My main question is how many of you that road race are using a stock throw shifter versus an aftermarket short shifter?


I have evo 8, with a stage 2 TRE transmission (shot peened gears, etc.) I noticed at my last two HPDE events last season that quick 5th gear upshifts and 4th gear down shifts at high RPM's (heel/toe) I am getting some dragging of the gear (minor lockout I guess). If I shift slower, it is fine. Transmission does not grind and under normal shifting, even at redline, there are no issues. The transmission has approximately 20k on it since the rebuild, only 5 track days though and is always filled with AMSOIL fluid. (It may be helpful to know that I am running an ACT HD, that was replaced the same time as the rebuild)


The single unknown on the car that I have not touched is the shifter. From driving other evo's, I am pretty sure the car has a short shifter installed. I know there are solid bushings at the shifter base and underhood. as well as having a stock front motor mount.


Would going to OEM shifter help this dragging, so the transmission is not shifting so fast, allowing the synchros to better line up? Or would this more be attributed to a stock front motor mount with 117k miles on it, just not being stiff enough anymore, allowing too much transmission movement? Any info or experiences would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

 

I have stock base bushings but some kind of on tranny bushings, but everything else on the shifter is stock. Tranny is stock minus a jdm 5th and I have 0 lockout issues. Clutch is a Exedy twin and engine mounts are all stock. My guess is your ACT is the issue not the shifter, as many have moved from the ACT to the twin for that exact reason.

 

Have you tried adjusting your clutch? If you have a short shifter I would swap it for a stock shifter; I was never a fan of short shifters granted I've never had one but have driven buddies cars with them and it always made the shifter feel quite stiff...

I love the way my car shifts and it consists of the following:
-Shifter cable bushings & shifter base bushings (do the linkage ones first they made more of an impact)
-Blox front roll stopper (did add some NVH but not too bad IMO and the shifting felt sooooo much better with it. I'd definitely look into something like that to replace your worn out stocker...
-CC Stage 2
-STM SS full line with restrictor removed

 

Thanks for the feedback. I hope it's not the ACT clutch, as I do know they can have issues, but keeping my fingers crossed.


Heel2Toe, I agree, I always thought it was a bit stiff. My plan is to pick up a stock shifter and I think I'm going to do the front motor mount while I'm in there, as that has been on the list of to-do's for a while. With you saying it was that much of an improvement, either way I think it would be a good investment.


I adjusted the clutch a little after I put it in, but it might be ready to be adjusted again now that there is a bit less meat on it. Now I just need the warm weather to come so I can get the Evo out of hibernation!

 

I have a works short shifter, with a binary engineering tall shift knob.

I've talk talked to Jon at TRE about the trans. No matter what you do on these cars, the 4-5 shift can't be lightning quick, and you'll get locked out of 2nd on a 1-2 shift if you have a lot of wheelspin.

I would also guess you definitely need a clutch adjustment. My comp clutch has needed adjustment every 10k or so miles so far..