How noisy or clunky is your "short shifter" ?

[FryRice]

This is for after market shifters. Yes, I read the sticky about shifters ,but apparently people dont get notified of subscriptions that are also stickys . Ive tried.

Anyways,is you are running a Tri-Ax ,Pro 5.0 etc. Tell us how noisy it is or how smooth it shifts. What DONT you like about it if anything ?:)

[huesmann]

I have an MGW and it's gotten a little more effort the longer I've had it, maybe I need to change the tranny fluid or something. But it has a satisfying "snock" as it shifts into each gear. The "snock" is a little loud, though--a friend remarked on it, but then she is prolly used to FWD Japanese cars that have quiet little shifters.

[Black92LX]

I have the UPR. With the original tranny fluid (going to be changed soon).
It's nice and smooth very firm not notchy at all.
As for noise mine is very quiet compared to others. But I also made a couple gaskets out of High Temperature Silicone. One between the shifter base and tansmission and between the shifter and the shifter handle meet.
It cuts down on noise and heat transfer immensly.
Without the gasket you will be much louder because in most aftermarket shifters there is almost zero rubber. Just Metal to metal wich transfers heat and sound.
Here is like what I am talking about
CobraBob's Stang Shifter Gaskets (http://www.stangshiftergaskets.com/)
http://www.stangshiftergaskets.com/Photos/ShifterGaskets.jpg
I made my own so they are slightly different. For the base gasket his only goes around the the lip. Mine only has a hole in the center large enough for the ball joint to go thru. Thus creating less of an openening to the tranny itself. Which I feel cuts down on the heat transfer more than the design shown.

[GirlzGT]

i have just a B&M short throw....nothing fancy. It's been installed for 4 years now, and it still moves like the day i put it in. it makes little noise. more of a light shhhhhhhhh sound in between gears, and the "click" when it hits the screw stop. its hardly noticeable. great shifter though....zero complaints.

[Chris@GMS]

I have a Tri-ax on my '99 T-45....Not one complaint period.

The only little thing is no matter how much red loctite i use, the handle always comes a bit loose, but i attribute that to the aluminum handle and the heat cycles it goes through daily...

[Black92LX]

I have a Tri-ax on my '99 T-45....Not one complaint period.

The only little thing is no matter how much red loctite i use, the handle always comes a bit loose, but i attribute that to the aluminum handle and the heat cycles it goes through daily...

did you use some High Temperature gasket?? It will cut down on the heat. I have had zero problems with the handle coming loose. Wouldn't gurt to five it a try.

[FryRice]

Dont think Ive ever heard of "snock" Hues...

Black92LX ,that is some good info there. Definitely something I should try ,just for the added quality.

GirlzGT , didnt Ford put B&M in the Ford GT stock ? Maybe it was a Ripper. i I wa s always leaning towards B&M until I started seeing to many Tri-Ax owners talking about theirs.

Chris@GMS , Tri-Ax seems to be getting a lot of votes from what Ive seen. I read athat a couple guys broke the handle though,lol. I dont know if its BS or not,but its in that "shifter poll" in the Sticky section.

[96TennGT]

I've got a Tri-Ax. I like it quite a bit. It does transfer noise and can get hot but it's never really bothered me. I think it may be a little notchy but then it's made to take compliance out of the system.

[bshiek]

Since 2002, I have had the Pro 5.0 short shifter with an MGW blue handle. The Pro 5.0 handle was too far away for my reach when stretching for 5th gear, thus the adjustable MGW handle. I have it adjusted closer to the driver's seat. Solid "snocks" with each gear.:) With the windows up, I noticed a little more whine from the transmission, mostly in 5th gear. It doesn't bother me, and the exhaust mostly covers it. Otherwise, no complaints. I really enjoy this shifter over the stocker.

[Chris@GMS]

did you use some High Temperature gasket?? It will cut down on the heat. I have had zero problems with the handle coming loose. Wouldn't gurt to five it a try.

Yes of course on the shifter base...This has been installed for like 75 thousand miles....

I have the original "prone to break" blue anodized shifter handle...The bolts that hold the aluminum handle on to the actual shifter is what comes loose..:Cry:

[Chris@GMS]

Dont think Ive ever heard of "snock" Hues...

Black92LX ,that is some good info there. Definitely something I should try ,just for the added quality.

GirlzGT , didnt Ford put B&M in the Ford GT stock ? Maybe it was a Ripper. i I wa s always leaning towards B&M until I started seeing to many Tri-Ax owners talking about theirs.

Chris@GMS , Tri-Ax seems to be getting a lot of votes from what Ive seen. I read athat a couple guys broke the handle though,lol. I dont know if its BS or not,but its in that "shifter poll" in the Sticky section.
Yes it was the original blue handle like i still have..Mine hasnt broke yet :headbang:

[Black92LX]

Yes of course on the shifter base...This has been installed for like 75 thousand miles....

I have the original "prone to break" blue anodized shifter handle...The bolts that hold the aluminum handle on to the actual shifter is what comes loose..:Cry:

but did you put a gasket between the handle and the shifter itself??

[Evil Stang]

UPR, no noise, but teh throw is still kind of long compared to others.

[Ares]

Used a Pro-5.0 on the 2000 with zero issues

Using a Tri-Ax on the 2004 and again zero issues.

[FryRice]

Well,its seems the Tri-Ax is getting a lot of votes. Got me leaning towards one...

