MGW Shifter install pics and opinions !!!DUW!!!

[83GT289]

Ok, some of you have been following along in another thread as a waited for my new shifter. Well i got it in on friday, very well packaged. I got around to installing it today. Overall i am simply amazed at the difference. It's like driving a completely different car. 2nd-3rd shifts are positive, solid, and quick. Poor choice of words, i just don't know how to describe this thing. I am extrememly impressed with the work that's gone into this, and the end result. Also i would like to note, it is DEAD QUIET. This shifter is considerably quieter than even my stock shifter was. Quick, solid, quiet, and looks great. What more could you want?

Here are some shots of the shifter and install

here's what shipped,

http://www.wikkedpc.com/images/shifter/contents.jpg
http://www.wikkedpc.com/images/shifter/contents2.jpg

some side by sides with the stocker,

http://www.wikkedpc.com/images/shifter/sidebyside.jpg
http://www.wikkedpc.com/images/shifter/sidebyside2.jpg

positioned in the car,

http://www.wikkedpc.com/images/shifter/boltedin.jpg

bolted in with the blue handle installed,

http://www.wikkedpc.com/images/shifter/handleinstall.jpg

with the knob back on,

http://www.wikkedpc.com/images/shifter/knob.jpg
http://www.wikkedpc.com/images/shifter/knob2.jpg

here it is all wrapped up wth the boot back on.

http://www.wikkedpc.com/images/shifter/alldone.jpg
http://www.wikkedpc.com/images/shifter/alldone2.jpg


any questions?


J.

[joelliott]

Sweet post dude. Awsome job on the shfter too. Look nice. Im trying to figure out a way to not cover up the whole thing with the boot. Id like to take the boot up to the bottom of the red/blue arm. Just a thpought tho. But again, awsome post.
Joe E.

[Evil86lx]

Very interesting. I'm a Tri-ax guy myself but I'm alway's interested in trying something different.

kyle

[83GT289]

Sweet post dude. Awsome job on the shfter too. Look nice. Im trying to figure out a way to not cover up the whole thing with the boot. Id like to take the boot up to the bottom of the red/blue arm. Just a thpought tho. But again, awsome post.
Joe E.


I'd love to have a boot that fit just under the handle. I've thought about modifying my boot to do just that. You'd just have to cut the hole a little further down from the top. There's that lip at the top of the main shaft and the boot could sit just above that. I think that would look awesome :D. I would try it in a second but that leather boot cost me $50, lol.


J.

[5 Liter Mustang]

damn man, it looks beautiful

its a shame it gets covered up by the boot

[slickshift]

Damn that is one fine looking piece
Thanks for the pics and review
It sounds just great
I can't wait to get one

[v8only]

That does look really good. I think I'm gonna have to sell my pro 5.0 shifter.

[50 Proof]

I have a tri-ax for the tremec in my 86. Im curious to try one of these but they don't make it for the 3550/TKO :(

[Clarko]

That's awesome!

[83GT289]

I have a tri-ax for the tremec in my 86. Im curious to try one of these but they don't make it for the 3550/TKO :(

If i'm not mistaken they are planning to make one for the 3550


J.

[BIGBEARMUSTANG]

83 GT...Did yo go from the stocker to the mgw? I am curious how much better it is over a Tri-Ax. The other thread says it's better but I don't know any of them.

[83GT289]

BigBear,

Yes, i went from the stocker. I have heard that the MGW is worlds apart from the tri-ax and even the legendary pro50. I have no personal experience with either of those though. I had been planning on ordering a tri-ax for quite some time but i could never make up my mind completely. When i saw this shifter i knew it was the one.


J.

[Hissing Cobra]

That thing is very eye catching! It's too bad that it's got to be covered up. I'd buy one for the 3550 if they do in fact make them (I'm sure they will) but I'd have to break my new Pro 5.0 first. I don't think that it will be possible.

[joelliott]

Yeah I finally got mine ordered today. $182 total shipped. I got the red handle too. Im going from stock to MGW also and I figured if I wanted a shorter throw in the future Id just order the other handle. My boot is the cheepo ruber one thats stock. Im still not sure if Im gonna cut it or get one from a yard and try it first so I dont mess up and loose my stocker boot. But its an awsome piece as far as looks go. I hope it performs like everyone says...

Also the people at MGW were very friendly and if you have any questions just call them up. Im sure itb be no problem.

I was told my package would be shipped Friday. New red handles were being made and stock would be up to in house numbers fri.

Also I think they may already have the 3550 shifter or they are designing it now. Dont hold me positively to it but I heard something about it on stangnet. ttyl guys...
Joe E.

[pocket3799]

Looks great!! I know you'll like it, a friend has one in his Mach 1, he loves it!!!!

[Cobra Jet]

What stops the handle from wanting to "spin" if shifting it hard?

Does the handle have to be angled towards you, seems awkward..??

Can the stops be adjusted?

What is the guarantee on the unit?

To me, the design just seems like it is putting the handle back towards the driver more, thus "creating" a shorter shift? Is this true?

[50 Proof]

What stops the handle from wanting to "spin" if shifting it hard?


it appears that the handle clamps onto the shifter, so the more you tighten those screws the tighter the handle will clamp, or if things strip out the handle will probably spin.

