Enkiworks Tallboy shifter bushings for TWM Full Replacement shifter (GenWon)

Enki

Motorhead
When I first installed the TWM full replacement shifter, I wasn't terribly thrilled with how much tension there was against the shift cables. Shit was next to impossible to install due to this, and I'm pretty certain over time it was going to hurt the shifter cables due to the pressure on them. To give you an idea of what I mean, this is what the base plate looks like with the cables mounted to the base but the base not bolted down:

IMAG0320.jpg


As you can see, bolting this thing down would be detrimental to the cables; previously, I fucked around and drilled out a stack of washers to go under the TWM shifter bushings that came with it, and that actually improved the shifter feel a noticeable amount.

Not satisfied with that, I took the next logical step: I had my gunsmith make me some huge ass shifter bushings. Here's a comparison:
IMAG0318.jpg
Those with a keen eye will notice that the bolt hole on the spacers is offset; I had this done like this to allow for more solid contact with the bolt, which is 6mm in diameter, rather than going the easy route that TWM did and having the bushing drilled out to 8mm. Since the TWM base plate uses oval holes for the bushing to rest in, there's no harm in going this route. The only thing I'd change about this setup is using studs instead of bolts to make the actual installation a little less annoying, but that's about it.

This is what it looks like with the base plate sitting on the 15mm bushings:
IMAG0321.jpg

And the 20mm:
IMAG0324.jpg

And installed:
IMAG0325.jpg
IMAG0329.jpg IMAG0330.jpg


Unfortunately, I'll have to wait until the transmission is back in the car before I'll know if I'll need to modify the cover plate, as going all the way over has it contacting the plastic boot bracket, which might prevent shifting to 5th/6th:
IMAG0331.jpg
 
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Remove the shift boot and cut that plastic. You can trim quite a bit off of it. I had to do more than desired to get my JBR shifter to clear. I used a dremel.

Just a FYI!
 
Yeah, that's probably what I'm going to do.

[doublepost=1455771999][/doublepost]
Edit: Wow, doubleposts have no time limit, huh?

Shwaykid @ MSF had this to say about the 15mm bushings:

"Just got back from the initial test drive. And I must say, I'm sold. The tension or tightness I had felt in between gears is gone. The shifter WANTS to change gear now. Further testing will see if that they also fixed my 1st gear lockout I get every once in awhile. 6th gear felt a little extra 'notchy' but I'm pretty sure I can fine tune that away with the adjustment cable.

I really liked the additional height. I have the TWM Type R knob, so it's nothing tall or bulbous. That extra 15mm made all the difference. It feels like a more natural shifting position. Especially going into 5th; I didn't feel like I was reaching."

6th gear notchiness might be a result of having to mod the shift boot bracket for clearance; that will be determined by Shwaykid in the near future though.

I've asked my gunsmith if he'd be interested in making some more of these for some further side scratch in the near future, but that remains to be seen.
 
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Yeah, that's probably what I'm going to do.

[doublepost=1455771999][/doublepost]
Edit: Wow, doubleposts have no time limit, huh?

Shwaykid @ MSF had this to say about the 15mm bushings:

"Just got back from the initial test drive. And I must say, I'm sold. The tension or tightness I had felt in between gears is gone. The shifter WANTS to change gear now. Further testing will see if that they also fixed my 1st gear lockout I get every once in awhile. 6th gear felt a little extra 'notchy' but I'm pretty sure I can fine tune that away with the adjustment cable.

I really liked the additional height. I have the TWM Type R knob, so it's nothing tall or bulbous. That extra 15mm made all the difference. It feels like a more natural shifting position. Especially going into 5th; I didn't feel like I was reaching."

6th gear notchiness might be a result of having to mod the shift boot bracket for clearance; that will be determined by Shwaykid in the near future though.

I've asked my gunsmith if he'd be interested in making some more of these for some further side scratch in the near future, but that remains to be seen.

If you need these made, let me know, they look to be no big deal for me to crank out a few.
 
Gonna have 5 each 15mm and 20mm made; have a few spoken for on MSF and the rest will be available here and there, with first come first serve priority.
 
Get me in on this! I went full replacement too and have done everything else to smooth it out. I never really noticed since I replaced the shifter only after a week of owning (stock shifter reverse spring thingy seized up). I just always assumed it was supposed to be clunky.
 
More improvement on binding and a higher shifter overall. I won't know for sure if the boot plastics need to be modified until someone tries out the 20mm ones or I get my trans back in the car; even if modification is required, I'm sure it will be minimal and/or won't impact the car visually in a negative way.
 
I think I used 1/4" fender washers and drilled them out with a 6mm bit. You'll probably want at least 40-48 washers, and some longer 6mm bolts.
 
Here they are!

Tallboy Batch 1.jpg IMAG0517.jpg

6061 full CNC machined with deburring and a tumble for good measure.
29 full sets; 16 sets of 15mm bushings, and 13 sets of 20mm bushings.
Hardware is grade 5.

After the preorders get sent out at the other place, and the two I'll put up for grabs here go away, I'll have 12 of the 15mm and 12 of the 20mm left.

The 20mm bushings might require some modification to the shifter boot retention bracket, which shouldn't be much of a big deal.

I'm pretty tired and I'm sure I'm leaving something out, but if you have questions or want to purchase a set, let me know either via PM or a post here (I'll make a thread and tag you for purchases).
[doublepost=1463555539][/doublepost]http://mazdaspeeds.org/index.php?th...replacement-on-genwon-ms3-1x15mm-1x20mm.2050/
 
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