[twogts4us]

Tri-Ax (with Pro 5.0 handle and Hurst 'pistol grip'? style tall knob http://www.highperformancepontiac.com/events/0307hpp_sema13s.jpg ) on the 01 (T-45) - no issues
Pro 5.0 (with Tri-Ax handle and Steeda knob http://www.performanceautosport.com/images/products/steeda%20shift%20knob%20silver%20small.jpg ) on the 02 (3650) - no issues
We've tried various combos and are pretty satisfied with the current combos. We sometimes switch out handles and knobs just for something different just to get a different feel. (Wish exhaust was this easy!)
The T-45 trannie is just much more of a 'baseball bat in a rain barrel' compared to the 3650. I'm not sure I'd consider the 3650 notchy, but it's world's more precise than the 45. If the 3650 is what is called notchy, then I like notchy. The 45 is easy to shift; the 3650 takes a bit more effort, but, IMO, the driver is rewarded with precision.
I don't really find either one to be noisy or clunky...(ouch, clunky sounds bad!). I have found that the noise has a lot to do with the handle and knob combo. The OEM knob is very quiet on all the handles I've tried. I have a couple of cue ball knobs as well and have found them to generate the most noise. And the Tri-Ax handle seems to pass along trannie vibes more than the Pro-5.0 handle (some have compared it to a friggin tuning fork), but I do like the design of the Tri-Ax handle.

[BuzzCut]

I have a Pro 5.0 and used the Cobra Bobs gaskets. As was posted earlier the lever is a tad bit short but I can deal with that.

[cstreu1026]

I have a UPR and its both noisy and clunky but then again I really have never driven with another one so I don't have anything to compare it to. If I were to replace it, I would probably get a Pro 5.0 or a MGW.

[AdRock]

And the Tri-Ax handle seems to pass along trannie vibes more than the Pro-5.0 handle (some have compared it to a friggin tuning fork), but I do like the design of the Tri-Ax handle.

Yep, the Tri Ax does. I have one in my '02 GT and it transmits tranny noise big time. I tried a few handles and different knobs. Any combo that uses the Tri Ax arm always transmitted the most noise. I plan on trying out some of the gaskets that were posted earlier in this thread to see if they quiet things down any.

[FryRice]

Yep, the Tri Ax does. I have one in my '02 GT and it transmits tranny noise big time. I tried a few handles and different knobs. Any combo that uses the Tri Ax arm always transmitted the most noise. I plan on trying out some of the gaskets that were posted earlier in this thread to see if they quiet things down any.

So you think its worse than a stock shifter as far as vibration ?

[greenbird]

Boo hoo.

You can hear my ZF5 shift from 1-2-3 from 40 feet away, and that's over the exhaust that dumps after the cat. Since when are modified cars supposed to be quiet?

[FryRice]

Boo hoo.

You can hear my ZF5 shift from 1-2-3 from 40 feet away, and that's over the exhaust that dumps after the cat. Since when are modified cars supposed to be quiet?

Noise doesn't bother me.I just don't want it to sound like its gonna fall apart. I have an O/R H and Flow's. Im used to noise,but I dont wanna hear my shifter OVER my engine music.:thumb:

[FryRice]

Well I installed the Tri-Ax yesterday .I had to limp my car to the shop to have my new King Cobra HD and 4.10s put in so I havent had a chance to really put it through the paces.

But even with little use so far,I can tell its a WORLD of difference from stock.:headbang:

I ordered the shifter/knob combo from American Muscle. The knob is nice ,but it wont screw on and line up straight. Another words,when its fully tightened ,the knob is fuckin backwards. Is there a trick to get it to screw on facing the right way?

[nyuk98gt]

Truss:

How about using a lock nut on the shifter threads first, then a flat washer, and then the knob. Almost every shift knob I have used (all sticks before my '98) needed the old nut job to get the graphics just right.

Other than that, what does American Muscle have to say about the knob?

HTH,

Chris

[FryRice]

I haven't contacted AM yet ,but Im gonna. You would think that a shifter/knob combo would work properly on something as obvious as to how the graphics/logos line up. I didn't wanna tighten it to much either since the handle is aluminum.

Its pretty ghetto that I would have to buy and lock nuts etc. But your right Chris,thats like the only solution. I tried some Blue Thread locker from Permatex ,but that didn't hold. But then again I didn't put a lot. Cars in the shop now,Ill try your idea if AM is no help.

[huesmann]

You could try some RTV instead of threadlocker?

[FryRice]

I dropped my car off to have the gears and clutch done. When I picked it up ,the knob was fixed,lol.

I got a lot of great recommendations about this shop and I see that they lived up to their reputation. I mean what shop would do that and not even tell you ? They just gave me the keys and said have fun,but didnt take credit for that small fix. Actually its a pretty important fix.

Thats pretty cool.

I emailed American Muscle on it. At first they said that there should be a screw set with it to make adjustments. I told them it didnt have one. They emailed me back again sayin that they double checked their warehouse and they made a mistake on tellin me it came with that set. Cuz none of their shifters do,and they suggested I go to the damn hardware store to find the right stuff...WTF ?

Si I emailed them back sayin that its pretty cheap to sell a shifter/knob combo that wont even line up right and then suggest that the customer go do some guess work at the hardware store.... I havent heard from them back after that on.

What really gets me is that they dont tell you that before you order.

[twogts4us]

I'd figure a knob is either round or has a lock/jam nut or set screw. It's gotta have something...

[FryRice]

I'd figure a knob is either round or has a lock/jam nut or set screw. It's gotta have something...

Nope. I love the knob (ew thats sounds gay) ,its a lot beefier than stock. But no they didnt provide anything to lock it.