CAE Ultra Shifter install...

[Vracer111]

Originally Posted by Timmy_Jones

My initial reaction is that you are a fool to have cut up the interior, installed something so hideous and then on top of it sticks out like an 18 wheeler gear shift with the throw of a TRD quick shifter. I have no doubt my Kart-Boy shifter and mounts can shift very very fast and looks like the throws are about comparable length to yours. Why did you choose this? Have you driven these cars with a short throw shifter? Is there something I am missing?

Yes, there is something HUGE you are missing...all the other "short shifters" still use the stock shift lever retainer yoke, they just replace the stick and other items with ones of differing geometry. While stock system is not bad, it makes for play and slop in the system with all those bushings front and rear. The CAE base is hard mounted to the transmission tunnel with an extremely tight fit of the selector pin to the shifter level, no squishy bushings anywhere in the system. The difference in shift feel between the two is INCOMPARABLE, no short shifter can match the CAE shifter in feel unless it ditches bushings and does something solid mount setup...

If you ever shifted a Hurst Competition + shifter then you will kind of understand what the CAE Ultra shifter is like, but the CAE is much better with ZERO play and a more positive feel both going into gear and going into neutral. I wanted a shifter that would improve the shifting feel to something really positive and meaningful like that of the Hurst Competition + shifter I had in my track Camaro...the CAE does this and more.

Two other things:

1) it is at a proper height for shifting, short shifters are all too low, from a biomechanical perspective. Once you try out a shifter like this you will understand why it's the perfect height...

2) Besides the shifting benefits, it makes for a better/more involved interior sound environment than a catback exhaust system - you get to hear exactly what the transmission is doing. Some gear whine pronounced in 1-3, transmission loading noise very detailed from exact throttle position changes, and when getting on it from 5krpm to redline it makes for an awesome raw sound from the engine that you cannot get from exhaust system or intake mods.

The CAE Ultra Shifter is something you get when you desire a shifting experience that is extremely positive in feedback with ZERO slop (which you can't get with the stock based system) and you want more detailed information from the drivetrain.

NOTE: In order to install the CAE Ultra shifter you REALLY need stiffer engine and transmission mounts installed. Stiffer engine and transmission mounts are a great idea anyways because it really helps out with the ride quality. They are even more influential in smoothing the ride out than the Grimmspeed strut tower bar is... the motor flopping around on the stock mounts really makes the ride rough over sharp bumps and dips - stiffer mounts actually make the impact you feel much softer.

I am baffled by one thing - how you call the CAE Ultra Shifter 'hideous'. That statement computes as much as calling the FR-S 'hideous':

[2much]

Originally Posted by Vracer111

Yes, there is something HUGE you are missing...all the other "short shifters" still use the stock shift lever retainer yoke, they just replace the stick and other items with ones of differing geometry. While stock system is not bad, it makes for play and slop in the system with all those bushings front and rear. The CAE base is hard mounted to the transmission tunnel with an extremely tight fit of the selector pin to the shifter level, no squishy bushings anywhere in the system. The difference in shift feel between the two is INCOMPARABLE, no short shifter can match the CAE shifter in feel unless it ditches bushings and does something solid mount setup...

If you ever shifted a Hurst Competition + shifter then you will kind of understand what the CAE Ultra shifter is like, but the CAE is much better with ZERO play and a more positive feel both going into gear and going into neutral. I wanted a shifter that would improve the shifting feel to something really positive and meaningful like that of the Hurst Competition + shifter I had in my track Camaro...the CAE does this and more.

Two other things:

1) it is at a proper height for shifting, short shifters are all too low, from a biomechanical perspective. Once you try out a shifter like this you will understand why it's the perfect height...

2) Besides the shifting benefits, it makes for a better/more involved interior sound environment than a catback exhaust system - you get to hear exactly what the transmission is doing. Some gear whine pronounced in 1-3, transmission loading noise very detailed from exact throttle position changes, and when getting on it from 5krpm to redline it makes for an awesome raw sound from the engine that you cannot get from exhaust system or intake mods.

The CAE Ultra Shifter is something you get when you desire a shifting experience that is extremely positive in feedback with ZERO slop (which you can't get with the stock based system) and you want more detailed information from the drivetrain.

