How to make a short shifter

Tools/materials needed

This how 2 assumes that you already know how to get the shifter out of the car. If you can't figure that out then I'd suggest you just buy a short shifter and pay someone else to do all the labor. If you are mechanically inclinded this how 2 will work for the Civic, CRX, Del Sol, & Integra. The way the linkages are on the Accord and Prelude, this procedure will NOT work for those cars.

  1. Get the shifter out of car. Picture #1
  2. Strip the paint off where you're going to make your cuts with a wire wheel or sandpaper (so it will weld). The objective here is to make the distance between the pivot point (big metal ball), and where the shift linkage mounts, a longer distance apart. Note: Don't add more than 1" to this or else the bottom of the shifter will hit the exhaust pipe (especially if you have a larger diameter aftermarket exhaust). Adding 1/2"-1" is about perfect (I did 1" and it has an insanely short throw!). Picture #2
  3. Make your cuts. Picture #3
  4. I just flipped the piece I cut off around 180 degrees. Notice how the distance between the ball (pivot point) and the lower linkage is now further apart? Picture #4
  5. Now reweld all parts back together. Picture #5
  6. A picture of the finished product is above on this page. When I rewelded it back together, I also leaned it slightly back and towards the driver so it's easier to reach. Here is a top view of the shifter. It's currently in neutral yet looks like it's in 2nd. Pretty cool eh?