STM Ghost Shifter *coming soon*
Official Press release from STM.
As quoted from Andre Simon "STM are pleased to announce that our innovative ‘ghost-shifter’ is getting very close to a public release! Originally the ghost-shifter was developed solely for use on Project DS9, with no intention of making it a saleable product. The level of demand we have seen made us rethink things pretty quickly and we have re-developed the unit into a standalone product that can be easily integrated onto an existing Ikeya Sequential shifter.
Due to the speed of the shift, the system is only suitable for a dog box, and may result in synchro damage on a standard gearbox. On Project DS9, we only utilize the ghost-shifter for the up shift, however our retail unit has the option of adding a second solenoid for upshift and down shift capability, making it a perfect option for time attack or hill climb competition.
Our retail unit is manufactured from high quality laser cut and CNC folded aluminium plate. The unit is designed to be practical and light, while offering a high tech race-look.
We are happy to be working with Spark Tech who we have appointed as our North American distributor for the ghost-shifter, and sales orders can be placed through Craig. We are expecting the first production units to be available 27th of May 2010."
As quoted from Andre Simon "STM are pleased to announce that our innovative ‘ghost-shifter’ is getting very close to a public release! Originally the ghost-shifter was developed solely for use on Project DS9, with no intention of making it a saleable product. The level of demand we have seen made us rethink things pretty quickly and we have re-developed the unit into a standalone product that can be easily integrated onto an existing Ikeya Sequential shifter.
Due to the speed of the shift, the system is only suitable for a dog box, and may result in synchro damage on a standard gearbox. On Project DS9, we only utilize the ghost-shifter for the up shift, however our retail unit has the option of adding a second solenoid for upshift and down shift capability, making it a perfect option for time attack or hill climb competition.
Our retail unit is manufactured from high quality laser cut and CNC folded aluminium plate. The unit is designed to be practical and light, while offering a high tech race-look.
We are happy to be working with Spark Tech who we have appointed as our North American distributor for the ghost-shifter, and sales orders can be placed through Craig. We are expecting the first production units to be available 27th of May 2010."
STM have taken the technology used to change gears in WRC rally cars and Formula 1 and adapted it into an affordable form for the Mitsubishi EVO. Lightning-fast shifts at the push of a button are now a reality, so get ready to watch your times tumble and say goodbye to missed shifts!
The STM Ghostshifter is designed to complement an Ikeya Sequential shifter for the late model Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution (4-9), and requires a dog-engagement gearbox. The Ghostshifter attaches to the Ikeya shifter, and uses a high speed air ram to physically move the Ikeya shifter, allowing the shifts to be made through either steering wheel mounted buttons or paddles (not included in the Ghostshifter kit).The Ghostshifter allows for faster, more accurate shifting which results in improved time slips at the drag strip, and quicker lap times at the race track. The fast and consistent shifting offered by the Ghostshifter also results in less wear on the gearbox dog rings, saving you money and aiding gearbox reliability.
For the best results, the Ghostshifter should be used in conjunction with an ECU that can provide either a ‘gear-change ignition cut’ or ‘flat shift’ feature to allow the shifts to be performed at full throttle and without the need to use the clutch. Full throttle shifting with the Ghostshifter keeps your turbo on full boost during gear changes and improves acceleration.
Quicker Shifts
One of the key benefits of the STM Ghostshifter is a much quicker shift time (shift times of 0.050 seconds are possible). When used in conjunction with an ECU capable of providing a ‘flatshift’ or ‘gear-change ignition cut’ feature, clutchless full throttle shifting is also possible. Less time spent changing gear means more time spent accelerating and less time for your turbo to fall off boost.
Never miss a gear
With an H pattern shifter it is very easy to accidentally miss a shift, and with a dog engagement gearbox this can be fatal as the gearbox will select any gear at any rpm. STM’s Ghostshifter eliminates this risk with the sequential operation of the Ikeya shifter. Push a button to change up a gear and push another button to change down – Easy!
Reduce Gearbox Wear
Shifting a dog box too slowly can quickly result in severe wear to the dog rings and this can quickly become expensive. STM’s Ghostshifter results in lightning-quick and positive shifts which have proven to dramatically reduce wear on the gearbox components.
Improve Consistency
If you want consistent lap times or time slips, accurate shifting is essential. With the ease of pressing a button, the STM’s Ghostshifter helps improve shift consistency and allows the driver to hit the right shift point every time.
Improve Safety
Regardless of whether you are battling for quarter mile supremacy, or time attack honours, a powerful car can be a handful to control. STM’s Ghostshifter allows the driver to keep both hands on the steering wheel at all times to achieve more positive control over the car. Perfect for those situations where power exceeds the available traction.
Race Proven Reliablitiy
The STM team know how important reliability is to our customers, and we have gone to great lengths to ensure the Ghostshifter will not let you down. All the components used are the highest quality available, and the finished product has been extensively endurance tested to ensure reliable long term operation.
Solid Mounts
The STM Ghostshifter replaces the standard flexible rubber bushes which mount the shifter assembly to the car chassis with solid alloy. This removes the natural flexibility in the shifter mechanism and makes each shift more positive and consistent.
Ghost Shifter Kit Requirements
The following are requirements and are not supplied with the STM Ghost Shifter.
A Suitable ECU
The Ghost Shifter requires an ECU which is capable of providing either a ‘gear-change ignition cut’ function or a ‘flat shift’ function to provide an ignition interrupt which allows the drive dogs in the gearbox to disengage long enough to change gears without the need to lift off the throttle.
Ignition cut length
For reliable performance, the ECU must be able to provide an ignition cut of around 50-100 ms.
Triggering Hardware
The shift can be triggered via either a button or a paddle mounted to the steering wheel. The button or paddle should be configured to trigger the appropriate shift solenoid on the ghost shifter (up or down), as well as triggering the ‘gear change ignition cut’ or ‘flatshift’ function in the ECU at the same time. Due to the complexity of individual installations and owner preference, the triggering hardware is not included in this kit.
Dog-engagement Gearbox
The ghost shifter requires a dog engagement gear box to allow clutch-less shifting, which is not possible with a synchro mesh gearbox.
Using the ghost shifter on a synchro mesh gearbox will also result in damage to the synchros due to the speed of the shifts.
Ikeya Sequential Shifter
The Ghost Shifter Kit mounts to a Ikeya Sequential shifter for the late model Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IV-IX (EVO 4-9).
Air supply
The Ghost Shifter is designed to be used with compressed CO2, and this must be regulated to a maximum of 120 psi (8 Bar).
You will require a suitable bottle, mounting bracket and regulator.
Important Notes
Down shifting
In a circuit application with downshift capability, it is recommended that the clutch is used for downshifting. While clutchless downshifts are possible, the result may unsettle the car during braking.
Not for Street Use
This product is designed for race use only.
Welding Required
The STM Ghost Shifter requires a tag to be welded on to the Ikeya shifter.
This is one of the most innovative products on the market for a drag Evo with a dogbox trans. It has the current 1/4 mile record and is quickly becoming popular with anyone building a drag only evo.
