Review – NSX-R Short Shifter

[NMYMIRR]

Those are OEM parts... they came off the shifter linkage when I disassembled it. The nut is a self locking type nut, but not nylon.

Don't worry, it's all obvious when you get in there.

Steve thanks for the confirmation, and excellent write up BTW.

 

[KooLaid]

I've had the Dave's short shifter now for over a year. I'm guessing about 10k miles. It definitely shortens the throw front to back but it's made my shifter go from smooth to clunky for some reason. Also,instead of grinding the stalk, I had to grind the heck outta Dave's short shifter instead to get it to fit enough to get enough threads to "press it in" with the nut. I think I'm gonna toss Dave's short shift and go back to stock but with the heaviest knob I can find. I hate the clunky shifting even though it functionally works great.

If I decide to go short shifter again or stay short shift, it'll probably be the SOS.

 

[EuroBoutique]

I'm going to print this thread out for my install shortly....after all the helpful insights, I ordered these parts:

1) rjp: NSX-R shift boot assembly
2) SOS: Short shift kit (blue piece) and the shorter stalk

I'm still up in the air about the shift knob but will most likely try the Voodoo one from my s2000 first (I don't like the yellow etching on the nSX-R knob)

Appreciate the entire detailed article Steve!


rick

 

[NMYMIRR]

(I don't like the yellow etching on the nSX-R knob)

Appreciate the entire detailed article Steve!


rick

Yeah, I'm not too crazy about the yellow etching either even tho I bought this NSX-R knob. I may grind it off and repaint it in red to match the accent color of my interiror.

 

[EuroBoutique]

Yeah, I'm not too crazy about the yellow etching either even tho I bought this NSX-R knob. I may grind it off and repaint it in red to match the accent color of my interiror.

If you do that please post a pic or come out to a local meet so I can check it out. That would be ideal for me as well to match my red Brides

I've decided to get a Voodoo Titanium knob which is about half the price so we'll see how it works out.


rk

 

[NY2NV]

Excactly what i went through when i changed mine to Comptech 3 years go. Well defined Steve. Keep up the good work and many more toys to come.:biggrin:

 

[EuroBoutique]

Guys,

SHORT TIP: Instead of installing the blue SOS piece onto the stalk first, my recomendation is do the test fitment/grinding of the shaft for the blue piece BUT.....

Install the blue ssk piece onto the linkage FIRST, you have a lot more room to push the bolt/screw combo onto the linkage this way. Installing the last bolt from the SSK into the bottom of the stalk is easy afterwards. I also recommend you cover both sides of the leather console and radio assembly to avoid and scratches

ok the entire process took me under 1 hour with the help of this awesome DIY and pics so thanks!

ONE QUESTION: How come my linkage feels really TIGHT? It doesn't want to freely return to the neutral center position...? Any ideas or perhaps I tightened the bolts too much?

Any insight appreciated!

rick

 

[sicarius82]

Did you re-grease all the bearings and joints? Is it making a "click" noise when shifting to 2nd or 4th? There is a nut that is underneath the shift cables. I had to grind the head so it didn't hit the cables.

Long

 

[EuroBoutique]

Did you re-grease all the bearings and joints? Is it making a "click" noise when shifting to 2nd or 4th? There is a nut that is underneath the shift cables. I had to grind the head so it didn't hit the cables.

Long

thanks Long let me check the nut underneath the cables.....

Where did you buy the black grease as I did not add any of it....


rk

 

[stevieray122854]

Had the install of these bits done yesterday by Barney Demonbreun (Barn Man) and it IS all that and a bag of chips. Crisp, short throws make me wish that I had done this when I first got the car but better late than never. Props go out to Barney for the install, Eric (GPW_NSX) for the Type-R knob and S of S for everything else (warp-speed shipping, BTW).

Can't wait to get on the Cherohala this weekend! w00t!

 

[BATMANs]

I like to hear from ya'll on long term updates (reliable? would u do it again? etc....).

I'm going to be ordering the shifter boot and right now I'm on the fence if I wanted to do a CT shorter shift kit and the short gear lever stalk (Zanardi).

 

[Moses]

I like to hear from ya'll on long term updates (reliable? would u do it again? etc....).

I'm going to be ordering the shifter boot and right now I'm on the fence if I wanted to do a CT shorter shift kit and the short gear lever stalk (Zanardi).

No experience with a short shifter, never saw a need for it with shifts being so short compared to others already. I did buy the zanardi stalk and cut about 3/4 of inch off the stop to make the shifter shorter in height. It's been over a year and no complaints at all.

 

[sicarius82]

thanks Long let me check the nut underneath the cables.....

Where did you buy the black grease as I did not add any of it....


rk

i'm so sorry rick, i didn't get back to you on this. the grease should use is white lithium grease since there's metal on metal contact. i believe they come in a spray or tube version.

 

[sicarius82]

I like to hear from ya'll on long term updates (reliable? would u do it again? etc....).

I'm going to be ordering the shifter boot and right now I'm on the fence if I wanted to do a CT shorter shift kit and the short gear lever stalk (Zanardi).

