Help! I need a short throw shifter!

[WildChild]

Hello! I am new to this board and i am as well new to the whole car scene. I don't know to much about cars but, i am going to learn as much as possible. The car I have now is a 1999
Honda Civic EX. Its my 2nd car. Now on to my question. I hope this is the right section for this. Well I am in search for a short shifter. The question is what should i be looking for when buying one. I dont think the can really get too expensive so money is no object. Also does it matter how short it is? Is shorter better or is there a suggested height. Also I have been seeing a lot of people buying skunk short shifters. Are they any good and could you please suggest some of the best brands to use. I think that about does it. Thanks Guys and I appreciate anyone who takes the time to answer my question.

[thermal]

I have a cheap Focuz integra short throw on my 99civicEX. It works like a champ. Not to mention, it was free, so I'm not complaining :D. My friend has a dual bend Skunk2 and it shifts really nice as well. I think the dual bends look better on civics anyway. This is my order of choice:
-Skunk2
-DC sports
-Neuspeed
-B&M

They are all pretty much the same. The install is really easy. Dont pay anybody to get it install. It'll take only about 1 hour to finish it.

[nonovurbizniz]

^what he said...

Oh and how "short it is" has nothing to do with the final height of the shiftknob... it is how far apart the change ball and the pivot ball are from one another...

Almost all STS are fine... DO NOT think that this is for ANYTHING other than feel.... it DOES NOT make your tranny shift faster...

It makes the distance between the shift points shorter...

You can shift a stock shifter too fast for the synchros... this becomes MUCH easier with a short throw shifter...

Also IMO the dual bends are VERY important for shifter placement... I got a B&M and it's basically straight... it SUCKS.. it sits too far forward for my taste.... I'd prefer at the very least a sharper bend in it prefferably two bends (so the shiftknob is still virtical instead of being on an angle.).

[pdiggitydogg]

I had B&M...very nice for super ultra short throws..but as said it is kinda far away...no...it is far away

I have a skunk2 dual bend right now and I really like it. shifts are short and smooth, and the knob is probably just as close as it was when stock

[hooohaa2]

I have an Ebay short shifter (about $12) and I love it. The only problem with these is that you risk breakage, and the fact that on a car with stock exhaust, it may rattle in 5th.

About the breakage thing, I haven't had any trouble with mine, but then again, I don't find it necessary to slam through the gears as hard as I can.

My friend has a Skunk2, and it is nice. It sits up higher than mine, but thats how he likes it.

[hooohaa2]

stick around on the forums, especially hstuners. These guys are awesome, they have given me so much help over the past few months.

Read read read!

[sohc_vtec 2NR]

i too got an ebay shifter and it works great! if you wanna save some money, get a cheap ebay shifter... unless you want to spend 80 bux for a name..

[nonovurbizniz]

I would ONLY buy a shifter that was DIRT cheap... whether it's a good one that's used... or a cheap one new...

It's wasted money otherwise imo...

Oh and the GSR (and I think all stock integra) shifter is supposed to be REALLY nice... but I don't know whether or not it's got shorter throws.

[thermal]

^ it will. My buddy installed a stock integra shifter on his del sol. The throw is shorter and crisp but not shorter than some of the popular name brand.

[WildChild]

thanx guys for replying. like i said i am new to the whole import scene so bar with me. i am thinking of going with the skunk2 shifter. i have read some good reviews on it and everyone hear seems to agree that is a good product. But i want my shifter to be lower then stock and im reading that its not much shorter. but i will probally go with skunk2 anyway. now can some one tell me what the diffrence between dual and single bend? im guesing i should get dual. oh and i will be using a spoon sports shift knob. will this fit the threads of the skunk2 shifter?

[pdiggitydogg]

threads are threads..doesnt really matter...but if for some reason it doesnt fit, put an adapter in and youre set (I have some left over it comes to that

bends are just to position the shifter-
dual makes it stand upright
single makes it angled

[Civic4E03]

I bought an ebay racing short shifter and it is nice. but like hooohaa said it may rattle alittle bit in 5th because of the stock exhaust heat shield but its easy to modify with a few rubber shims man......in this case i recomend the ebay shifter it cheap and works great....forget brands on this application!

[pdiggitydogg]

you could just remove the heat sheilds too
or bend them

[JDMB16]

Go with the Skunk2. I have it on my car and highly recommend it. It's of very high quality and I've never had a problem with it coming in contact with the heat shield like some other shifters do.

[Slick]

How high are they? I want my shift knob sitting nice and low, not really long like OEM. ANyone have pics?

[pdiggitydogg]

the lower you go the more efficiency you lose...as well as effectiveness
shorter is going to make you reach farther, and it will be definately harder to shift

looking cool and being cool are different