So I finally installed an MGW shifter

[Norm Peterson]

Long time coming, but I needed to have a clear need for it first (which came at my latest track day).

Like other mods I've done, there was a bit of custom tweaking involved. Being an easy street and HPDE driver rather than a drag racer, I'd rather have easier effort and as little notchiness as possible to go with the accuracy than a shorter throw. Picking up from MGW's video about the shorter throws tending to be notchier, I extended the lever a bit to reduce it, and from an shift-effort point of view came out rather well if I do say so myself. The proof will be in the upcoming TNiA at NJMP a week from today. Eventually I'll probably cover the exposed metal bits up, but that's not a priority item - I don't see them when I'm driving.

Norm

 

[stkjock]

I wonder if MGW could have made u a longer shifter arm?

Interesting modification.

 

[Norm Peterson]

I'm sure they could have, but I kind of like seeing what I can come up with. Plus I already have it on and some test miles in, where I'd only be making the phone call now to find out if they would do it at all and if so could they get it back to me by the coming weekend.

It would have been a little easier of a job if I could have found a length of 12 x 1.25 threaded rod instead of having to cut the heads off of two 45mm long bolts (because fully threaded) and welding those together. This joint is hidden inside the OE shift knob.


Norm

 

[ghunt81]

This is why I put a longer Hurst stick on both my Hurst and on my current Tri-Ax- besides the fact that they give you way too short of a stick with all S197 shifters, it just makes shifting easier overall.

 

[Speedboosted]

Interesting modification.

Lol


Looking forward to hearing your thoughts Norm. Short shifters requiring too much effort is the exact reason I still have the stock shifter behind my 3650. It's so smooth and I have no issues shifting quickly that I see no need to replace it yet. But would like to do the MGW soon since the throws are admittedly a bit long.

 

[Norm Peterson]

Initial impressions are that it's as smooth as OE. You still notice what's happening at the other end inside the transmission as you move the individual shift forks but you're not fighting them to make them move. Even engaging reverse doesn't require any real effort even against whatever spring on that side makes the 3-4 gate harder to miss (I'd been having some occasional difficulty with the OE shifter getting reverse to back into my driveway . . . so far that's gone).

I'm looking forward to the upcoming track day and, if I've got myself fully used to the new setup, hope to have no issues with higher-rpm shifting than I've been able to try thus far. Having trouble going between 3rd and 4th a couple of weeks ago - either up or down - spoiled more than a few lap times.


Norm

 

[Champale]

I bought a couple different lengths of shafts for my MGW a few years ago (they were $15 each from MGW). I ended up preferring one that is 1.25" longer than what it came with and am very pleased with it. Mines an MT82, though.

 

[Norm Peterson]

I did see the option for an extra handle, but could not find any other information about it other than the choice of fine or coarse thread. Knowing what I do now, I would have bought an extra handle if it was closer to 2.5" - 3" longer than the usual one, as I was fully expecting to be adding a little length even before ordering it (just hadn't figured out how I was going to do it).

By the time all was said and done, I probably added about 85 mm, which I think makes the throws about 20% longer than OE. Throws feel slightly longer, but not at all bothersome for my shifting which is fairly deliberate all the time no matter what I'm driving.


Norm

 

[Norm Peterson]

I'm finding that there's noticeably less hand movement to get to the shift lever and back to the steering wheel (side thought - I wonder if the reach to the shifters in my other two cars will start feeling "too far"???).

I cobbled up a cover for the metal bits from the split corrugated tubing that usually used for wiring and some grey duct tape (that almost matches the rest of the grey in the interior). Made a bigger difference in the amount of cabin noise than I'd have ever expected, so it's staying.

Norm

 

[Mustang dog]

I found some handles that are longer.

Sorry for the last one

 

[Macman45]

Interesting modification.

 

[46addict]

This is when function over form goes too far.

 

[bujeezus]

So why do most folks not like the "notchiness" of some shifters? I love it on my Roush shifter.

 

[Norm Peterson]

Because it feels like something is not adjusted properly, or not built to tolerance, or has bent or become otherwise damaged. Too much force is involved to keep the shift lever from 'stalling', and it feels like you're having to be more brutal than necessary (more than is even good for the mechanical bits that are involved).

Shifting precision is not the same thing.

I suppose if you're more of a drag racer being brutal on the equipment is part of the game, and you're not going to think like an endurance racer where being gentler on things is what gets you to the end of the race on the track instead of in the pits or back in the garage.


Norm

 

[RocketcarX]

Because it feels like something is not adjusted properly, or not built to tolerance, or has bent or become otherwise damaged. Too much force is involved to keep the shift lever from 'stalling', and it feels like you're having to be more brutal than necessary (more than is even good for the mechanical bits that are involved).

Shifting precision is not the same thing.

I suppose if you're more of a drag racer being brutal on the equipment is part of the game, and you're not going to think like an endurance racer where being gentler on things is what gets you to the end of the race on the track instead of in the pits or back in the garage.


Norm

How much force are you using with your extended lever vs. a drag guy slamming gears a short shifter? Negligible difference, I bet.
The "from the wheel to the shifter" difference would be a fair line of logic though, NASCAR has them things way up there too, and those boys don't do anything without high level engineering.

 

[Norm Peterson]

Just the difference in shift handle length made a noticeable difference (I tried with the extension and without it with neither factory boot installed specifically to find this out).

Running through the pattern (engine off, clutch pedal depressed), effort is about the same as the shifter in either of the other cars in my sig under the same conditions. I just went outside to try this.


Under drag-race conditions you're going to have the adrenalin flowing and you're going to be pulling on the shift lever with more force in order to reduce 'shift time' as well as to make sure you get the next gear fully engaged before the clutch is. I almost never shift like that, like fewer than half a dozen times total in the 9+ years I've owned the Mustang and over 5 years since the last time.

That aside, just based on my estimate of ~20% longer throws against let's say 70% of OE (about the middle of MGW's 50% and 85% range and about where most people seem to set theirs) the force would be only a little over half as much. Barely 40% of the effort compared to the MGW at its shortest throw setting.


Norm