short shifter advice/recommendation

[f85gtron]

Please provide reviews and/or recommendations for sourcing 4speed short throw shifters.  Couldn't i just lop off the tip by an inch or two  and thread the shaft?  Or is there more to it than that?
Ron

[Fierofool]

A good short shifter comes from the 84 Fiero with manual transmission.  Very easy to swap out.  Just remove the pivot pin in each shifter handle and swap them out.  No modifications needed.

When going to a short shifter, you need to be sure that your cables are in good working order and are adjusted properly.  It does make shifting a little harder because you don't have the leverage of the longer shifter. 

I had one that someone had cut out a section and then welded it back together.  It was just too short and made it very difficult to get into first and reverse. 

[TopNotch]

I have the 84 short shifter on my 88. If I ever get the clutch fixed I'll drive it to a meeting so you can see it.

[Raydar]

I also have the 84 shifter in mine.
The only thing I don't like about the "cut down and rewelded" shifters is that they lose the "dogleg".
The stock shifter (even the 84) tends to sit right in my hand. The cut down shifter requires a reach forward and to the right.
If someone were really skilled, they might try relocating the entire shifter base backward and to the left, by the same amount as the dogleg. Then a "straight up" shifter might be a bit more comfortable.
Sounds like a lot of trouble, though.

[f85gtron]

Yeah, i was wanting to keep the dog leg too.  I've decided the solution will be to cut the original shifter down to where the knob as shift boot collar rest on the dog leg when fully threaded, then run a die to cut new threads on the shaft.
Is the staff mild steel?
I'm assuming the threads are right hand, but i read that they are metric 16mm x 1.5 pitch.  Can anyone confirm that?
I figure I'll hit up eBay for a die that large.  No luck at harbour freight.
Ron

[Fierofool]

A die that size could be expensive.  It might be cheaper to take the shifter to a machine shop and have them thread it.  The threads are right hand, but I don't know the pitch or if US or metric. 

[f85gtron]

This is proving to be more difficult than i imagined.  I took the shifter to three different machine shops, none of them would touch it....mostly because it's metric and because i want to keep the dog-leg.  One shop tested the metal and found it's just mild steel, so a die should thread it no problem.  He suggested running a die nut down the existing threads, then continue on down the shaft, leave it on, cut the shaft,  then remove the die to clean the new cut. 
To make a long story short, I've bought a die of eBay and am waiting.....  I'll give a report when it arrives.
Ron

[f85gtron]

I found the solution.
http://www.gafiero.org/bbs/index.php?topic=1774.0

[redraif]

Funny I have an 84 and I want a shorter shifter then stock.... lol

I was considering getting the offering from Rodney Dickman