DIY: TMW Short Shifter Install

[AK47 Performance]

Well this Christmas Eve I was a little bored after some family festivities so i decided to show everyone how the short shifter installs.


I bought the "Vision" shifter, it's just like the TMW one except it's cheaper. It came with the base bushings as well, quite a deal if you ask me. Here's a link.

06 07 08 09 HONDA CIVIC SI SHORT SHIFTER ADAPTER KIT FG:eBay Motors (item 250407030739 end time Jan-09-10 08:17:59 PST)

The shifts felt MUCH crispier and shorter after the install. It got rid of the sloppy cable feel and gave the shifter a much firmer, more confident feel. I would recommend this mod to everyone. ENJOY!

Tools Needed:

Small Flat Head Screwdriver
Phillips Screwdriver
12mm Socket wrench
Medium sized narrow Flat Head Screwdriver (to pry off the shifter cup)
Allen wrench supplied with the shifter
Your hands



Start out by removing the cowl under your glove box. Pull out on it and it will un-clip.


Once you have it out, it will look like this.


Use the small flat head screwdriver to pop out the insert on this clip.



Now move over to the driver side, to the right of your pedals. There is another clip.


Now move on to your center console. Clean all the crap out of it and remove the rubber in the bottom. Remove the 2 Phillips screws.

Got a bunch of yayo in my center console


Now unscrew your shifter, and un-clip the shifter bezel. It pops off with little force.



Now your going to remove the whole shifter bezel and the center console tray. Pull up on the front like i did in the picture then pull it back and away.



Now you will see this. Remove the 2 outside screws that are holding the plastic.


Disconnect the accessory feed wire before you pull the console away.


Now pull your whole center console towards the back of the car. I like to grab it at the back where you see my hand, it avoids getting it caught on the rear floor mat.


Now you have plenty of room to work around your shifter.


Remove the gold bolts with the 12mm socket wrench, and be careful to catch the base bushings. There is one on top and one on the bottom of each bolt.


Un-do your lower shift cable by moving this clip apart with your fingers.


Slide the cable off the shifter cup like so.


Some people find this step hard, but it is very easy. Find a nice, narrow flat head screwdriver and pry like I am in the picture. But remember to make sure the 2 dots on the blue cup are FACING UP.


Install your cup on the new shifter. I gently used a vice to press it on.


Install the new bushing just like the old ones were. They barely look any thinner, but I decided to use them anyway.


Slip on your new shifter and make sure its all the way on! Tighten up the allen screws making sure they face straight up and straight down.


Slip the shifter cable on the shifter, making sure the clips are clicked in.


Put the center console in the way you took it off, and your done! Here is how the 1st and 2nd throw looked after the install.

[08Sivic]

Nice write up. Let us know how that one holds up for ya. Im looking at getting the Vision SS and the bushings after christmas.

[dgaplin]

Sub'd for when I do this.

[I Vtec, do you?]

What an awesome DIY, thanks OP. Been waiting to install mine, but was a bit hesitant since it seemed difficult. Thanks for this. nice to see a DIY where all the pics make sense.. I hate when someone randomly takes a picture of a bolt and tells you to take it off, and you have no idea where the hell it is lol

[andpicBR]

Will be doing this next week.

Great DIY!

[wizzardeel]

So right here at this step, the plastic housing that has the clips on top hits the bottom of the plastic hole that the cables move up and down in. Did you have that problem?

[moobmuas]

nice so how is the shift with that on