Thanks!

 

Well, I suspect my driveway will melt enough by sometime next week for me to get the car to the performance shop for the test fitting. Fidanza sent the short shift kit straight to the performance shop, so I haven't seen it yet. I'll try to get pics of the kit and critical phases of the installation. Hopefully Fidanza got it right so I don't have to put the OEM shifter back in it. If it works, I will try to arrange a group buy for the gear grinders on the forum.

 

I'm interested and I don't even have my F-Type yet.

 

Installation is scheduled for next Wednesday (Feb 3). Installer will document the entire process with photos.

 

Nice! Put me first on the list!

 

You are actually #2. DFW threw his hat in at the beginning of this thread. So far I have (in order of expressed interest):

DFW
TwiztOG43
MagnumPI
Uncle Fishbits
Lizzardo
Bret_T

This gives us enough for a group buy.

If any of you are no longer interested , please PM me. This is not yet a commitment, obviously, until we get pricing and confirm it works.

 

I will waffle based on pricing, but more the pain of installation, etc.... so I am VERY interested, but not yet committed. I am not a pioneer.... they were all shot in the backs with arrows. LOL But I am still in the thread and if I make or break the deal, well.... don't want to be that guy.

 

UF,

Trust me, if this works, you WANT this. It will make a huge difference in your enjoyment of the manual.

I'm waiting for Lance to get all the bugs worked out on the manual so I can march back to my dealership and buy one.

 

Perhaps you can get the short shifter kit, and come up with some linkages to connect it to the paddle shifters.

 

You are absolutely right. I really can't wait, but I do want to see what it looks like. Definitely appreciative of all the work here. I can't wait. The shifter feels like a damned big rig. lol

 

Well...tried to test fit the Fidanza shifter today. The shifter removal and re-installation is a bit involved and requires a lift and two people (to remove and replace the exhaust system as a single unit.). However, it is not complicated and requires about 3-4 hours of shop time. Complete instructions attached: Instructions for removing Gear Shifter.pdf

However, the shift linkage rail on the F-Type is substantially beefier than that on either the 135i or 335i. The short shifter provided was not only too small at the fulcrum to fit the shifter mount, but the connecting eye at the bottom was 50% smaller than on the F-Type shifter. (Photos provided tomorrow)

So we're back to square one, but Fidanza has agreed to acquire an OEM unit to take measurements and custom fabricate another shifter to test fit.
Stay tuned. I'm not giving up on this.

BTW, have I mentioned yet how much better the clutch feels with the Clutch Delay Valve disabled? Shifts are much more precise now.

 

As promised here are the pics:

 

I can't thank you enough for all this... wow. I realize I'm not a pioneer because they were shot in the backs with arrows. That started making me queasy. LOL =) Thank you and excited to see where it goes. Don't hurt the car. =)

 

Remember that dogbone mod I posted some months ago? Is that pertinent here or is that the part, specifically, that you mention as beefier than the BMW and how does it attach? Is it one side or U-shaped like the aftermarket one?

 

Not certain which post you are referring to. Would be helpful if you could point me to it. Below are the two variants, short shifter and OEM shifter. You can see the mismatch in sizing:

 

Talking about this piece. I believe one end goes there^ and the other onto the transmission someplace.

 

Oh, I remember that. Unfortunately that won't work. Something similar to that might have worked if the gearshift lever were sitting on top of the tranny. As it is, the gearshift lever sits about 12 inches behind the gearbox connected by a structural rail containing the linkage.

 

Yeah, I just looked at the Topix documentation last night. It appears to be the same design as the OEM BMW linkage. Only, as you say, a good foot longer. That one would unquestionably be a F-Type exclusive piece.

 

I ordered the OEM shift lever, mount and linkage rail (they only come as a unit) this afternoon and am shipping it straight to Fidanza. With all those pieces they will be able to fabricate a short shifter and test fit it without tearing a car apart. I'm guessing a month or two before we have a solution.

 

Fidanza now has the OEM shifter parts and will now look at how they can build a short shifter for us.