93-97 Corolla short shifter anyone?

[DerekDorifto]

Hey guys, I found a short shifter for 93-97 Corollas on ebay and was wondering if anyone has one installed? The price is under $10, but...

In all the ebay pictures, the shift lever looks bent over towards the passenger side, away from the driver (on LHD cars). Since they're made in Taiwan, where they drive RHD, I want to know if they're correctly made for LHD North American cars.

I've tried emailing the ebay seller, but they sell hundreds of different parts and can't confirm this. Does anyone have any experience with these ebay short shifters?

[Cabanon]

i have mine since 5 months sitting here in my room but i havent had time to made it install
shall be done by the week, gotta change my exhaust gasket also.
i just wonder if you could install it without removing the tranny from the motor
i mean install it from the inside of the car

[4Aaron GE]

Um, if it's for your 93, the tranny stays put. everything can be done from the cabin.

Derek, are these like the cheap Honda ones that snap easily?

[DerekDorifto]

No idea if they "snap easily" because I haven't bought one yet When the Honda ones break, where do they typically snap?

These ebay sellers don't have any idea either, they're listing it as made from 6061 steel

Do you know anyone that's bought one off ebay Aaron? I'm about to buy one.
Even if it's bent the wrong way I can put it in my bench vise and slip a pipe over to correct it.

[4Aaron GE]

There's a few guys on another board that have had them break on them. It was the 'Type R' brand ones for them it seems.

[Cabanon]

ok
so yes the short shifter on ebay is made for the right-hand driver
it is bend the wrong side
but you probably can bend it the good side or cut it, reverse it and weld it the right way
im gonna try it this week-end with my dad, he's welding since 25 years so i dont think it should be a problem for this, gonna see what he think about it and let you know monday or tuesday
any advice when you change a shifter ??? never done this before, looked at it today, dosent seems to be too hard

[DerekDorifto]

Allo Cabanon,

Thanks for your answer! I've decided to make my own short shifter by welding on extra material to the lever tip, sent you a PM if you can help me out please

The easiest way to rebend the shifter is to put it into a bench vise and slip a long metal pipe over it. This will give you enough leverage, I did this on my TRD Japan AE86 short shifter and it worked perfectly.

About the installation, it's simple and should take 15 - 30 mins. Start by unscrewing the shift knob and removing the rubber shifter cover. Then you can unscrew the centre console, underneath you will see the white plastic cage surrounding the shifter lever. Undo the bolts around it and then there will be one wire clip holding the side pin to the shift linkage. Then the shifter should slide right out.

It's a good idea to regrease everything while it's apart, then the reassemby is just the reverse!

Good luck and let us know how it turns out

[RGTAsheron]

Just a question but what is a short shifter? Is it just that the actual stick is shorter or is ther esomething else?


Thanks

[VooDoo]

the "throw" between gears is shorter.