| Author | Topic |
|---|
Registered:
June 2003
|
|
MA61 gearstick
|
Mon, 09 August 2004 12:50
|
 |
I'm trying to track down a shifter for an MA61. Does anyone know what I can expect to pay for one, and what my chances are of finding one?
And yes, I know it's the ugliest thing in existance. That's exactly why I'm trying to find one. I need one to molest so I can get it's dimensions, chop it to shit, and then fabricate a nice new shortened one that ain't so damn ugly! I might even be able to take orders when it's done, depending on how successfull it is.
-J-
|
|
|
Location:
Lost in the K hole
Registered:
May 2002
|
|
Re: MA61 gearstick
|
Mon, 09 August 2004 14:24
|
|
any w5x gearbox shift stick will work for you (except the miv supra w58 box)... you can swipe these from practically any celica or whatever from the wreckers. probably cost you $15. factor in another $28 for new shift bushed from toyota.
HOWEVER - ive got a sneeky suspicion all you intend to do is hack inches off the thing (you do realise theyre made in two parts separated by this god aweful rubber compound?)... anyway thats probably the worst way to make a short shifter. SEARCH this site and youll see how to make a proper one. been done plenty of times in the past - and works damn well... may i personally suggest 18mm increase in length?
cheers
ed
|
|
|
Registered:
June 2003
|
|
Re: MA61 gearstick
|
Mon, 09 August 2004 16:02
|
|
|
Nah, I wasn't quite intending that. A mate of mine has access to C&C machines (and knows how to program for them), so I was actually going to get a propper one re-created from bar stock. I just need the dimensions and one to brutalise and then test it to see if it fits back in post-mangling.
|
|
|
Location:
Ballarat, Victoria
Registered:
March 2003
|
|
Re: MA61 gearstick
|
Mon, 09 August 2004 16:33
|
|
|
www.celicasupra.com forums have a lot of shortening shifters for the ma61...
|
|
|
I supported Toymods
Location:
Australia
Registered:
November 2003
|
|
Re: MA61 gearstick
|
Tue, 10 August 2004 00:54
|
|
| ed_ma61 wrote on Mon, 09 August 2004 22:24 |
any w5x gearbox shift stick will work for you (except the miv supra w58 box)...
|
And W50's don't fit either.
Been there, tried that.
|
|
|
Registered:
June 2003
|
|
Re: MA61 gearstick
|
Tue, 10 August 2004 14:15
|
|
so W50's definitely aren't the same?
Does this mean I just have to find any celica with a w58 box in it? Are they all the same shifter?
-J-
|
|
|
Location:
Montrose, VIC
Registered:
May 2002
|
|
Re: MA61 gearstick
|
Tue, 10 August 2004 14:38
|
|
|
I wouldn't worry about CNC, or another shifter. Take out the existing shifter, a few minutes on a manual lathe will have the issue sorted, then you make up a spacer plate to put underneath it. Replace the bushes, and appreciate a quantum leap in gearshifting.
|
|
|
Registered:
June 2003
|
|
Re: MA61 gearstick
|
Wed, 11 August 2004 02:36
|
|
I've found a wrecker with a complete ra60 that they're wrecking.
Will that gearstick work for me? They want $50 - is that reasonable?
-J-
|
|
|
Location:
VIC, Sth Frankston.
Registered:
July 2003
|
|
Re: MA61 gearstick
|
Wed, 11 August 2004 03:37
|
|
The ra60 stick should work in the ma61. Difference is the knob and the leather boot on the supra 
|
|
|
Location:
Brisbane
Registered:
May 2002
|
|
Re: MA61 gearstick
|
Wed, 11 August 2004 03:43
|
|
| joorsh wrote on Wed, 11 August 2004 12:36 |
Will that gearstick work for me? They want $50 - is that reasonable?
|
No. Shop around, you'll get a better price than that.
|
|
|
Registered:
June 2003
|
|
Re: MA61 gearstick
|
Wed, 11 August 2004 05:16
|
|
Good 'ol Celicar Spares to the rescue. Nice place that - lots of celica's!
$30 for one out of an MA61. Perfect.
I'll let you know how it goes with the fabricating.
