How to shorten your shifter and keep your dog leg

[f85gtron]

I was tired of shifting my "big truck" shifter.  I like the position of the shifter, but i don't like the length.  Yeah,Yeah,Yeah, I know you can buy shifters online, but they all lose the dog leg, which i like.
...... so I took it to a few machine shops around town.... 
They wouldn't touch it, either because I wanted to keep the dog leg, or because the threads are metric...doesn't matter, i lose both ways.  One machinist suggested I get a die and run it down past the original threads, then lop the shaft off where i want it.....so that's what i did!
Now, the shifter sits perfect, still looks factory (better than, imho), and the shifts feel MUCH better!
1) You'll need a Fiero with a manual transmission and original factory shifter.
2) a 16mm die with 1.5 thread pitch to cut new threads.
3) a hack saw, or better yet, a saws all!
4) a vacuum (to clean up the mess when finished  )

[pgackerman]

That does look good.
When can we play?

[Fierofool]

You did it with the shifter still installed?  How hard was it to cut the new threads? 

You can get a shorty boot to go on it that eliminates the bunching from the stock boot being compressed downward. 

[f85gtron]

I did it with shifter installed.  I took it out, to begin with, but it is so awkward to clamp or vise, it was better to leave it in.  When we do pgackerman's, i think we'll punch a sheet of paper down around the shifter and fold up the edges to make a catch basin for the shavings to fall into. 
I bought a die of eBay, sooooooo I'm not sure how many cuts we'll get out of it...but so far, so good!
The shift boot bothers me a little too.  I could simply cut material off, and think i will, but just haven't done so yet.
Ron

Edited to add:  it was easy to cut threads. I got only a slight work out. Make sure you get a "hex" die and use hand wrench on it. If you don't have a saws all......no problem, I'll loan you mine (see pic) 

[Fierofool]

He's got the right technique.  Eyes focused clearly on the shifter, tongue extended between the lips ever so slightly 

If you remove the circlip on the shifter lever and pull the lever out, you should be able to clamp the lever securely in a vice

[TopNotch]

That hacksaw will take all day. Use a cut-off wheel.

[f85gtron]

NOW you tell me!

[TopNotch]

Some Fiero shifters have a "lazy" dog leg in them, were the shifter bends at 45 degrees instead of 90 towards the driver, with another 45 degree bend near the threads to straighten it up. That kind can't be shortened. That's what I had in my 88 before I put the 84 short shifter in it.

[Roger]

I believe that there are 2 types of dies. A thread 'chaser' (cleaner-upper) and a thread cutter.
You would certainly want the tougher thread cutter.

BTW: a sawz-all can work if you don't have a cut off wheel.

[f85gtron]

I posted a pic of my saws all.  You didn't see it?