NOTE: In order to install the CAE Ultra shifter you REALLY need stiffer engine and transmission mounts installed. Stiffer engine and transmission mounts are a great idea anyways because it really helps out with the ride quality. They are even more influential in smoothing the ride out than the Grimmspeed strut tower bar is... the motor flopping around on the stock mounts really makes the ride rough over sharp bumps and dips - stiffer mounts actually make the impact you feel much softer.

I am baffled by one thing - how you call the CAE Ultra Shifter 'hideous'. That statement computes as much as calling the FR-S 'hideous':

sexy af

[Anthony]

I tried ordering straight from CAE, but they're being real German about it. I called Hard Motorsports a few hours ago and left a message. Still waiting on that return call.

[Anthony]

Welp. Never got a call back, but just paid online. I really hope they can get it to me in like 10 days or so.

[Vracer111]

Originally Posted by Anthony

Welp. Never got a call back, but just paid online. I really hope they can get it to me in like 10 days or so.

It will probably take 3 weeks or so...

By ordering now it should be built in time to make the next shipment they have nextweek to Hard Motorsports (CAE ships things early/midweek in batches). It stays in customs for a little bit then goes to Hard Motorsports. Then they get in the shipment and sort it to who it needs to go to and then ship it out...
So expect three weeks to receive it from the time you order.

[Anthony]

Damn. On their website, CAE claims to have some already ready to go, if I remember correctly.

[Vracer111]

Originally Posted by Anthony

Damn. On their website, CAE claims to have some already ready to go, if I remember correctly.

Probably units for BMW's since they are mainly a company for BMW's...highly doubt they have any 86 units in stock. These are the messages I received on their website after ordering August 29th:





I picked it up from Post Office on September 18th (after a first failed delivery attempt the day before...signature required).

[Anthony]

Just for anyone who may wonder about it in the future, I ordered mine through Hard Motorsports on October 1st, and it arrived on October 19th.

[_gt86_user]

I think I'm going to place my order tomorrow, see if I can pick up some engine mounts too.

[Anthony]

Got my new tranny installed a few days ago, so next I'll be looking to change the oil in that and also install this bad boy. Here's a picture I took 19 days ago and completely forgot to post until just now.

[emirdtm]

I'm speechless how amazing that shifter looks and can only imagine how amazing it has to feel... Now with a agressive FinalDrive O man it would be on point

[Anthony]

Ok, so I finally installed my shifter with the help of my friend, Daniel. Before we got started, we went to the store and bought a $5 C clamp to modify, which we did. In the store.

After that, we went home and installed the whole thing with 0 problems or difficulties of any sort. Literally the hardest part was disconnecting the driveshaft at the differential end, only because it's gotten a bit rusty. A few taps with the hammer and it broke free. We also lifted the rear of the car higher than the front, so not a drop of tranny oil ever came out. We never used the C clamp. The spacers went right on by hand, and so did the pin. I could've done the entire thing by myself months ago, but I was so worried about having the difficulties Vracer had, I waited until I had some help.

Daniel is the one who actually slid the infamous pin through, and he did while I wasn't even under the car. I was preparing the C clamp, and then he just started dying laughing underneath the car. Apparently it practically fell on. I'm so upset we didn't film it lol.

So... I'm guessing the microscopic variations between individual cars from the factories caused Vracer all that trouble, but had no effect on our experience. Having my car already gutted (which reduced our workload) I would put the difficulty of our experience on the same level as changing brake pads.

From the factory, I couldn't shift into reverse, but it only took about 1/2 of a turn of one of the set screws, and hitting reverse is now not a problem. So even tuning the thing is a breeze.

I've included some pictures of the most intimidating step, popping the pins out for the yoke. We took the driveshaft and exhaust off, so it wasn't too hard to access with a medium-sized flat head. Daniel's the one that did it, and he said he turned them about 90 degrees and then they came out without a fuss.

[Vracer111]

Good to see it was easy for you to get it on...the bushings were a major pain for me - everything else pretty easy. What is your initial impression of the shifter?

[Anthony]

Well.
All I had time to do was drive to the end of my street. I got up to third gear. But... just doing that... I'd have to say WORTH IT.