Review: Cheap Ebay Short Throw Shifter
 

Thought I would just toss this out there in case anyone really cared or wondered about those cheap ebay short throw shifters.

Anyways, bought one many months ago for my NA off ebay for $21 shipped. I figured for that price why not. Time passes, and I purchase a 2000 NB. Yesterday decided to put it in the NB instead of my NA.

First off, for anyone who didn't know, the 5 speed in the NB and the NA are identical except for the shifter itself and the turret. The NB's have two posts sticking out to hold the shifter in place where the NA's only have 1. Since almost all the shifters on ebay are made for the NA, I had to just create another groove in the collar to fit into the NB turret. Easy with a drill and a pneumatic cutoff wheel. You can re-use all the plastic bushings and washers from the original shifter if you choose. If anyone has questions on the install, I'd be more than happy to answer.

I also installed all new shifter gaskets and decided to use the Mazdaspeed aluminum shifter collar as well. With everything buttoned up, I'm extremely pleased with the feel and throw. It's definitely a little more notchy and requires a tad more force to get into gear, but I love the direct feel. Personally I'm quite pleased with my $21 purchase and definitely recommend it.

That is all.

The shifters are interchangeable in all 5-speeds, you can hammer that second pin out if need be, speaking from experience.

Edit:
I used Channel-locks to get mine out.

I want a taller shifter.

I'm sure Hustler will make you a duplicate of his dildo shifter.

I had one of these shifters in my 5spd and quite liked it, but I didn't install it into my 6spd and can't say I miss it.

My GF HATED the short throw with a passion :D

I had a cheapo short-throw on my last Miata. I loved that thing. Even though the stock shifter feels great, this one felt much more precise. Just be sure to not use the bushings they give you with it.

This makes me want to go buy another one.

Funny, I just swapped my stock shifter back in after about 2 or 3 years on the short shifter.

This is what I found:
https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1315369909
Horrible picture, but you can see the damage to the slot. It's about .225" wide, should be .250". Could be solved with a 1/4" end mill that I have, but the ball is a little damaged too, so I'm keeping the stock one for now. I wish I had a stock shifter with a solid shaft.

I don't know if anyone's noticed, but the lower shift boot has a seal for the top surface of the turret. I the spacer that comes with the ebay shifter leaked here. I tried to seal with RTV, didn't seem to work, very small surface.

Sorry to bring an old thread back from the dead but does any one know if the black plastic piece above this post can be replaced on the eBay short shifters like the stock shifter? I know I can get replacement ones but am not sure if they are removable on the eBay short shifters. Thanks!

I'm pretty sure it will come out but I remember on my shifter it was not a very good fit so I'd just hope that the replacement parts (I assume from the stock shifter) would actually fit.

It would have to be pretty easy to take your shifter out and check?

Yes, all just depends on how well machined yours was. This was technically my 2nd shifter I bough from ebay, the first one was even close to being machined correctly and in no way was even going to work. The second, seemed correct and I replaced every part on it (or came with) using factory mazda pieces.

Yes the black plastic piece can be removed and replaced with a Mazda part. And should. You might have to widen the slot on the shifter a tad so it sits down all the way, and the turned down screw they use for a peg needs to be shaved down more.

Thanks for the replies guys, big help. Ordering oem one now.

FWIW guys after giving up on trying to make a cheap Ebay Shifter work in a 6 speed I plopped down the money for a Miataroadster short shifter.

http://www.miataroadster.com/miataro...s/g-63251.aspx

It’s freeking awesome. Quality is un-matched. Correct throw ratios, the tall bent one puts the knob very conveniently closer to the steering wheel so less movement required to get from steering wheel to shifter and back again. It feels so natural. It uses double OEM plastic bushings for super smooth and positive operation and everything is machined precisely for proper fit. I’m sure the 5 speed versions are equally impressive. But for the first time this thing makes it so I can shift the 6 speed shift as quick and accurately as I could the 5speed. It was worth the extra money to have it done right.

Bob

damn, when i bought the ralco one from an ebay vendor who claimed it fit the nb1 trannys i had that same problem with that pin... i wish i would have known that s h i t a head of time!

oh welllll, i got a bigger problem anyways.. t2 short throws are harder to find than miata ones. :facepalm:



and as much as i love miataroadster and that looks like a very quality piece, i wouldnt pay 250 for one.. the stock one would just stay in at that price. lol