Bats,

I have the short stalk, short shifter kit, and the zanardi stalk. i've had it for over a year now, and it'd do it all over again. the throws are shorter, and the shifting feels a little tight, but in a good way :wink:. I can't tell you reliability wise since i've only done spirited runs in the canyons. so far, i haven't heard of any horror stories. if you don't feel like paying for the short gear lever stalk, you can always have your stock one threaded down until you're comfortable with the height. i've seen this done a couple times at a shop i frequent. good luck with your decision. let me know if you have any more questions.

long

 

[BATMANs]

Bats,

I have the short stalk, short shifter kit, and the zanardi stalk. i've had it for over a year now, and it'd do it all over again. the throws are shorter, and the shifting feels a little tight, but in a good way :wink:. I can't tell you reliability wise since i've only done spirited runs in the canyons. so far, i haven't heard of any horror stories. if you don't feel like paying for the short gear lever stalk, you can always have your stock one threaded down until you're comfortable with the height. i've seen this done a couple times at a shop i frequent. good luck with your decision. let me know if you have any more questions.

long

I like the idea of machining the threads further down. One less extra part to fill the garage.

Any idea on costs?

 

[sicarius82]

I like the idea of machining the threads further down. One less extra part to fill the garage.

Any idea on costs?

either purchase your own tap and die set, or try to find a local mechanic that would remove the stalk and have them thread it down. I'd say maybe 1 hr of work.

 

[nsx1]

I am the original poster of this thread. My update is...

Hell ya I would do this again.

At first, I was not sure I did the right thing, but now I love it. It's the way the NSX should have come from the factory. When I drive other NSXs that have the stock shifter, it feels like shifting a truck... long throws.

BTW, same with the steering wheel mod I did (I replaced stock with a 280mm Momo Team). Driving an NSX with stock steering wheel feels like driving a truck.

 

[TURBO2GO]

I did Dave's short throw shifter, the R stalk, and the R knob that threads in further. I literaly shift by moving my wrist... the shifter looks and feel better, although it is definitely not as "soft" or as "damped". Very mechanical feel but with more feedback.

 

[starbai]

I dont necessarily care to have a shorter throw... but I dont want the shifter to 'appear' as high as it does.

What would be my best option? I'd like to avoid the clunky (harder) shift.

 

[WingZ]

I did Dave's short throw shifter, the R stalk, and the R knob that threads in further. I literaly shift by moving my wrist... the shifter looks and feel better, although it is definitely not as "soft" or as "damped". Very mechanical feel but with more feedback.

Everything worked for me but the Daves short shifter which took away from the natural shift feel. The Daves short shifter made it really clunky to shift. The NSX-R knob with the SOS shorter stalk was perfect after I took out the Daves short shifter ( which is a b*tch to get out by the way ).

 

[nsx1]

I dont necessarily care to have a shorter throw... but I dont want the shifter to 'appear' as high as it does.

What would be my best option? I'd like to avoid the clunky (harder) shift.

The first thing you can try is install the NSX-R knob. It is shorter than the stock knob. This will lower it a little. If that is not low enough for you, then change out the stock stalk and replace with the Short Gear Stalk. The Short Gear Stalk is shorter above the pivot point and has a longer threaded area so you can screw the knob down even further.

Just remember, if you shorten the top of the stalk (knob, short stalk), or lengthen the bottom of the stalk (Dave's short shifter), the throw will shorten accordingly.

 

[starbai]

The first thing you can try is install the NSX-R knob. It is shorter than the stock knob. This will lower it a little. If that is not low enough for you, then change out the stock stalk and replace with the Short Gear Stalk. The Short Gear Stalk is shorter above the pivot point and has a longer threaded area so you can screw the knob down even further.

Just remember, if you shorten the top of the stalk (knob, short stalk), or lengthen the bottom of the stalk (Dave's short shifter), the throw will shorten accordingly.

Either of these two options better for reducing the 'notchy' ness often associated with short shifters?

I'll be using mine as a daily driver and dont care to have a work out every time I shift.

Thanks for your input! A shorter throw would be great but again I'm concerned about the notchy feeling that some have reported.

 

[nsx1]

Either of these two options better for reducing the 'notchy' ness often associated with short shifters?

I'll be using mine as a daily driver and dont care to have a work out every time I shift.

Thanks for your input! A shorter throw would be great but again I'm concerned about the notchy feeling that some have reported.

I've owned 2 NSXs. They were both stock when I got them and each had very, very low mileage. The 1st one (a 2000) shifted with a tiny bit of notchy-ness. The second one (my current 2002) was extremely smooth. I've driven several other NSXs and they all seem a bit different. Perhaps it has to do, at least in part, with the adjustments of the shift cables below the pivot point of the shifter stalk. Who knows?... But one thing is for certain, Dave's Short Shift Kit could change things because it actually extends the bottom of the attachment point of one of the shift cables. (See the difference in the 2 attached photos.)

So.... conceivably, if you do *not* install Dave's Short Shift Kit, the "notchy-ness" (or lack thereof) should stay the same.

I hope this helps.

STOCK (Before Dave's Short Shift Kit):

AFTER Dave's Short Shift Kit Installed:

 

[swimmingpie]

I like to hear from ya'll on long term updates (reliable? would u do it again? etc....).

I'm going to be ordering the shifter boot and right now I'm on the fence if I wanted to do a CT shorter shift kit and the short gear lever stalk (Zanardi).

A few months ago, I installed the Comptech short shift kit and the Zanardi stalk. I drove it like that for about a month before I put on the new shift knob. With the stock knob, it feels nice, but I felt like I couldn't get enough leverage on it. After I installed the heavy spherical knob from Dali, it felt great. I have a better grip on it and the extra effort to get into reverse it eliminated, even with the lower height.

My recommendation would be to get the comptech kit and the short stalk. With an aftermarket shift knob, the shifting is very short and feels nice.

 

[type-j]

do you guys recommend a short shift stalk with the daves short shift kit? could one just use the short shift kit and a counter sunk knob and get the same results?