-J-
|
|
|
Location:
Hobart, Tas
Registered:
May 2002
|
|
Re: MA61 gearstick
|
Wed, 11 August 2004 07:33
|
|
| joorsh wrote on Tue, 10 August 2004 02:02 |
Nah, I wasn't quite intending that. A mate of mine has access to C&C machines (and knows how to program for them), so I was actually going to get a propper one re-created from bar stock. I just need the dimensions and one to brutalise and then test it to see if it fits back in post-mangling.
|
If you're actually making a short-throw stick (not just a shortened shifter), from scratch, with a block underneath...
Can you make more than 1?  You might have a group buy on your hands...
FWIW I have shortened my shifter in the way ed described. There is the actual shifte (ugly stick) and the chrom outer, which are separated by rubber donuts - except the top one, which is a solid disc. Separate the ugly stick from the chrome outer with heat, drill out the top bushing, cut the ugly stick down a few mil then shove back together, and the chrome part sits sown lower than stock. Same throw, but still much better IMO
|
|
|
Registered:
August 2002
|
|
Re: MA61 gearstick
|
Wed, 11 August 2004 08:52
|
|
|
if it works and is a short throw......count me in.
|
|
|
Location:
Adelaide, SA
Registered:
May 2002
|
|
Re: MA61 gearstick
|
Wed, 11 August 2004 08:59
|
|
|
Same here... I'd love one!
|
|
|
Registered:
June 2003
|
|
Re: MA61 gearstick
|
Wed, 11 August 2004 09:14
|
|
Well, development began tonight.
Obviously I'm a moron, so I'm not doing all the work - I do however make an EXCELLENT spectator and munchies-gatherer.
First thing we noticed was what you said Stefan - the damn shifter is rubber packed! Why do they do that anyway? Just for a bit of shock-absorbtion? Anyway, this gearstick is getting completely mangled. The aim is to get this poor ugly thing functional, and then machine up a nice new copy.
I'm after a shortened stick AND a shortened throw. I don't like the way the gear lever pokes up and obscures my stereo - it makes browsing difficult while driving because you have to bob your head around just to see it. And abviously, a shortened throw makes for quicker gearchanges.
My mate is taking it into his work tomorrow to "get serious" with it. I don't know how successful we'll be at this stage, so there is no point taking orders. I also don't know if I could convince my mate to spend all day making 50 gearsticks for nutter toymodders (-:
But we'll see!
-J-
|
|
|
Location:
Hobart, Tas
Registered:
May 2002
|
|
Re: MA61 gearstick
|
Wed, 11 August 2004 09:21
|
|
The rubber parts are there to provide vibration isolation. Some people sorten the shifter by completely removing the chrome part, and attaching an aftermarket 3-grub-screw know directly to the ugly stick.
I tried it once and hated it, the vibrations were really nasty on your hand.
|
|
|
I supported Toymods
Location:
Epping, Sydney
Registered:
May 2002
|
|
Re: MA61 gearstick
|
Wed, 11 August 2004 09:33
|
|
|
well, at least I know I'll be getting a copy
|
|
|
Location:
wangaratta
Registered:
May 2004
|
|
Re: MA61 gearstick
|
Wed, 11 August 2004 10:17
|
|
if you can actually get this to work, i can see that these will be hugely popular. depending on price, i could probably off load 4 tomorrow 
keep us all up to date with how it goes.
cheers.
|
|
|
Location:
Lost in the K hole
Registered:
May 2002
|
|
Re: MA61 gearstick
|
Wed, 11 August 2004 10:26
|
|
just a suggestion, but instead of re-inventing the wheel, why not ask people here what they have done and copy/improve on these ideas.
like, materials, dimensions, design, methods... its all been done. quite easy and effective. do a SEARCH and you might find some useful stuff - including what NOT to do
|
|
|
Registered:
June 2003
|
|
Re: MA61 gearstick
|
Wed, 11 August 2004 12:09
|
|
Already done. I got a few ideas from what I've read here and on the celicasupra forums and showed it to my mate. I think I might have just been wasting my time though - he is EXTREMELY good at fabricating, and he pretty much brushed them all off.
In fact his job, 6 days a week, is to design performance parts for cars. So whatever the best way of doing it is, I know he's gunna find it.
-J-
|
|
|
Registered:
August 2002
|
|
Re: MA61 gearstick
|
Sun, 15 August 2004 09:44
|
|
|
Any love with the shifter?
|
|
|
Registered:
June 2003
|
|
Re: MA61 gearstick
|
Sun, 15 August 2004 22:45
|
|
My mate did a runner to the snow over the weekend (including friday) - damn lucky bastard! He got back last night though.