[83GT289]

What stops the handle from wanting to "spin" if shifting it hard?

Does the handle have to be angled towards you, seems awkward..??

Can the stops be adjusted?

What is the guarantee on the unit?

To me, the design just seems like it is putting the handle back towards the driver more, thus "creating" a shorter shift? Is this true?

The handle clamps down with two allen head bolts. It clamps down VERY tightly. I wasn't able to move it with all my strength behind it. I very much doubt you could strip it out very easily, the anodizing process MGW is using is very very strong. There is a video of the aluminum handle holding up a 1500lb table saw. The handle is adjustable by 360 degrees. The stop bolts are adjustable. The throw isn't made shorter specifically by the handle, it's main feature is in the shifters base. The portion of the shifter from the center pivot to the lower ball that goes into the tranny is actually LONGER than any other shifter. This means that the bottom ball travels further with less motion from the top portion. According to MGW and common reports this gives the shifter a shorter throw than any other shifter on the market.

[BIGBEARMUSTANG]

Nope...There is a lock washer type thing that locks the shift handle in place. Plus the nut won't allow it to spin. Believe me..the handle will not slip. They hung 1500lbs off of it and it didn't move.

Also the shifter has a shorter throw by using the same therory other shifters do...raise the pivot point and it gives more reach in the transmission..thus a shorter shift.

The handle simply moves the shifter back towards the driver making for a more comfortable shifter. Because it is closer to you or farther away depending on where you place the handle..

[83GT289]

Nope...There is a lock washer type thing that locks the shift handle in place. Plus the nut won't allow it to spin. Believe me..the handle will not slip. They hung 1500lbs off of it and it didn't move.

Also the shifter has a shorter throw by using the same therory other shifters do...raise the pivot point and it gives more reach in the transmission..thus a shorter shift.

The handle simply moves the shifter back towards the driver making for a more comfortable shifter. Because it is closer to you or farther away depending on where you place the handle..


Check out my pics. The handle has been redisigned. There is no more spanner nut and lock washer. Seems some folks were complaining that the adjustment took too long to loosen everything up and tighten it down again. Now the handle has a clamping feature. George says it's even stouter than the spanner nut was. I do know that i tried my best to get it to move after tightening the handle down only moderately. I couldn't budge it at all. Very nice design.

J.

[e85gt]

shifter looks great man ! .. just one thing, it looks alittle tall where you connect the handle . think it will get in the way on your next tranny drop ?

Erik

[83GT289]

shifter looks great man ! .. just one thing, it looks alittle tall where you connect the handle . think it will get in the way on your next tranny drop ?

Erik


I don't quite understand where you're coming from there? Yes the main shaft is taller than the "stub" on the stock shifter that you bolt the handle to. Considering the thickness of the base and the size/strength of the main shaft it is probably quite a bit taller. I don't see how this affects a tranny drop though. If i was replacing the tranny i'm sure i'd want the MGW on the new tranny so why not take it off before you drop the transmission out? Even if you didn't, i'm sure you could finnagle it out with the shifter on. I wouldn't do this anyway with any shifter, i'd be afraid of banging the shifter up as the tranny was coming out. Is there some reason you wouldn't want to remove the 4 bolts holding the shifter in if you were dropping the entire transmission?

J>

[e85gt]

i was just asking cause it seems that when you would go to slide the tranny back the shaft would hit the back of the hole in the hump ... and ive never removed my shifter assy. for a tranny drop, just the handle ... i personally think it would be a real PITA to remove the console just to remove the shifter to drop the tranny for a clutch change or whatever the reason ........ i was just wondering, not downing the shifter or anything ... hope you didnt see it that way ....

[v8only]

usually I remove the entire shifter assembly before trans removal, however, when dealing with my bro's 3550, and that expensive as hell gm sincromesh, if the fluid's still good, I'll leave the shifter base on too, along with the speedo gear, and driveshaft yoke so I don't lose any fluid in the removal.

[83GT289]

i was just asking cause it seems that when you would go to slide the tranny back the shaft would hit the back of the hole in the hump ... and ive never removed my shifter assy. for a tranny drop, just the handle ... i personally think it would be a real PITA to remove the console just to remove the shifter to drop the tranny for a clutch change or whatever the reason ........ i was just wondering, not downing the shifter or anything ... hope you didnt see it that way ....

Not at all. it's a valid question. The shifter does sit up higher than the stock or other aftermarkets. I would think removing it before dropping the tranny would be a good idea. If you didn't want to do that, as V8only has mentioned you may have fresh fluid and all, u should be able to drop it out as long as you had enough clearance down below to drop it a little lower before sliding it back. Guess i'll let u know whenever i decide to replace my tranny, lol.

J>

[e85gt]

well hopefully thats no time soon !!!

[nismofun]

I just got/installed my red handle today, they're local for me.. I also went from stock to the mgw unit today. I cut my boot to fit just below the red handle, I'll try to take some pics tomorrow and put them up here for you all to see.

Nismofun

[ashley roachclip]

all I get is red X's

[nismofun]

Well it took me a while to get my account fixed when I was trying to post the pics...here's the link with a few pics

shifter pics (http://webpages.charter.net/threesprys/carpics/)

Chris