KartBoy Short Shifter DIY and Review

[F1point4]

@White64Goat I appreciate the question. It is good to challenge people's results.

I had a tripod setup in my car and the top video was recorded from the exact same angle with maybe 1% movement between the recordings. The reason the travel looks the same in 2,4,6 was because the neutral position of the Kartboy Short Shifter is different than OEM. It sits lower.

Here is my science
As you can see the neutral position of the Kartboy is further back than the OEM shifter.

20130318-KartboyShifterTravelComparison-001 by VictorN07, on Flickr



I have more science. Here is comparison shots of the OEM shifter vs Kartboy Short Shifter in their shifter travel. Concentrate on the overlap of the knob. You can see the travel of the Kartboy Short Shifter is much much less than OEM. (I apologize for hard to see):

20130318-KartboyShifterTravelComparison-002 by VictorN07, on Flickr


20130318-KartboyShifterTravelComparison-003 by VictorN07, on Flickr


20130318-KartboyShifterTravelComparison-004 by VictorN07, on Flickr


20130318-KartboyShifterTravelComparison-005 by VictorN07, on Flickr


20130318-KartboyShifterTravelComparison-006 by VictorN07, on Flickr


20130318-KartboyShifterTravelComparison-007 by VictorN07, on Flickr


20130318-KartboyShifterTravelComparison-009 by VictorN07, on Flickr

[White64Goat]

That was hard to see, but your lines clears that up!

[tom@kartboy]

DANG! that's a lot of science up in here!

Correct. We angle the shifter back two degrees from the OEM one. Why? Personal preference to me. i always liked the shifters angled a little back from where Subaru puts them stock.

So far i know of around a dozen plus shifters installed with no complaints of rattling.
Jason at Nameless has had his for a good while and prob has the most miles on his car.

Tom

[Huehuecoyotl]

Originally Posted by tom@kartboy

DANG! that's a lot of science up in here!

Correct. We angle the shifter back two degrees from the OEM one. Why? Personal preference to me. i always liked the shifters angled a little back from where Subaru puts them stock.

So far i know of around a dozen plus shifters installed with no complaints of rattling.
Jason at Nameless has had his for a good while and prob has the most miles on his car.

Tom

Tom,
any chance of a group buy deal for your early adopter crowd??
(reaches for wallet)

[tom@kartboy]

Originally Posted by Huehuecoyotl

Tom,
any chance of a group buy deal for your early adopter crowd??
(reaches for wallet)

We do not do Group Buys directly.

I just got the materials for the uppers for the next run and the cost went up a ton.
We will have to raise the prices on the second batch. So if you want one at the intro price, better jump on it ASAP. I believe that Rallysportdirect, Nameless and TIC have some left from the first batch of 100. But they are going fast.

[blkwrxwag]

I didn't even notice that the shifter was angled back, but I like it.

As stated previously, very acceptable on a daily driver. I have about 300 miles on mine and I'm still grining like a spotty tenager getting his first boobie feel.

[maj75]

So it would be possible to leave off the lock-out plate and disable the reverse lock out "feature." I am not of fan of the lock out collar. I have never had the feature on any other manual transmission and I am confident that I can shift this car without going into reverse.

I wonder why this feature was necessary. Did Toyota/Subaru think that new owners wouldn't know how to drive at stick shift? Did some lawyer tell them they better put one in to save some dummy from accidentally reversing through his garage door or blowing up his transmission by shifting into reverse at speed?

If I get this kit, I will try removing all the shift shaft mounted lockout parts. Downside is the shift boot won't fit right, but I think that can be remedied pretty easily with scissors and a sewing machine

[tom@kartboy]

Originally Posted by maj75

So it would be possible to leave off the lock-out plate and disable the reverse lock out "feature." I am not of fan of the lock out collar. I have never had the feature on any other manual transmission and I am confident that I can shift this car without going into reverse.

I wonder why this feature was necessary. Did Toyota/Subaru think that new owners wouldn't know how to drive at stick shift? Did some lawyer tell them they better put one in to save some dummy from accidentally reversing through his garage door or blowing up his transmission by shifting into reverse at speed?

If I get this kit, I will try removing all the shift shaft mounted lockout parts. Downside is the shift boot won't fit right, but I think that can be remedied pretty easily with scissors and a sewing machine

Honestly, if you want to try that now, just remove the L plate that the shifter hits. rebolt the shifter down and try it out. you can leave the lockout there and just not use it.
think of it as a shift boot holder upper.


Tom

[F1point4]

Unlike challengers and the Minis I driven this gearbox doesn't have another means of preventing accidental shifts into reverse. Without that lockout plate, reverse is just as easy to select as any other gear.

The shifter travel is so close that 1st/reverse could be mixed up for an inexperienced driver.

Its just a matter of preference. Let us know how your install goes.

[maj75]

Originally Posted by tom@kartboy

Honestly, if you want to try that now, just remove the L plate that the shifter hits. rebolt the shifter down and try it out. you can leave the lockout there and just not use it.
think of it as a shift boot holder upper.


Tom

Great idea! That way I don't have to explain how to put the car in reverse when the pattern is on the knob.

[chenshuo]

OP, you have some serious photographing skills!

[burnt toast]

Excellent "science," writeup.

Question: does it feel very rifle bolt action like? How loud is this "thunk" noise when shifting into gear?

I'm on the fence with this unit. Price wont last. I'm pulling my hair out.

[Mitch]

Originally Posted by burnt toast

Excellent "science," writeup.

Question: does it feel very rifle bolt action like? How loud is this "thunk" noise when shifting into gear?

I'm on the fence with this unit. Price wont last. I'm pulling my hair out.

Rifle bolt? No. Takes more effort, but the reduction in length and height of shifter makes for a remarkable shifting experience. If ou're on the edge, just go for it. It's worth it, and it's super easy to install.

[burnt toast]

Originally Posted by Mitch

Rifle bolt? No. Takes more effort, but the reduction in length and height of shifter makes for a remarkable shifting experience. If ou're on the edge, just go for it. It's worth it, and it's super easy to install.

the stock shifter just feels flimsy to me. too soft, easy to shift, lack of feel.

i guess my main mission is to have a shifter than somewhat compares to my s2000 w/ short shifter.

i will probably give in tonight and order one. i have had great experiences with this company in the past on a previous car.