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One of the biggest disappointments that I had
with my 240 was the extraordinarily sloppy shifter. There
are quite a few companies out there that offer upgrade shifters.
B&M's shifter is probably one of the most aggressive shifter
upgrades. In this article, I will outline the installation
and explain the difference between B&M's shifter and other
manufacturers. B&M's shifter will
work on either the stock KA's transmission, the SR's
transmission, as well as a few other Nissan applications.
Tools Necessary:
- socket set
- box wrenches
- jack and stands
You will need to raise and secure the
front of the vehicle. This is necessary to reach the front
two bolts on the shifter plate. Once the car is in the
air, remove the front two bolts on the shifter plate.
A suggestion, for removing the front
two bolts, by "russian"
from Zilvia.net:
One thing can be done, you can drill
holes in drive shaft tunnel. A hole cutter or a large
drill will work well. Once you are done with the shifter,
lay 2 layers of Dynomat over it. I got it for like 10 bucks at a
stereo shop just ask them for some pieces, they may have some
for free. Spraying some paint over the bare metal will
help avoid rust down the road.
Remove the shift knob
Remove the shifter trim bezel. This is held in by
clips. Pull up on the bezel and it will pop out without
any problems.
The weather seal needs to be removed. There are 4 bolts
that hold it in place. Also, cut the zip-tie on the top
part of the boot.
With the weather seal out of the way, you can remove the
remaining four bolts that keep the shifter plate in place.
A suggestion by "uiuc240"
of Zilvia.net:
While you have the stock shifter out, you
might as well replace the gear oil. Simply use the end of a 1/2"
breaker bar to loosen the drain bolt from the tranny and let the
fluid spill out. After it stops dripping, put the bolt back and
fill the tranny from the top (5-1/8 pints, or roughly 2.5
quarts).
With the shifter out, you can see the difference between the two
shifters. B&M produces a much shorter shift than the rest
because of the redesigned top plate. The plate moves the
fulcrum point higher allowing a shorter throw. To top it
off, they also shortened the overall length of the shifter.
Finally, to increase shift feel, the shifter is a solid piece
rather than two pieces separated by rubber.
Most aftermarket shifters cannot offer much of a chance given
the fact that it is difficult to change the length of the bottom
portion of the shifter. B&M was able to do this by
including the new top plate.
Once you've finished marveling at the
engineering masterpiece, it's time to slip the new shifter into
the transmission. you will be reusing the factory gasket.
If you tore the gasket while removing the old shifter, you can
use a silicone sealant to repair it.
Tighten all six bolts, four on top and two
from the bottom.
Reinstall the weather seal and use a zip tie
to clamp down the top portion of the seal.
Finally slip on the shifter bezel and the
included knob, or the knob of your choice.
Driving impression:
The B&M shifter is a spectacular improvement!
As soon as you start rowing through the gears you will notice
the throw is substantially shorter. Shift feel is very
firm with obvious engagement. There is absolutely no play
from side to side. The shifter is a bit different than
anything I've used and did take some time to get used to, but I
can definitely see improvements in racing situations.
The only negative drawback is a vibration
after 5000 rpms. Since they removed the rubber section
that normally joins two parts of the shifter together, there is
nothing to quench the vibrations in the transmission. The
performance gain is definitely worth the minor inconvenience. |
