At one point in time, I thought I was a short shift wizard when it came to installing them. The WRX kits would pop in and out in the matter of 15 minutes. Any longer then that, you should be shoveling yellow snow. I met my match. The B&M Short Shifter install on Project EVO. Like many cars the shift is long and the lever is tall, making you feel like you are driving a mack truck not a sports car. The B&M shifter comes with a shift knob, fittings, and grease to make the install much more clean. So here is where it gets fun…
The beginning of the install requires you removing your center console. If you are like me then you have removed it so many times that nothing holds it in (LOL). Once you remove the screws and clips and unscrew the shift knob, wala, you now have access. Good thing the kit comes with instructions as this is no quit pop out! We then had to remove the white shift box from the car and disconnect the levers to pull it out.
Now that the shifter assembly was on our work bench, I kid you not, I witnessed 3 guys just stare in confusion. The stock shifter has this cylinder pressed on it which does not allow the shifter to easily come out. Your options are to press it out with a press, left my at the cleaners, or cut it!
We cut that bitch right in half! it needed to come out of the white bracket that is important, so dont cut that. A simple hax saw did the trick and ripped right through it. We then slid the new B&M in there and begin putting the assembly back together.
The shifter was back in its cage and ready to be fitted to the car. Once double and triple checked it was in. We put the console back on and sat in the seat. I pressed the clutch in and went through the gears! Wow…short throw, shorter height, and more comfortable. Project Short Shifter did the job!
