DIY DIY - TRD Really Short Shifter

DIY - TRD Really Short Shifter

Do you want a TWM short shifter but don't want to drop $150 big ones? Well I sure did so I decided to write a DIY on how to make your own for free. It might not be black or even made of the same material as the TWM but the end result will be almost identical in every way, look, feel, etc.

Materials needed
* Mig Welder (or take it to a muffler shop)
* Band Saw (or hack saw)
* TRD Short Shifter (also works on OEM shifter, just with a little less end result)

Steps
1) Remove your shift assembly from the car, this just makes the whole process easier. You can do this by removing your center column trim and taking out the 4 large bolts at the base of the shifter assembly and removing the shims holding the linkage in place. You will also have to detach the linkage from the assembly but there are only a few clips hold them in place so this is easy. Make sure you keep those clips in a safe spot because they are not easy to replace.

2) Disassemble your shifter assembly, this is pretty easy if you know what your doing. First you want to tap out the holding pin at the top of the assembly, this is just a hollow spring steal pin and is easy to get out using a screw driver and a hammer. Now you have to remove the main assembly pin from the other side of the shifter but this has a little clip on it that you must remove first. The best way to remove this clip is with a chissle, just hamer the shizzle in between the shifter and the clip until it pops off and the shifter at this point should just lift right out.

3) Now mark your shifter from the base of the shifter boot holding clip to the top of where the shifter finishes it bend, this should be approx 2.5 inches.

4) Take your shifter over to a band saw and cut out the 2.5 inch segment. You can also use a hack saw but if you do this use a vice and a level and make sure your cut is really clean and straight or your angle might be off.

5) Now that your cuts are done you simply line up the base segment and end segment of the shifter using welding magnets and then tac it up, after this just spin it around and weld it solid a spot at a time. If you do not have a mig welder just take it to a muffler shop and the guy behind the counter can do it in like 10 seconds for a few bucks. Its seriously that easy. Make sure you have your MIG welder set for 1/8" penetration for a good solid weld.

6) Now grind down the welds so that the shaft is smooth, this isn't that important because its hidden under the boot but its always nice to have things looking good

7) Reinstall the shifter into the housing reversing the steps you used to take it apart

8) Bolt it back into the car and hook up the linkage and your good to go.

Here are some pictures from my install, I forgot to take a picture after grinding it down but this should give you the idea. I'll take some pictures of it tomorrow in the car to give you a before and after example but the results are tremendous.

Here is the shifter housing in peices


Here is the shifter removed from the housing


Here is the shifter being cut down to size


Lining up the peices to start welding


All welded togather


Enjoy!!!

cant click on the link lol.

Damn it, Broken pictures I'll fix this.

All Fixed!

nice DIY :thumb:

Thanks, I'll take more pics last time. I should have taken before and after pics in the car but now I'll have to take a picture of the new shifter and use an old picture of the shifter for the comparison. Its hard to focus on a task and remember to take photo's