short shifter

well i got a parts truck and pulled the shifter out and cut it about 2 inches shorter. took it up the road and was very impressed. i figured i would be cutting for no reason because i figured that it would screw up the balance of the shifter, but actually it is balanced better now and has much smoother shifts and alot tighter. not to mention it looks alot better. my camera is messed up or i would take pics. if you want to try it you can just dont cut to much off or it will mess up the balance and make shifting much worse.

i cut mine probably about 2-3 inches.
i would suggest it also.

you got any pics bro?

The Mazda shifters are hella short already. Lol. The one in my Yota is a good 6 inches longer, and the shifts are shorter than in the Mazda (weird). But the Mazda is getting a tall shifter.

i'm a fan of big ol tall rat rod shifters!!

i second that speedster...

mine's fine how it is. works as a good arm rest with the left hand at 12 lean,lol

Boo-hoo.And I have an automatic with the shortest shifter of all and there aint one thing I can do for it or with it to make it any better or different.Lol.Just like me its old and ugly.BJ

theoretically a longer shift lever would shift shoter (less throw) but it wont make any difference in "smoothness" or shifting, it doesnt effect that at all, i dont reccomend purchasing a short shifter because it actually doesnt insert the gear all the way which will in turn fry synchros and grind away teeth in your tranny, if you want a shorter look the whole cutting it down works well, we did it in my buddies integra, worked well, was more comfortable, but i agree with seth on mazdas are already short, my 84 yota was huge, and my 91 was an auto so, but anyway just my .02

i dunno,i find the stock shifter to be the perfect height. it's comfortable and easy to reach and use. you dont have to lean like an idiot,and dont have to ram it into gear.