlook on shifting through the gears. The stock shifter is way too tall!

P/M me if you would like one.
Chris

quote Originally posted by pontiackid86: And it was the best upgrade driveability wise I have had done to the car yet. I bought it off chrishahn87. He charges $35 with a trade in of your old shifter and $50 without your old shifter. I must say it works great. Thanks Chris.

where are the before and after pictures?

Heres an after. ill scower my photobucket account and see if i can find a before.

I have a 88 and changed to a 84 shifter which was a huge improvement. What is the height differance between the 84 and going with one of your short shifters? I might have to get me one..

quote Originally posted by traderguy: I have a 88 and changed to a 84 shifter which was a huge improvement. What is the height differance between the 84 and going with one of your short shifters? I might have to get me one..

Here is a picture of one of my short shifters installed in my Fiero with the stock shfiter knob and the stock shifter boot:


Here is an interior picture of the same shifter installed:


This picture is a picture of an '87 stock shifter sitting beside one of my short shifters (before it got painted black):


I have heard that the '84 shifter is approx. one inch shorter than the '87 shifter (honestly, ive never measured) but these pictures give you an idea.

If you want one of my short shifters, p/m me and we can make it happen!
Chris

[This message has been edited by chrishahn87 (edited 10-07-2009).]

How difficult is it to install once of these? I see it only takes 5 minutes to install so it shouldn't be too difficult, but is it almost idiot proof?

Yup, practically idiot proof. It's a very easy install, just don't loose the pins.

quote Originally posted by DougC: How difficult is it to install once of these? I see it only takes 5 minutes to install so it shouldn't be too difficult, but is it almost idiot proof?

It is very very simple!

Tools needed:
-7mm nut driver (or 7mm socket with extention)
-flat blade screwdriver
-needle nose pliars

Installation Process:
-Remove shifter knob (unscrew, lefty loosey)
-Remove ash trays (just pull them out)
-Under the ash trays you will find a total of four 7mm head screws - remove them
-Pull the shifter surround straight up to remove
-Use the needle nose pliars to hold the "e" clip that holds the shifter onto the shifter assembly. While holding the "e" clip with the pliars, use the flat blade screwdriver to pry the "e" clip off. (as you hold the "e" clip with the needle nose pliars, it will help to prevent losing or dropping it)
-Use the needle nose pliars to remove the pin at the bottom that holds the shifter cable to the shifter arm.
-After that pin is removed, the shifter cable will slide off

Installation is reverse of removal.

If anyone has anything to add, please do! This is a simple job that can be done by anyone with the simple hand tools listed above.
Chris

quote Originally posted by chrishahn87: The stock shifter is way too tall! Chris

The 84 shifters were shorter...but I guess people complained about the high shift effort and Pontiac's response was to lengthen the shifter. An inelegant solution to say the least.

I prefer the 84 shifter cut down. It has the offset to the left that I really like.

i am guessing they went with the long shifter so it would be harder to shift... which would make it harder to beat the Corvette.

the last owner installed the short shifter...

[This message has been edited by Jurai (edited 10-08-2009).]

quote Originally posted by Jurai: i am guessing they went with the long shifter so it would be harder to shift... which would make it harder to beat the Corvette. the last owner installed the short shifter...

Nah i think it was acessabilty as to why they did it. Its not to far of a reach from the steeringwheel to the shifter. The 84's shifter was slightley diffrent from the newer styels. It was shorter and had a more dramatic side kickoff to it. I never installed it in my car but i had one and there is a very noticable diffrence between the 2. Chris has both of mine now. I dident buy mine to go through gears faster. I dont really beat on my fiero because i want to see this one through to the finish (meaning im getting burried in my fiero) but it does make for more comfertable shifting. The one thing I dont like about the short shifter it feels like a much heavyer shifter going through gears, It does make my arm a little tired in traffic but I think thts a prolem with my shifter assembley that i need to clean out. (lol chris at the show that blond haired girl that was there with me couldent even get it into 1st gear and her car is a stich shift)

[This message has been edited by pontiackid86 (edited 10-08-2009).]

quote Originally posted by jscott1: The 84 shifters were shorter...but I guess people complained about the high shift effort and Pontiac's response was to lengthen the shifter. An inelegant solution to say the least. I prefer the 84 shifter cut down. It has the offset to the left that I really like.

