Lowering the shift knob?

[Zishan]

Hey guys,

I was curious, will the Zanardi shift stalk lower my shift knob position and work with my OEM leather shift knob?

I currently have Dave's short shift kit installed. Very pleased with it. I also had installed a Gruppe M shift knob but decided to re-install my OEM leather shift knob, because I personally like the feel of leather over metal in my hand (no jokes please :biggrin.

Well when I made the switch back to the OEM shifter knob, the shifter now seems taller. Curious if there is a remedy. If not, I'm sure I will get re-adjusted.

Thanks,
- Zishan

 

[synth19]

I don't know if this helps, but here is a visual of how it looks. You can probably use the e-brake to gauge how high the shift knob is. I have the SOS stalk along wiith the Zanardi shift knob:

 

[FeetFxr]

Send a PM to Titaniumdave
http://www.nsxprime.com/forums/member.php?u=9035

I bought a shortened stalk from him, that he makes, and then sent mine in as a core return. I already had his (Dave's) short shift kit and the combo is amazing. The price is great too.

 

[Moses]

i bought the zanardi shift lever then cut about an inch off the threads

 

[scorp965]

i bought the zanardi shift lever then cut about an inch off the threads

The zanardi shift lever is the same physical height as the OEM shift stalk, the benefit is, the threads go lower down the unit. With the oem or nsx-r knobs, you will notice the threads inside of the shift knob stop at a certain point, and the knob is still not 'low enough', even if the shift stalk has more thread available. There is either no physical room inside of the knob to go lower, or the threads just ended, and you cannot screw the knob lower, as with the oem '04-'05 knob.

I installed the OEM 04-05 knob with this zanardi/nsx-r shift stalk, didn't like the position, cut approx 1" off, and now it's perfect. Before you cut the stalk, install a '8 8' strengthened nut onto the unit (available at home depot), then, after cutting, use a deep socket to remove this nut - it will realign the threads on the stalk if they were damaged during the cutting process.

 

[lutera]

The zanardi shift lever is the same physical height as the OEM shift stalk, the benefit is, the threads go lower down the unit. With the oem or nsx-r knobs, you will notice the threads inside of the shift knob stop at a certain point, and the knob is still not 'low enough', even if the shift stalk has more thread available. There is either no physical room inside of the knob to go lower, or the threads just ended, and you cannot screw the knob lower, as with the oem '04-'05 knob.

I installed the OEM 04-05 knob with this zanardi/nsx-r shift stalk, didn't like the position, cut approx 1" off, and now it's perfect. Before you cut the stalk, install a '8 8' strengthened nut onto the unit (available at home depot), then, after cutting, use a deep socket to remove this nut - it will realign the threads on the stalk if they were damaged during the cutting process.

My 91 has SOS short shift kit & SOS short stalk lever (extra threads I believe) and OE 91 knob installed. Can I cut the stalk 1" and do what you did? Will it look right with OE 91 leather boot? Can you give more info on '8 8' strengthened nut from Home Depot?

 

[scorp965]

My 91 has SOS short shift kit & SOS short stalk lever (extra threads I believe) and OE 91 knob installed. Can I cut the stalk 1" and do what you did? Will it look right with OE 91 leather boot? Can you give more info on '8 8' strengthened nut from Home Depot?

There are different grades of fasteners, if a bolt has two 8's stamped on the head, it is a 'grade 8' bolt; these bolts are used in suspension pieces, to anchor seat belts, etc. - I believe they have a shearing strength of 27000lbs. The same holds true for the nuts, stronger metal, better casting, etc. - probably overkill, but I wanted a 'strengthened' part for bending metal, to ensure I wouldn't just cross tread the nut intended to realign the shift stalk after I was done cutting it.

As far as the rest of your question, I have a mesh na2-r boot, I don't know how it would look with the oem clip leather boot. You could easily perform the modification on your car, once you are finished, you can lay the console in place and tightned down the knob to get an idea for appearance. It might be better to have the mesh (or 04/05 oem leather) boot on hand, in case you decide it doesn't look right, so you can finish the job either way.

 

[02#154]

The Type-S stalk that SOS sells is different from the OEM stalk in these ways:

1) from the fulcrum to the top the difference is that the stalk is skinnier and has threads further down from the end
2) from the fulcrum to the bottom the difference is that it is a bit longer

Item 1 above allows you to screw down further those knobs that have deep threads. This effectively shortens the stalk and creates a shorter throw

Item 2 above makes the amount of distance required to move the shift linkage from gear to gear less, also effectively shortening the throw.

With the Type-R ball shift knob (and jam nut) the knob sits low and the throws are short(er than OEM). I found no need to install a short shift kit.

To answer the OP question, the stalk can only help if:

1) the OEM knob you want to use has additional threads to take advantage of the additional threads on the new stalk (and can therefore screw down further), or
2) you cut off an inch or so of the threads, as others have suggested

J

 

[Moses]

My 91 has SOS short shift kit & SOS short stalk lever (extra threads I believe) and OE 91 knob installed. Can I cut the stalk 1" and do what you did? Will it look right with OE 91 leather boot? Can you give more info on '8 8' strengthened nut from Home Depot?

stock boot zanardi stalk with about inch cutoff:

 

[lutera]

stock boot zanardi stalk with about inch cutoff:

Looks great, thanks. I just cut 1/2" off my SOS short gear stalk (Zanardi) and it's working fine with OE knob.

 

[Zishan]

Looks great, thanks. I just cut 1/2" off and it's working fine with OE knob.

You cut a 1/2 inch off the OEM stalk, or the Zanardi stalk?

 

[lutera]

You cut a 1/2 inch off the OEM stalk, or the Zanardi stalk?

I have the SOS short gear stalk (Zanardi) see details here http://scienceofspeed.com/products/interior_performance_products/NSX/ScienceofSpeed/gear_lever_stalk/. Pics are here http://www.nsxprime.com/forums/showthread.php?p=1138866#post1138866.

 

[NSX GT]

Would cutting the zanardi stalk shorter by a 1/2-1 inch damage the tranny in the long run? Shorter throw and faster engagement of gears? Expensive repair.

 

[Moses]

Would cutting the zanardi stalk shorter by a 1/2-1 inch damage the tranny in the long run? Shorter throw and faster engagement of gears? Expensive repair.

Can't really see why it would, considering your just changing the height of the shaft. It's still the same throw.

Now installing a short shifter might, but who knows. My brother had a short shifter on his Type R and the synchros went out about a year later. I installed the same brand short shifter the same week on my civic and I still have it till this day with out any problems.

 

[T_22*]

Bringing back an old thread. Just curious if this is the Zanardi shift knob or is it the SOS rapid shift knob(Zanardi style). Also did you cut the Zanardi stalk like others suggested or did the knob thread down the additional 3cm to achieve these results. Thank you

I don't know if this helps, but here is a visual of how it looks. You can probably use the e-brake to gauge how high the shift knob is. I have the SOS stalk along wiith the Zanardi shift knob: