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shortened auto shifter

Posted: March 11th, 2006, 2:00 pm
by JHetfield
can anyone point me toward the thread on shortening an auto shifter. I've seen it before...but can't seem to find it, I've done 20 searches...

Posted: March 11th, 2006, 2:16 pm
by Legato626
Are you talking about a short shifter? Just search for short shifter's.

Posted: March 11th, 2006, 2:21 pm
by JHetfield
nope...there was a thread I saw about 2 months ago on shortening (cutting) the footlong shaft that is our automatic shifter rods...but I found it finally...I searched "hacksaw" LOL...

however no one on that thread gave very detailed instructions on how to do it...everyone there just replaced their stock knobs with aftermarket, but I want to shorten the rod and keep my stock knob with the hold button.

Posted: March 11th, 2006, 2:35 pm
by Legato626
Well the first thing you need to do is take it out. Then find a spot where to cut it then make a nice clean cut. THen you need to find out what thread the shift knob is. After that you need to re-thread the shifter so you can screw on the knob. Then put it back in your car and it should work fine.

Posted: March 11th, 2006, 2:38 pm
by JHetfield
how do I get it out?

Posted: March 11th, 2006, 3:22 pm
by Legato626
I am not sure i have a Manual but you dont have to really take it out but it would be easyer to do.

Posted: March 11th, 2006, 3:25 pm
by JHetfield
I could just cut with my dremel...careful not to cut hold button wire of course...then inscrew the knob ones its just hanging there...that should work.

Posted: March 11th, 2006, 3:29 pm
by Legato626
you need to thread the shofter then screwing in the shift knob isn't going to do that. you need a tool that will do it i beleave anyway.

Posted: March 11th, 2006, 3:42 pm
by JHetfield
has anyone done this that can offer some advice?

thanks

Posted: March 11th, 2006, 3:55 pm
by Legato626
I am not sure its pointless I think doesn't change anything. Unlike me it changed a lot but i am a MTX not a auto.

Posted: March 11th, 2006, 4:09 pm
by JHetfield
no, you're right...won't change anything performance wise...but have you seen an auto shifter? looks like a telephone pole sticking out of the center of the car.

Posted: March 11th, 2006, 4:19 pm
by Legato626
lol!! good point like this huge truck shifter! =)

Posted: March 11th, 2006, 5:02 pm
by Tunes67
Could always try my solution ;) Swap out the ATX and put in a MTX ;) A bit more work though ;)

Tunes67

Posted: March 11th, 2006, 5:08 pm
by JHetfield
that was my inital plan at the beginning of winter...my hold light was flashing so I assumed it was time. put the battery back in a couple days ago, and been driving and no light, so I was going to wait and swap when my ATX blew up...trying to get 30 posts so I can post a WTB for a K8 manual, man its hard to post new stuff on here tho, so many problems are answered by searching

Posted: March 11th, 2006, 6:16 pm
by Tunes67
man its hard to post new stuff on here tho, so many problems are answered by searching

LMAO We got us a winner guys!!! Dude if you were local to me I would buy you a steak dinner for that one ;) As for your hold light going off.. well when you removed the battery.. it cleared the code from the TCM after sitting with no power for so long. Depending on the code.. it will likely show up again... you can pull the ATX codes (once the light starts flashing) by jumping TAT and GND in the diagnostic box along the firewall on the drivers side of your engine bay. And in a couple of months... my GS will be a MTX. The ATX's in these cars are way too problematic.. but thats to be expected since Ford designed them. If the trans seems to be shifting fine, and isnt slipping at all.. likely its just a code 6 which is a speedometer speed sensor. That one trips in my GS every time I take the car up past 80 mph. Dunno why.. doesnt seem to hurt anything.. just gotta clear the code every once in a while. Oh and I checked on it for price.. mazda only part.. $159.00 + tax.. I figured I would save the $$$ and put it towards the MTX parts. ;) Cheers and welcome to the board ;)

Tunes67