Short shifter???

[Fatdaddy]

Ok, so I searched for threads on here for info on a better shifter for the MSP since I know how everyone on here is about that crap. I found that there are several short shifters made for the MSP, but by experience or majority vote, what is the best shifter available. I also want the stock shift knob to fit properly. One guy replaced his with a particular aftermarket one, but he had to use another knob. It was said that the MSP came stock with a short shifter, but if that's a short throw, I'd hate to see the one that's not! I have a Skunk2 short shifter in my Honda Civic, and it's awesome. But then when I get into my MSP, it feels like I'm driving a tractor or something! :D So what's the deal?

[StreetPreacher]

The throw length in the mazdaspeed shifter is the same as the stock protege. It's just shorter up top. Kartboy makes a short throw lever for the protege that fits the stock knob. I think they can cut it for the speed threading.

-Sp

[t3ase]

Email kartboy and ask to have the shifter threaded for the MSP knob.

[StreetPreacher]

There was a picture around here somwhere showing the two levers side by side. I can't find it....

[SuperSpud]

yeah, I want a shorter throw on my speed.. I like the height, just not the throw...

[mp3moose]

B&M, Kartboy, and T&M are your choices.

I went with B&M

Moose

[Fatdaddy]

Originally posted by StreetPreacher
There was a picture around here somwhere showing the two levers side by side. I can't find it....

Is this the pic you're referring too? Dude said it was a KWM?
http://www.mazdamp3.com/members/Albert/shifter/dcp_0677.jpg

[Fatdaddy]

Originally posted by mp3moose
B&M, Kartboy, and T&M are your choices.

I went with B&M

Moose

How is the B&M? Pro's and con's?

[garretts77]

I have dealt with Tom@kartboy.com a couple of times, and have nothing but good to say about it. He's a cool guy. The shifter is awesome. I couldn't tell you if it is better or worse than any of the other brands, but i definately have no complaints. Add the bushings and you are golden. And the price is good. I read somewhere on here that if you have the MP3/MSP that you have to let them know so they give the correct threads for the stock shifter.

[Albert]

Is this the pic you're referring too? Dude said it was a KWM?

I took the picture, and it's a TWM shifter. I've had it for a while now and have no complaints. I recommend getting the Kartboy bushings regardless of which shifter you end up buying.

Here's a pic of a comparison of the aftermarket shifters with a stock P5 shifter. It gives you a good idea of what to expect with each. Just remember that that's the first gen TWM shifter, and the pic above is the second gen (the blue one).

http://www.mazdamp3.com/vbb230/_handler.php/Albert/shifter/ss.jpg

[Fatdaddy]

Thanks guys for all the info so far.

I noticed the threaded section of the shaft, say on the TWM, is much longer than the rest. Will the stock shift boot still meet the bottom of the knob, or will there be a gap. That shifter just looks like it will be taller inside the car.

BTW, I have an '03.5 MSP.

[fkmp5]

i've got the twm shifter and kartboy bushings on my 03.5 P5.. i love the setup. the twm is a ball-bearing shifter..

[Albert]

Originally posted by Fatdaddy
Thanks guys for all the info so far.

I noticed the threaded section of the shaft, say on the TWM, is much longer than the rest. Will the stock shift boot still meet the bottom of the knob, or will there be a gap. That shifter just looks like it will be taller inside the car.

BTW, I have an '03.5 MSP.

The shift knob of the 2003 MSP won't fit with the TWM shifter - UNLESS you use it as a universal. The threads are at the top of the inside of the knob, so the shift knob doesn't even meet the threads of the TWM. I use an aftermarket one, so I never worried about it.

[mp3moose]

I love my B&M. Best mod yet. Its not near as notchy as I thought it would be.
Moose

[Little Beavis]

I've got the Kartboy and I like it.

It took some work to make my stock knob fit, but it does now. . . but the shifter I bought had the wrong threads, so hopefully if you talk to Kartboy you won't have to mod it like I did, doh!

[TWM Performance]

I just wanted to let you guys know that we do actually have a specific part number for the MP3 and MSP. Part # MP30103SN will fit the MSP with the Sparco knob. The picture posted of our second gen shifter is the P5 part which has a different thread pattern and shorter shaft above the "shoulder" that holds up the shift boot.

Hope this helps... :)

Karel
TWM Performance

[Fatdaddy]

Originally posted by TWM Performance
I just wanted to let you guys know that we do actually have a specific part number for the MP3 and MSP. Part # MP30103SN will fit the MSP with the Sparco knob. The picture posted of our second gen shifter is the P5 part which has a different thread pattern and shorter shaft above the "shoulder" that holds up the shift boot.

Hope this helps... :)

Karel
TWM Performance

That's great news man. The only question left then is: Does the MSP Sparco knob from the 03's have the same threads and size as that of the 03.5 MSP. The 03.5 doesn't have a Sparco knob, it's labeled Mazdaspeed.

Do you have a link where I can price or purchase the part when the time comes?

-Trace

[StreetPreacher]

Originally posted by Fatdaddy
Is this the pic you're referring too? Dude said it was a KWM?
[

Close, but the one I was thinking of had the Mazdaspeed stock lever next to a regular protege lever. You could see that the length beneath the ball was identical and only the upper portion was shorter.

-Sp

[Mazdaspd035]

Originally posted by Fatdaddy
That's great news man. The only question left then is: Does the MSP Sparco knob from the 03's have the same threads and size as that of the 03.5 MSP. The 03.5 doesn't have a Sparco knob, it's labeled Mazdaspeed.

Do you have a link where I can price or purchase the part when the time comes?

-Trace


I know this is kind of an older thread but for what it's worth, when Steph "stole" :D my 03.5 shift knob at the sunday meet a couple of weeks ago it fit her 03 MSP, so I guess yeah the 03 and 03.5 knobs have the same thread.

[Laser03pro]

But msp and mp3 dont .

[TWM Performance]

But msp and mp3 dont .
Exactly, that's why we created the separate shifter for the MSP.

[Quik89Si]

I have a related question and I don't want to start a whole new seperate thread for it.

The only thing about my MSP that annoys me is the shifter - the throws are kinda long, but the shifter sits too low for me.

What I did for the time being is I took off the stock 3.5MSP knob, and put on a black Spoon knob meant for a Honda. The threads inside the Spoon knob were the wrong size, but it's nylon so it kind of re-threaded itself. No biggie, since I never use it in my Honda.

Anyway, with this setup, the knob obviously sits much higher and closer to the steering wheel, with lots of the shift rod exposed. I don't mind this so much, but is there any other solution to this problem that will make the shift distance shorter, but the height of the shift knob a little bit taller? Or do all of the short shifters for our cars make shifter sit lower as well?

For instance, for Hondas, there are several short shifters that retain stock shifter height but still shorten the shifts. I think the Skunk2 is one of them...but I could be wrong.

Alex