Short Throw Shifter

[08MustangGT/CS]

All, sorry, I searched this forum and didn't see this one yet.

Has anyone put in a short throw shifter yet? I am about to order one and I kinda want to put it in myself. Has anyone else put one in an 05-08 GT?

[Bigjht]

I have a MGW in my 08 and I love it. My brother-in-law has a Steeda and it shifts well but the interior noise with it is much more noticeable than I have with the MGW. He also had something break on his about 6 months after installing, not sure exactly what it was though.

[08MustangGT/CS]

I am thinking about a Hurst. Good or bad thoughts?

[Bigjht]

It will be better than stock but I have read many issues where they rattle after a little time and don't have as good of a feel as the mgw or steeda. I've never used one though so I don't have first hand knowledge, just what I've read.

[fordshotime]

I was very impressed with the MGW for My Cobra. very quick shipping and the quality of the parts was Great. at least for my 03 Cobra.
If MGW put the same detail for your o8 you wont be disappointed.

[ArkansasMystic]

I had a MGW in my 96 Cobra. I'm not expert, and haven't tried any others (not even stock), but the MGW felt and shifted great. As already said, I'm sure the one for the 08 will be the same great quality, so that'd be a great choice!

[dadejack]

If I install one it will be the MGW. Just my .02.

[Bigjht]

It appears MGW recently improved on the design some more and lowered the price as well.


http://forums.themustangsource.com/showthread.php?t=480988

[08MustangGT/CS]

You guys are great! That is why I asked. I am going with the MGW. It is a really nice short throw and you can adjust it to fit your driving style. Thanks again.

[Weapon]

I just installed a Hurst billet shifter (#33915201) into my '08 GT a few days ago. It was not too difficult to install - didn't even have to move the drive shaft. It took a little bit of time to install but I wasn't in any hurry and I could have installed it much more quickly than the 2.5 hours I spent playing around with it. The shift throw is at least 40% less and gear engagement feels 100% solid. It is a bit notchy but it has just a couple days of use on it. The increase in transmission noise in the interior was extremely slight and I hardly notice the difference.

I have heard that others have rattling issues with the Hurst and there seems to be a number of possible causes. If you over-tighten the shift knob, the insert in the knob can apparently work a little loose and start to rattle. To avoid this, I installed mine only hand-tight but used loctite to keep it in place (working great so far). Another possible cause of rattling is the screws that hold the chrome shift arm in place (loctite red or stronger thread lock fixes it). Basically, you just need to make sure you use a good thread lock on all the nuts and bolts when installing it.

At least for now, I am totally satisfied with the Hurst. It is so much better than the stock unit...and I caught it on sale so it was less than a $200 upgrade. :)

The MGW shifter looks great - I may have to give one of those a go in the future.

[08MustangGT/CS]

Dang it, you had to have good things to say about it. LOL J/K. Now I am torn between the two. I have been doing research and the MGW has awesome reviews. And it is adjustable. So, not sure what I want to do as of yet. Still checking around and getting input from you all.

[Weapon]

this is a minor gripe and somewhat specific -- I do not really like the size of the shifter knob on the Hurst. It uses a 1-3/4" ball. While it looks good enough, it is too small for my liking. That may not apply to most - I am 6'4" and have fairly large hands.

Now, as for possible replacements...

Should I go with a black cue ball or a white 8 ball...both were different enough to get my attention. They are regulation billiard balls - I just have to drill add a metal threaded insert and I will have a fairly cool and different shift knob for my Hurst that fits my hand much better than the Hurst one. :)

[Weapon]

I read a post yesterday on a different stang site where the guy installed the hurst short throw shifter but kept the rubber rear bushing - he claimed it left it with next to zero transmission noise and slightly reduced the notchy feel of the Hurst shifter but retained the solid engagement and short throw.

I have my shifter fairly well broken in at this point and I like the way it feels but might try this just for the fun of it.

Also, it seems like adding dynamat directly above the transmission (under the center console) is a worthwhile mod with any short throw shifter. I was looking at the Dynamat full car kit but might try Dynamat over the transmission first to see how much difference it makes by itself.

[08MustangGT/CS]

If you do install the dynamat. Let me know if it works. I might try the same.

[Weapon]

If you do install the dynamat. Let me know if it works. I might try the same.

