05 4.0 mustang TCI ratchet shifter install and reveiw

[amustangrocks]

it might be mostly novelty, but i had to have one.

install wasnt too bad at all. my first look under the car i was looking at the side of the trans thinking no way. but look a little further back, its pretty open where the shifter actually is.

follow the instructions. remove the upper and lower console, put the car in D ( with the e-brake on) i just turned the key off as much as i could and shut the door to stop the chiming.

now under the car, the linkage clip, you can see where i put the screw driver, if you press on the inside towards the drive shaft you will feel it move, then with your other hand push the outside of that clip up till it till it stops. it will be flushed out(flat across the bottom, maybe 3/8" up) then gently pry the bracket off.

i used the same screw driver to press in the 2 white dots on the frame bracket, while trying to push the cable out of the square steel hole in the bracket.( little bit of a challenge)

in side the car, unplug the connector to the shifter and 2 bolts, 2 nuts, instal the streetfighter, connect the linkage, console, testdrive of course.

not that anyone is like me, but the first thing i did was shift the new shifter( just out of the box) up into park, the shifter locks there and wont move to go back to d for the install. once you bolt in the tci, you can hook the wires up, turn on the key and you can shift it to d, and finish the linkage install.

shift reaction of the trans is the same as shifting the oem, but there is no chance to hit anything more than 1 gear at a time. the od button is nice, as is the indicator light. the handle is threaded on so it can be changed too. ive had it for a while now, its bad to the bone. i get alot more fun out of the torque of the lower gears. its a real nice unit, got it from am on sale.

heres a real good install instruction
http://www.streetlegaltv.com/forum/tci-streetfighter-ratchet-shifter-5r55s-2454.html

heres as couple pics of mine

 

[Alec]

I have to say, I was never interested in them before I saw one in person. Much better quality than I expected. Solid piece

 

[amustangrocks]

I have to say, I was never interested in them before I saw one in person. Much better quality than I expected. Solid piece

it really is a nice shifter. it beats the pants off the plastic oem. the metal ratchet makes a little noise but if your using it you really dont even notice. using it as a regular shifter its real solid. i think the boot is a little on the weak side, but at some point i`ll have to pull it apart and see if it can be removed, then make a nice leather boot for it. it seems as though the price has gone up on it making it a little pricy, but a nice product.

 

[skwerl]

AM seems to be real good about stocking and selling quality products. They are one of my favorite Mustang accessory vendors.

And I'm sure you and Marcy can figure out how to make a custom leather shift boot for it.

 

[Alec]

it really is a nice shifter. it beats the pants off the plastic oem. the metal ratchet makes a little noise but if your using it you really dont even notice. using it as a regular shifter its real solid. i think the boot is a little on the weak side, but at some point i`ll have to pull it apart and see if it can be removed, then make a nice leather boot for it. it seems as though the price has gone up on it making it a little pricy, but a nice product.

Do you have any problems with it otherwise? I remember reading a while back about a electrical problems a few people had. Might just have been a couple bad apples

I probably wouldn't use it much for shifting (I say that now...) but I 100% agree that it's a huge improvement over the plastic OEM crap. After seeing pumpkinfish's in person, I want one lol

 

[amustangrocks]

Do you have any problems with it otherwise? I remember reading a while back about a electrical problems a few people had. Might just have been a couple bad apples

I probably wouldn't use it much for shifting (I say that now...) but I 100% agree that it's a huge improvement over the plastic OEM crap. After seeing pumpkinfish's in person, I want one lol

the shifters been great. havent had any elec issues at all. the lights and od work great. theres a small setscrew on the back of the paddle that holds it on, came loose after a couple days, found it on the carpet( real tiny,2mm allen i think). havent had that happen again. its alot of fun to hang in the lower gears and play with the torque boppin around town, or for impressive entrances onto the highway and the boot is not horrible, it just has a stitch line around the top of the boot that doesnt sit right on mine.

 

[DareDevil]

I want one now

 

[Alec]

the shifters been great. havent had any elec issues at all. the lights and od work great. theres a small setscrew on the back of the paddle that holds it on, came loose after a couple days, found it on the carpet( real tiny,2mm allen i think). havent had that happen again. its alot of fun to hang in the lower gears and play with the torque boppin around town, or for impressive entrances onto the highway and the boot is not horrible, it just has a stitch line around the top of the boot that doesnt sit right on mine.

Thanks for all the help. I don't know if I'd pay ~$400 for one (jeeze they went up a good amount since last time I checked) but I might have to scoop one up if I can find a good price

 

[Surfstang2020]

I personally like them even if they are not really performance oriented I want one if nothing else for car shows and I like the old school look it has

 

[amustangrocks]

Thanks for all the help. I don't know if I'd pay ~$400 for one (jeeze they went up a good amount since last time I checked) but I might have to scoop one up if I can find a good price

man, i know, i dont know what happen with the price. they started out around 400 then dropped a bunch for a while. thats when i got one. seems like it went up about $80+ again. but i would be very depressed if i had to swap back the oem now.

 

[meanmike]

Brenspeed has them for 342. They are very nice for up shifts but when you down shift the rear end makes horrible noises.

 

[boss 245]

I bought one used for $210 shipped, it looks so much better thant the stocker its amazing. As said it is not a performance shifter, and I would like the lights to dim with the gauge lights, the gear indicator is pretty bright at night. I broke my rear trans mount at the strip and the shifter wouldn't downshift, just had to readjust it after fixing the trans mount.
It is pretty expensive for a looks only item though, Installing was a breeze.

 

[trucker]

I ordered mine whith they were first brought out had to wait
tell they finally let them out I love it no problems ever
and if you do shift it not installed you can release the lever
underneath at the solinoid just lift the locking lever up

 

[Davenow]

Mine left me stuck in a parking lot. It wouldnt come out of park. It took me about 20 minutes with a multi-tool to remove the console and start breaking bits off the assembly till I could get to the little gate to let the lever pull out of park. The little access slot thing wouldnt release it either. There are 2 gate plates, one on each side. The drivers side one was sticking in place, not letting the release lever drop its pin down enough to let the lever come out of park.


I just sent it back today, I am getting a refund instead of a replacement. *shrug*

 

[flyby1616]

i bought one about a year ago for $330 and its a pretty easy install and although performance isnt a big difference. it gives the driver more confidence and i think it looks great when i sold the car a selling point was that shifter. the older man who bought it said it reminded him of a classic muscle car he had.