I finally got the opportunity to install my Kartboy short shifter and bushings tonight. (Sorry, no pics of the install, forgot to take the camera to the the install location. )

The installation was almost as easy as the various installation guides I have seen here with the notable exception of the removal of the shifter console. In the sedan (the 1999 model anyway), the entire console must be removed - there is no trim plate around the shifter. (Click for a pic of the shift console )

This means six screws, two at the front side (below the center console), two at the back side (move the seats all the way forward) and two in the middle of each side - completely blocked by the seats no matter what position they are in! I ended up using a right-angle screwdriver to remove those screws one quarter turn at a time I didn't bother putting those ones back in at the end of the install. I don't know if I will ever bother.

The rest of the install went smoothly though, including the custom heatshield drop (two 6x25 metric bolts, four washers and two 10mm spacer sleeves - a washer on each side of the heatshield, the spacer between the car body and the top washer and the longer bolt through the whole thing).

The bushing install was even easier than it looks on the Kartboy install page. I was able to just push the factory rubber bushing out by hand, no need for lube or using the stud as a punch.

The results:

1) Reduced height. This was not a big selling point for me, but it's not a big deal either. I just adjust my style to a more "overhand" shift style. I can see how a ball shifter (a la Team Voodoo) would work well with this.

2) Reduced throw. Now this is why I did it! Much quicker to shift now, no more "rowing" feeling - especially the 1st to 2nd shift. I don't find the slightly increased force needed to be a factor.

3) Tighter shifting (bushings). Hmmm, this one I am still getting used to. The shift experience now is like flicking an old style light switch (not the "Decora" style). Click, click, click. It makes for clean, positive shifts, but on the other hand it feels somewhat "notchy".

So my wife has not driven it yet, but she sat in the car and experimented with the new shifter. Her pronouncement: she doesn't like it! She says the factory shifter was very smooth, and she thinks it's a shame that it no longer feels that way. Oh well, she'll have to try driving it. And besides, as she pointed out, it's for me, not her.

 

Nice nice...... you ever planning on comind down to Vancity one day? I wanna see your car

How's your shifter by the way, is it like in the 2001s in shape of a ball or different?

 

Before you let the wife make a final decision on whether she likes it or not, give it a good 2 weeks to really settle down. The Notchiness smooths itself out after a while.

 

The shifter is not the ball shape, it is sort of "ergonomic". You can get an idea from this picture:

 

Try and find someone who got a new shift **** and buy their old one off of them as the new ones are very nice.

 

Do the newer ones still have the same base diameter?

 

I got the same car as you.

Scary thing is that you and I have the same mats in the car... lol

 

Oh yeah, Canadian Tire specials.

I see you have the Ractive strut bar. Do you also have cruise control, and if so can you comment on the fit? Did you do some mods, and if so do you have pics?

Also, where did you get it?

Ooh, one more question: do you feel a difference?

 

Yeah I have the cruise control, and that messed bracket. I don't know why they say on the Ractive box that it is made for the '99. I just installed the bar last week, and there is a noticeable amount of difference, and I HIGHLY recommend getting one.

Your in luck as I just took some pictures today. I'm lucky that I work at a CNC machine shop, so I was easily able to do the modifications to the bracket in order to get it to fit.

The pictures are quite big, but you can check them out here:

http://www.mpsport.net/images/member...activestrutbar

 

even us with the newer models WITH the trim ring around the shifter boot have to remove the whole console.....some moronic engineer at Mazda though it was a smart thing to install the screws that hold in the ring that the boot attaches to from the BOTTOM!! at least the back two....so you still have to remove the entire console to get at the shifter to do the job. What a pain in the butt. and of course in the instructions they NEVER mention the two screws hidden by the seats.....what a pain.

 

Great pics! Is your cruise control actuator now only held on by a single nut??

Where did you buy your bar from? I am trying to see of either Lordco or Canadian Tire can get it for me. So far both of them are "checking into it" for me. (I know C-Tire can get Ractive stuff from Keystone...)

 

Thanks! Right now its only held on from one bolt. The other one, that goes in the middle of the strut bar bracket is broken as you can see in the first pic. There is actually 2 gold brackets that hold the cruise control. The bottom bracket use to be held on with that bolt that broke off, so I'm gonna make something that will hold the 2 gold brackets together, so that the "little" shake there is on the cruise control, will be gone.

I got the bar from one of our members on the site. He runs a accessory division at Cartunes, and sells them for $50cdn.

 

btw I shrunk the pictures down to make them easier to view...

 

Just took a snapshot of the installed Kartboy short shifter:



Just in case anyone wants to see what a stock '99 LX shift **** and boot look like shortened...

 

Looks like you painted your interior since last pics?