I actually cut about an inch or so off of the bottom of an '84 shifter (enough to keep the offset) and put that in my dad's Fiero. He didnt like my normal height short shifters because he thought they are too tall. I have made a bunch of shafts that I could add about 1.5" in height to the height that I normally make them for custom shifters also......
Chris

i just got one of these shifters from him hes a great guy to work with and hes very trustworthy. If your gonna buy a shifter i would get one from him

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Dflint24...85 SE

Have had an 84 4 spd for years now, and the 1st time I got in an 88, I was shocked at that shifter. It's not horrible, but almost had the sensation of shifting a truck transmission. It jus didn't feel right. On the 84, I can just shift almost with my finger tips, without ever moving my arm or wrist. If the true short shifters being discussed here are an improvement even over the 84, they've got to be great, but I'll stick with the oem shifter in my 84..

quote Originally posted by maryjane: Have had an 84 4 spd for years now, and the 1st time I got in an 88, I was shocked at that shifter. It's not horrible, but almost had the sensation of shifting a truck transmission. It jus didn't feel right. On the 84, I can just shift almost with my finger tips, without ever moving my arm or wrist. If the true short shifters being discussed here are an improvement even over the 84, they've got to be great, but I'll stick with the oem shifter in my 84..

Everything you said is true...the 88 shifter is horrible to me it's so tall. Both my 88s have (or will have) cut down 84 shifters. The 84 isn't bad, but when you cut it down, it's even better.

quote Originally posted by maryjane: Have had an 84 4 spd for years now, and the 1st time I got in an 88, I was shocked at that shifter. It's not horrible, but almost had the sensation of shifting a truck transmission. It jus didn't feel right. On the 84, I can just shift almost with my finger tips, without ever moving my arm or wrist. If the true short shifters being discussed here are an improvement even over the 84, they've got to be great, but I'll stick with the oem shifter in my 84..

I would deffenetley recomend it over the 84 shifter. I have never shifted with an 84 shifter but if you want a short shift Chris's shifter is the way to go. Goes right in and you can still use your stock boot and knob.

[This message has been edited by pontiackid86 (edited 10-16-2009).]

Not sure who makes this but the interest is in the knob as it swallows the stick eew sounds rude.

quote Originally posted by Dflint: i just got one of these shifters from him hes a great guy to work with and hes very trustworthy. If your gonna buy a shifter i would get one from him

Dflint - I really hope to work with you again, the communication is terriffic! Your shifter is on the way, and should be there soon as you are not that far away from me.
You will love it when it gets there and you put it in the car. It will be a world of difference. Please post and let everyone know what you think about it, once it is installed.
Chris

quote Originally posted by chrishahn87: maryjane & jscott1 - I see that you seem to be more interested in the '84 shifter, thats cool. But if I can be of any assistance with getting you a shorter '84 shifter, or one of my short shifters, please p/m me and we can make a deal! Also, for anyone else who is thinking about my shortened shifters compared to an '84... my shifter is approx. 1.5" shorter than an '84. My shifters do not have the offset that the '84s have, as my shifter is a straight shaft and it will stand straight up when installed and the transmission is in neutral. I posted a picture earlier (scroll up) that I took with one of my shifters installed in my Fiero with the stock shift knob and stock shift boot - for those who wonder what it would look like. Thanks to all who are interested! I have a couple "in stock" and if I can get out to anyone, be sure p/m me! Chris

Well, my 2 Indys are both autos, and the 84 4 spd was my daily driver till a few months ago, and I'm not even sure if I will keep it or not. It has some issues--even for a daily driver, and the shifter is low priority right now, and I've gotten rid of the '88 I had. If I put the 4spd 84 back on the road, I may get in contact with you. Looks like a good product.

quote Originally posted by Australian: Not sure who makes this but the interest is in the knob as it swallows the stick eew sounds rude.