I ordered some different types of sound dampening materials to test out under the center console. With any luck, I will have some time this weekend to try them out. A decent sized area under the center console is just bare metal so I thought I would try out at least one that has both heat and sound blocking qualities to it. I have been checking around for some other minor mods to add to the above for the weekend and there are a few with potential - at least a couple that might even be fairly inexpensive (is dynamat lined with solid gold threat or something?? LOL)

[Str33tr]

I ordered some different types of sound dampening materials to test out under the center console... at least a couple that might even be fairly inexpensive (is dynamat lined with solid gold threat or something?? LOL)

here's a thread from ARRides a/b sound deadening material.
http://www.arrides.com/ARR/forums/index.php?showtopic=7461&hl=dynamat
Pay particular attention to the discussion a/b the cheap alternative to dynamat that's sold in hardware stores.
I've been dying to try this, but i LOATHE the idea of pulling my interior out.

[Weapon]

I decided to give gorilla shield a test run - looks, feels and smells just like dynamat but it is about 1/2 the price if not a little less than that. I found it on eBay and the seller is in Texas so it got here rather quickly. I decided to start with the trunk and work my way forward -- I would like to go all the way up to the firewall but I am not overjoyed about all the extra weight that would be added with that much mat. Also, after finishing the trunk, I need at least a short break from it -- installing this stuff correctly is a pain in the *** and do not let anyone convince you that it isn't -- you have to do a lot of work at odd angles to get coverage on all sides of the trunk. A full day of that will leave you fairly sore the next morning. Also, fitting, cutting and then rolling it on takes forever...and the trunk in a stang is a helluva lot larger than it looks after you pull out all the carpet and panels. lol.

I will likely do the area over the transmission (around the shifter next weekend) -- either before or after I add the Steeda UD pulleys that should be showing up on my door step sometime this week.

couple hints/tricks for installing it:
lay it out in the sun -- it is much easier to cut, fit and roll on if it is warmed up in the sun first -- it makes it softer and more pliable.

If you are using shears or scissors for cutting the mat at all, give them a shot of spray on dry wax type lube every now and then - it keeps the mat from sticking to the scissors and makes cutting the mat a breeze.

Get some thin mechanics-type gloves when working with it - the aluminum foil that is the outer side of the mat can be razor sharp after you cut it and you will end up having dozens of little micro-sized slices on your hands and fingers if you do much work with it barehanded.

[abdullaGT]

The tri-ax was amazing on my 03, im planning on getting an 06 stang soon and will probably go with the steeda or mgw.

As for the sound deadning, I got some "fat mat" from ebay, and it helped knock down alot of noise from rocks and pebbles hitting the bottom of the car, and much of the rattling. Don't expect it to tone down the exhaust too much though.

[Weapon]

The tri-ax was amazing on my 03, im planning on getting an 06 stang soon and will probably go with the steeda or mgw.

As for the sound deadning, I got some "fat mat" from ebay, and it helped knock down alot of noise from rocks and pebbles hitting the bottom of the car, and much of the rattling. Don't expect it to tone down the exhaust too much though.

It definitely helps with the little tick or click type noises like rocks hitting under the wheel wells. The exhaust drone is still noticeable but it took a bit of the buzz out of it. I think I am going to do a single layer on the passenger compartment when I get time and most certainly on the doors to calm down the speaker rattle.

The MGW shifter is tempting but the Hurst Billet was too much of a deal at a little under $200 to pass it up. I caught it on sale - I think they are $210 or so now.

EDIT: I keep forgetting to mention this -- If you get a short throw shifter that re-uses the lower rubber boot from the factory shifter (like the Hurst), be careful with that boot and think twice before you start slicing it up if it needs any modification to fit. It is not really easy to tear or anything but I tried to help someone from a different forum find a replacement the other day and struck out. So I finally checked with the local ford dealer. For whatever the reason it seems that ford does not offer that as a separate part - they said he would have to order the complete shifter to get the stock rubber boot...that would be one seriously expensive rubber shift boot.

The Steeda UDPs I mentioned a couple posts up came in early. I just finished installing those suckers. I almost horked the threads in the crankshaft with the 3 jaw gear puller but luckily managed to notice it wasn't quite aligned before I started torquing it down to pull off the stock balancer. slightly close call.