Okay, here goes.........
Shifter is AWESOME! Now that I've spent a day behind the wheel, I'm in love with it all over again. It has very close to the throw of my S2000, and also clicks more positively than before, also like the S2K......
I find that by extending the top of the storage bin, I can rest my whole arm there and just shift with a couple of fingers-the throw is that short.
It has not introduced any odd behavior into the tranny, no grinds or other issues.
The install is not difficult, once you have done it. I could do another one in 1/2 hour easy. But as it was my first time through, there were a few issues. Here is what I think will help someone who hasn't done it before.
First, start with the Comptech directions; the Neuspeed directions have you leave the shifter in the car, but I can't imagine how hard it would be to get the plastic socket off the bottom of the shifter while it's still in the car.
So anyway, on with the steps.
1.) Remove the shift knob. Put some tape or a cloth on the locknut to keep from scratching it.
2.)Pull up center console panel. The following pic shows the location of the clips. If you pull hard from the front, right where the "not an ashtray" is, you'll get it started, then just work your way back. The heated seat switches need to be unplugged.
3.) Remove upper pocket. Four clips hold this in. Pull hard on the bottom, once you get those to pop, the tops are pretty easy. Do not pull by the door. There's a light that you unplug, and the harness is clipped to the back of it. Here's a pic of the clips.
4.) Remove lower pocket. This one's easy; you can see all four screws. The accessory socket needs to be unplugged, and the harness is clipped.
5.) Pop the mat out of the console, and remove the two screws in the bottom. Then remove the two screws right behind the shifter and two more in front of the shifter-these are hard to see. Once these are out, you need to unhook the harness that goes to the second accessory socket, and also unhook the ebrake boot, and then it will pop right out.
I would also remove the metal bracket that the console screws to right behind the shifter-makes it easy to get the shifter out.
Removing the shifter is easy at this point, if you know the tricks. First, there are several wires that have been clipped into on the shifter, just for wire routing purposes. It would help to have a clip puller for audio installs. The four bolts that hold the shifter down come right out. There's big metal clip that holds down the center cable; it can be seen in this pic. Just pry it up from the bottom; pulling on it useless. The plastic retainer on the right cable just turns 90 degrees and lifts right out. Remove the cotter pin that holds the right cable to the shifter-be careful, it's thin. Then, turn the shifter over and pop the plastic ball out of the clip-you don't take the clip off, just spread it, it's very easy.
And you're left with this:
Popping this plastic ball off proved somewhat harder than it looks, but Comptech provides a tool to help you do it. Put it in a vice and pop it off. Then pop it onto the bottom of the Comptech S/S adapter. Next, place some loctite, also provided, on the bottom of the stock shifter rod, and also inside the S/S adapter. Push it on as far as it will go, and then tighten the set screws.
Putting it all back together is cake; couldn't have taken me more than 5 minutes. The only tip is to bang down that clip that holds the center cable with a flat head screwdriver and a hammer. I was able to push it halfway down.
Oh yeah, shifter bushings. Pull the rubber bushing out, put one new aluminum bushing below, and one above. Here's what one looks like.
I didn't take any pics of it put back together; it looks exactly as stock. It does not lower the height of the shifter at all, only the throw. I don't run the locknut, though, which allows the knob to go lower.
Easily took the most time during the install. Otherwise it went ok but I'm now interested in the metal bushing idea. Have you got any specific sizes. I take it they're made out of aluminium.
