KartBoy Short Shifter DIY and Review

[Fenrir]

Just as an FYI to the few other folks who had the rattle issue: I finally got around to installing the rear shifter bushing and my horizontal play and vibrations are almost eliminated. It's still a bit wiggly, but significantly reduced. The stock shifter bushing might as well be made of paper for the support it gives.

[blkwrxwag]

Originally Posted by Fenrir

Just as an FYI to the few other folks who had the rattle issue: I finally got around to installed the rear shifter bushing and my horizontal play and vibrations are almost eliminated. It's still a bit wiggly, but significantly reduced. The stock shifter bushing might as well be made of paper for the support it gives.

Good to know -I haven't done mine yet, but it sounds like I should

[phanguy]

i think kartboy was working his black magic yesterday... on the way home i had no problem shifting into 2nd while above 40mph. and this morning when backing out i had no problem getting into first. i didn't touch my lock out plate either. maybe it just need more time to break in?

[mid_life_crisis]

Originally Posted by tom@kartboy

Its just a clunky transmission. i do have to say it feels a lot better than any subaru transmission thats for sure.
T

Oh hell, you should try driving a Mazdaspeed3. When I test drove the FR-S manual, I was like, "wow! what a great transmission!"
It's all relative.

[tom@kartboy]

Originally Posted by phanguy

i think kartboy was working his black magic yesterday... on the way home i had no problem shifting into 2nd while above 40mph. and this morning when backing out i had no problem getting into first. i didn't touch my lock out plate either. maybe it just need more time to break in?

We work in mysterious ways, We're always watching you!

[Aaron@Hotchkis]

Hello all,

We just installed the Kartboy short shifter in our FR-S and we are very happy with the way it performs. Throw is perfect. Effort increase is noticeable, but the driver can easily adjust to it. Well done Kartboy! No noticeable noise or vibrations.

Install was actually very simple and easy. I've done a few short shifters in various other cars and the FR-S/BRZ is a cakewalk when it comes to removing the center console and shifter disassembly. Kudos to F1point4 for a great DIY!

If anyone is on the fence about getting one of these, buy it! You won't regret it. Thanks to Rick at RallySport Direct for selling us a great product.

Cheers,
-Aaron

[tom@kartboy]

Originally Posted by Aaron@Hotchkis

Hello all,

We just installed the Kartboy short shifter in our FR-S and we are very happy with the way it performs. Throw is perfect. Effort increase is noticeable, but the driver can easily adjust to it. Well done Kartboy! No noticeable noise or vibrations.

Install was actually very simple and easy. I've done a few short shifters in various other cars and the FR-S/BRZ is a cakewalk when it comes to removing the center console and shifter disassembly. Kudos to F1point4 for a great DIY!

If anyone is on the fence about getting one of these, buy it! You won't regret it. Thanks to Rick at RallySport Direct for selling us a great product.

Cheers,
-Aaron

It should free up after a week or so. Mine is pretty smooth now. i know that Jason @ nameless has more miles on his proto then i do and said its nice and smooth.

Tom

[Aaron@Hotchkis]

Originally Posted by tom@kartboy

It should free up after a week or so. Mine is pretty smooth now. i know that Jason @ nameless has more miles on his proto then i do and said its nice and smooth.

Tom

Hey Tom,

The articulation is as smooth as butter, but when talking about the increase in effort to shift, I was referring to the loss of leverage. It's not bad per se, just noticeable when you first drive it. Can't do much about it, less leverage requires more force to do the same amount of work.

Thanks,
-Aaron

[blkwrxwag]

Originally Posted by blkwrxwag

I am getting a slight rattle around 5500+ revs in 3rd and 4th gears. At this point, I'm not sure if it's my aftermarket shift knob, or the fact that I forgot to put the washer behind the cotter pin back on. Until I check those things, I'm not going to blame the shifter.

Important Knob update!

It was the POS aftermarket shift knob I had that was making the rattle. I put the stocker back n this morning and the rattle was gone.

Aaron - now that I have the stocker back on, I do notice the increased shift effort. Not a complaint, just an observation. Now, my rattling knob was a piston style, and that extra height negated the extra shift effort.

*heads to Kartboy's site to look for piston style knobs that don't rattle*

[ducks]

any tips for getting the dust boot back on? i tore my original one to shreds and just got a replacement.

other than that, the install was easy enough and the shifter feels very nice.

[blkwrxwag]

Originally Posted by ducks

any tips for getting the dust boot back on? i tore my original one to shreds and just got a replacement.

other than that, the install was easy enough and the shifter feels very nice.

Same here - I'm going to try and put my new one from under the car, and do the rear shifter bushing at the same time.

[phatpanda]

Friend is a Semi pro Open Road driver and we met up to drive the car last week. Very positive response.. He kept saying how precise the shifting was.

Good job Kartboy!

Btw, this is his weekend toy:

[Marcoscrdo]

Originally Posted by tisb0b

Excellent write up, glad you're happy with it. I'm torn between this short shifter and the one perrin is apparently releasing very soon ;D

Perrin is making a short shifter? How do you know Im a big fan of the way perrin design their products, hopefully this is true news!

ATM Kartboy's shifter is amazing

[kombatlion]

Originally Posted by phatpanda

Friend is a Semi pro Open Road driver and we met up to drive the car last week. Very positive response.. He kept saying how precise the shifting was.

Good job Kartboy!

Btw, this is his weekend toy:
Attachment 38769

Wow