Diesel Geek Shift No Longer in Production

[MattyT]

Nice idea but the formatting needs work!

[The_Hawk]

Nice idea but the formatting needs work!

Maybe if I get time I'll have another crack at it, but since I'm going to print it once, install it, then throw the lot out, it's good enough for me. especially for the 10 minutes it took to put together.

[malteser]

I recieved my SS on Monday, I was so happy, but as yet I have not had time to install it. This is partly because I want my shift to be like a gun bolt, and not just a short bowl of soup.

After a bit of investigative work, (tieing a string to the shift lever and pulling it while looking under the bonnet) I figured out that I have play in the side to side forky thing that the side to side cable attaches to under the bonnet. I think that the bushes and o-ring are worn.



The play that I'm talking about is when you put the gear lever in the first position and it almots returns to the side to side position of third, i.e. you can move it around side to side when in gear.

I don't think the bushes will cost much and, if you have the same problem, it should help get more out of the short shifter.

Mark

[MattyT]

Got mine today! w00t! Has to be the fastest shipping I've ever had, very impressed!

I have no idea on the condition of my o-rings or bushes but I'm going to get them refreshed too, why waste the opportunity??

[Pullstarter]

Maybe its worth getting the bush overhaul kit thingy?

[malteser]

Went to my local VW parts supplier today, the bushes aren't seperate. So I had to buy the whole thing. Seems as though the bushes are put on when making the part. And seeing that it is a VW part, it wasn't cheap either. The part comes in two pieces, and I paid about $40 for each

But, there's not much that I can do if I want the shift like new.

[Pullstarter]

Did that include all the other linkage bushes etc? Like these ones;

http://www.autopartsworld.com/1991_volkswagen_golf-gti-16v_shifter-bushing-kit_parts.html

[malteser]

Did that include all the other linkage bushes etc? Like these ones;

http://www.autopartsworld.com/1991_v...kit_parts.html

Nah, I thought that most of these bushing would already be on the short shifter. According to VW, I bought a lever and gear shift carrier. I also bought a cap which is a little plastic thing that goes over the ball at the bottom of the shifter that moves the side to side cable. If that makes any sense?

Although I don't have them yet, I have to await their delivery from Singapore.

[Pullstarter]

I was thinking of getting that bushing kit so it could be installed when the shifter goes in. Maybe I should get my mechanic to check it out first and see what needs replacing, its a bit sloppy as it is now.

[malteser]

I just installed my SS today. Took about an hour, not too much hassle. If anyone is going to put it in themselves, I suggest taking the centre console completely off. It's a pain in the rear trying to manouvre everything in and out otherwise. I just chocked that wheels and took the handbrake off, pretty easy, only two nuts. I haven't installed the side-to-side reduction yet, since I might as well wait for the other parts to come in, so the shift isn't as good as it shoud be.

But I just went for a short drive on my favorite piece of road, and.. Oh my God, what an improvement it is. Every shift is so direct and precise that it just adds so much to driving the car. I thought that the shift would be notchy, but its just that shifting requires a little more effort. I'm very pleased about the shifter. I can't wait for the other parts to complete the setup.

[Tim]

its how it should have been from the factory i reckon

[The_Hawk]

I just installed my SS today.

How was it to install otherwise? You had to dremel out the notch on the VR6 right? Gotta get mine in, but will have to wait until after the baby is here I think. (since I will need the car and all).

[malteser]

How was it to install otherwise? You had to dremel out the notch on the VR6 right? Gotta get mine in, but will have to wait until after the baby is here I think. (since I will need the car and all).

I actually don't have a dremel, I have it's much larger brother, a barrel sander.

You just have to be careful not to notch out any of the interior trim. It can't be done it you don't take a notch out and also cut some of the carpet away to take the old shifter out. It's a real easy process. But if you don't have a dremel or otherwise, it would be a bit difficult since the raised lip is some pretty thick steel.

[The_Hawk]

I do have a dremel, might have to park ont he grass and have a look see tomorrow.

[The_Hawk]

OK... I got bored and put in the shifter. malteser was right, about an hour and the shifter is in the car. The side to side will wait until there is more light.

All in all a *very* easy install I must say, although there are a few tips from malteser that should be followed, like remove the handbrake or it's impossible to remove the console surround. Also make sure you put the console back in BEFORE you hook the handbrake back up...

For such a simple install the difference really is quite dramatic, even without the side to side I'm damn happy with the unit. HIGHLY recommended to all Mk3 owners.