There was a guy who sold those knobs on Ebay. I have one (with a yellow top and silver Fiero logo). The seller seems to have disappeared -- I haven't seen them on Ebay for a while.

quote Originally posted by chrishahn87: maryjane & jscott1 - I see that you seem to be more interested in the '84 shifter, thats cool. But if I can be of any assistance with getting you a shorter '84 shifter, or one of my short shifters, please p/m me and we can make a deal! Also, for anyone else who is thinking about my shortened shifters compared to an '84... my shifter is approx. 1.5" shorter than an '84. My shifters do not have the offset that the '84s have, as my shifter is a straight shaft and it will stand straight up when installed and the transmission is in neutral. Chris

Thanks Chris...

This is not a slam of your shifters, as I'm sure you could make one anyway you want to. I presonally prefer the offset that the 84s have compared to the straight up shifter. I've bought Rodney's short shifter (twice) and I always end up selling it because I don't like how far away it is from me, (it won't even work in the Firebird console). I've got two custom 84 shifters that were built exactly how I like them, (one even has more offset than the stock 84).

however, to OhioIndy's horror I am considering cutting down the one in my Indy... I'll keep you in mind if I decide to go that way.

Here's one of my favorite pics... The Devolution of the Fiero Shifter Shows a cut down 84, a regular 84 and an 88

[This message has been edited by jscott1 (edited 10-16-2009).]

quote Originally posted by jscott1: Thanks Chris... This is not a slam of your shifters, as I'm sure you could make one anyway you want to. I presonally prefer the offset that the 84s have compared to the straight up shifter. I've bought Rodney's short shifter (twice) and I always end up selling it because I don't like how far away it is from me, (it won't even work in the Firebird console). I've got two custom 84 shifters that were built exactly how I like them, (one even has more offset than the stock 84). however, to OhioIndy's horror I am considering cutting down the one in my Indy... I'll keep you in mind if I decide to go that way. Here's one of my favorite pics... The Devolution of the Fiero Shifter Shows a cut down 84, a regular 84 and an 88

No problem, and I would not consider it a slam in any way (I know that I have a quality product with welds second to none..... but it is not for everybody).

I know exactly what you are saying with the cut down '84 shifter. I gave my dad one of my short shifters for his car - he didnt like it - so I took an '84 and cut it down, rewelded it exactly like the shifter in the picture, and he hasnt had any complaints!
Chris

One of the best things I ever did to the car.

https://www.fiero.nl/forum/Forum1/HTML/063542.html

Are these short shifters just shorter handles or is there a corresponding ratio change on the lower section of the shifter as well?

It is tough to tell by some of the photos. I have an 84 shifter in my 88 but after an hour shifting while racing my arm is mush. I am actually thinking of going back to the 88 just to get the leverage back. My cables are fine.

quote Originally posted by SCCAFiero: Are these short shifters just shorter handles or is there a corresponding ratio change on the lower section of the shifter as well?

Most do-it-your self people don't touch the lower half...but I believe the Rodney Dickman version has a corresponding change to the lower section.

quote Originally posted by chrishahn87: The shifter arm looks like an unmolested '84 shifter. As for the shifter knob... Ive never seen one like that before, but I like it!

It is a lot shorter than what i took out of my 86

quote Originally posted by SCCAFiero: Are these short shifters just shorter handles or is there a corresponding ratio change on the lower section of the shifter as well? It is tough to tell by some of the photos. I have an 84 shifter in my 88 but after an hour shifting while racing my arm is mush. I am actually thinking of going back to the 88 just to get the leverage back. My cables are fine.

The shifters that I make are ONLY shorter handle. I take a stock shifter, cut the shift shaft off of it, then I weld one of my shafts onto it (my shaft can be welded on at a higher or even lower height if it were to be requested. The height that I chose is a very good height that will allow you to reuse the stock shifter knob and stock shifter boot. If it were lower, you would not be able to use the stock shift knob - you would have to have an aftermarket knob.

Rodney Dickman makes "true" short throw shifters. I am not in the business of making short shifters. I have a few laying around, and as I get more stock shifters, I turn them into shorter shifters then resell them to people who want to get rid of their Fiero's tower shifter.