engine and drivetrain Short Shift Kit

[Nick74]

Hello,

I was wondering if anybody has installed the Ireland Engineering short shift kit, and if so, how is working out? I have to replace my clutch so I would like to clean up the play in the stick while I am at it. Any other suggestions would be much appreciated. Thanks!

Nick

[Mike Self]

linkage, nor replaced the metalastic shift support bracket mounts, you'd be surprised at how much difference just replacing them will make on a stock shifter.

Anything Jeff Ireland makes is gonna be good, don't get me wrong. But be advised that any short shifter trades ease of motion for reduced motion. So while you will move the shifter less to change gears, the effort will be greater.

Check the archives on shift linkages--I know some folks have installed the shift linkage from a Z3 (or Z4?) with good results.

Another trick for smooth(er) shifting is to install synthetic oil in the gearbox (Redline MTL, for example). Makes the box shift much smoother--especially in the cold and cures the nochiness associated with the Borg Warner type synchros found in the later 2002 (and 320) gearboxes.

Just a thought...

mike

[johnhup]

I have that short shifter and it isnt that much of a shorter throw. Its smoother and very nice, but I wouldnt call it shorter.

[winstontj]

Hello,

I was wondering if anybody has installed the Ireland Engineering short shift kit, and if so, how is working out? I have to replace my clutch so I would like to clean up the play in the stick while I am at it. Any other suggestions would be much appreciated. Thanks!

Nick

Read this:

http://www.mz3.net/articles/143.html

When you're done reading order up a shifter rehab kit and replace all the bushings, etc. That will make a HUGE difference. Also the shifter comes in two parts - the lower part with the ball, and the upper part that your knob screws on to. It will make a huge difference to rebuld and replace the rubber bushings between the upper and lower parts. It's only a little snap ring and it's well worth it. Look on realoem.com for the parts and you'll see. For $20 you can get a nice feeling shifter.

I'm not farmilliar with Ireland's SS kit however if he sells it it's gotta be good. His kit seems to be everything circled in the photo. Read up on SS Kits and you'll find out that all you really need is what's in the second photo - to increase the distance between the ball and the lower bushing. I'd bet that the IE kit also shortens the shifter making it an even shorter throw but I'm not sure.

Do you have a 4 or 5 speed gearbox? I used the stock 2002 parts on a 5-speed gearbox and the feel is very nice. Not crazy but a nice short sporty feel.

[JohnC]

I have an Ireland short shift kit in my '70 with a 5-speed. It's really good. Much better than the standard shifter in my tii with a 4 speed. I'm running redline in both, but there's no question that the 5 speed is quicker and smoother, but I don't know how much is attributed to the newer model trans. My 5 speed is a bit worn, my 4 speed has only 15k miles on it.