Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums Branches E. Great Lakes Finally got a Short Shifter

Well I bought an OBX Short Shifter (B&M copy for $69!) off ebay, so I want to install it tonight.

And wouldn't you know it, but the instructions are missing. Not a biggie though, as I know a heap of you guys have B&M's and know how to install it anyway.

I read some posts from Focaljet and sort of have an idea on what to do. The only thing that still has me is the "retaining clip", and how to remove it without breaking it.

Also a lot of you guys left out the centering spring cos it apparently feels better without it (?). How do you do this and where exactly is it?

Anyhow if anyone has info or pics on how to do this, post away, or if you're free tonight and want to come up to Romeo to help me, and sink a couple of beers, then let me know.

Thanks in advance guys.

PS I did search, but as you know everything from the old forums is lost, and there is no How-To on this.

First, on the retaining clip, you need to determine which type you have, as I don't think anyone knows which cars got which type . . . the one that tends to break is gray and looks like it has a bunch of fingers on it. If you have that type, use a socket to evenly press all the fingers, and then pull to remove it while keeping the fingers pressed. Be careful, as many many people have broken them, and a lot of people just go buy a spare one in advance (fwiw, I used to have a spare one, but I can't remember if I still have it or not)

The centering spring is obvious once you get in there. IIRC I pulled mine, and it still centers decently (I can't remember if I did or not)

I am pretty sure I still have my install directions for the B&M, if you would like I could prolly scna them and send them to you (of course that would require me hooking up my scanner, lol.) anyway, I would be more than happy to give you a hand, but Romeo is an awful long drive for somehting simple like this.

I just (like 2 nights ago) threw out the directions to mine...
For the retaining clip - I think I remember using a screwdriver to catch the edge of it and pull it off.
I did the swap in the parking lot at my gym while waiting for my workout partner to show up... should take about 10-20 minutes tops.
As far as the centering spring goes - I kept mine in... I like the fact that it lines it up perfectly for 3rd and 4th without having to think... especially since I let my wife drive the car occasionally and she is still learning how to drive a manual...

Yeah, i just went out to my car and pulled the shift boot, and I do have the grey clip. I can see what the guys were talking about when using a socket, and I think I can do it, but I'll prolly go to the local Ford d'ship and see if they have one in stock, and buy it anyway.

Do you have to remove the armrest console? I am thinking that I do to slide the pin (held by the clip) out.

You can do it by reaching through the hole around the shifter - its just a little tight.

There is enough room for the pin to slide out like that, or do you unscrew the 4 Torx bolts and lift it up to slide it out?

Man, instructions would've been nice

Can't complain for $69 though!

I just ran out and looked at mine again...
There is plenty of room to slide the pin while it is down inside - but I don't know that you need to slide it all the way out - the clip comes off the ends then slide the white piece off of it and I think thats all...

Edit - I noticed that the retaining clip on mine is apparently different than what you guys have... no little teeth on it...

A-HA!
I see...so it just has to slide enough to get the small plast socket off the small pivot-ball end that is attached to the LARGE pivot-ball. Cool!

So as long as that clip comes off ok, I should be good.

The centering spring is underneath the shifter then?

Thanks Aaron!

hopefully your local dealership in romeo ford! and if it is stop off at the sales department and ask for adrian so i can see you car. I cant believe I work out here and never see you pass by.

Well, it's in. I got the reatainer of without breaking it, but broke it trying to put it back on - D'oh!
No matter, I just broke off the rest of the "fingers" and then held it in place by twisting a wire around the exposed groove on the shaft so it could slide out of position.

Now let me say that I though my chopped shifter was good...until I drove down the street with the OBX shifter. HOLY cow is 1st to 2nd short. I almost though that I wasn't in gear as it didn't "feel" right, but sure enough it was.

It wasn't too hard to install, took me about 1 hour, without instructions trying to work out how everything came apart. I realised after fighting with the bottom link that it has a realease button opposite to the side the ball goes in to let it come off.

I thought the gearknob it came with looked cheesy, but once in the car, it looks nice, and I love that it's bigger than my Sparco. I just wish I had an SVT insert instead of the regular Ford one it came with. I will keep an eye open for something like that. It's about the same size as those logo key rings you can get for every car, so maybe I can find an SVT one and peel the decal off it and put it on my shifter instead.

I'll try and get the company digital camera to take a pic and post later to show you guys, but al I can say that for $69, you cannot look past this mod!