So in response, no further progress. 
I'll keep you posted though! I did have a chat to him before he went however. Apparently short throw shifters can make a right mess of gearboxes over time. Something to do with the shift being so quick that the synchro's don't get time to engage... which can lead to rapid gearbox wear. My gearbox is in good nick, but it is old, so I'm reconsidering the short-throw option. It's looking like I might go for just a slightly shortened throw as opposed to a mega-short throw like I was originally intending. Still wanna get the stick chopped down a lot though.
Anyone else have any thoughts/opinions?
-J-
|
|
|
Location:
Burlington, On. Canada
Registered:
January 2004
|
|
|
Location:
Lost in the K hole
Registered:
May 2002
|
|
Re: MA61 gearstick
|
Tue, 17 August 2004 03:44
|
|
not exactly anything special about that ^^^^ stick, especially for US$299.00 (AUD$420ish) !!! 
honestly, short shiftrs arent rocket science, and are a piece of cake for any joe with some tooling equipment to make.
|
|
|
Registered:
June 2003
|
|
Re: MA61 gearstick
|
Tue, 17 August 2004 03:54
|
|
True, it's not rocket science. But it can be a bit of a fiddle as I'm finding out now. The concept is extremely simple - just getting the dimensions to mate up can be annoying.
Of course, it doesn't help with me being a fussy bastard and wanting it all to be just the way a like it.
For a progress update, it's chopped down to a nice stumpy size now. Still all padded and rubber packed so the shift won't be to rough either. I quite liked the idea of an adjustable height shifter from that link (thanks rsdeo), so we're seeing what we can do in that regard as well.
What's more, there has been minimal mangling of the standard shifter. Who knows, might even get it working without having to CNC anything from scratch.
-J-
|
|
|
Registered:
August 2002
|
|
Re: MA61 gearstick
|
Tue, 17 August 2004 08:06
|
|
would be nice
yeah the jim king $400 + special is just a TAD out of price range...thats a good 20% of some peoples MA61's original price!
|
|
|
Location:
Brisbane
Registered:
May 2002
|
|
Re: MA61 gearstick
|
Tue, 17 August 2004 08:23
|
|
Actually that's a third of what I paid for the Gay White Supra! 
|
|
|
Location:
Lost in the K hole
Registered:
May 2002
|
|
Re: MA61 gearstick
|
Tue, 17 August 2004 14:09
|
|
|
thats 130% of what draven and i paid for a whole, functioning, MA63...
|
|
|
Location:
Adelaide
Registered:
September 2003
|
|
Re: MA61 gearstick
|
Tue, 17 August 2004 14:56
|
|
| Stefan wrote on Wed, 11 August 2004 17:33 |
Can you make more than 1? You might have a group buy on your hands...
|
I agree, The JK one whilst being a nice bit of kit is just too expensive. Don't forget what shipping and customs will do to the price as well.
But still, if one could be made similar for a more reasonable price, I'd be interested
Cheers
Michael B
|
|
|
Location:
Lost in the K hole
Registered:
May 2002
|
|
Re: MA61 gearstick
|
Tue, 17 August 2004 15:11
|
|
how much would folks be willing to pay for a 'bolt in' ~30-40% shorter throw shifter (only about 5mm shorter in the shifter length itself) on an exchange basis? (ie you send me your shift stick, i send you a modified stick, spacer, and all other parts?
my machinist would happily plough a few if it was worth his while and i had money backing it all up
cheers
ed
|
|
|
Location:
Brisbane
Registered:
November 2002
|
|
|
Location:
Adelaide
Registered:
September 2003
|
|
Re: MA61 gearstick
|
Tue, 17 August 2004 16:22
|
|
| ed_ma61 wrote on Wed, 18 August 2004 01:11 |
how much would folks be willing to pay for a 'bolt in' ~30-40% shorter throw shifter (only about 5mm shorter in the shifter length itself) on an exchange basis?
cheers
ed
|
Hard to say, but probably no more than $150 ?
Interestingly, the shifter that I have in mine has a black outer shaft and was originally about 30mm shorter than the normal chrome shifters that I have seen 
Give us a ball park Ed if I am not close and we'll go from there
Cheers
MB
PS What are you doing up at this hour ? I have an excuse, I'm at work !!!!! 
|
|
|
Location:
Lost in the K hole
Registered:
May 2002
|
|
Re: MA61 gearstick
|
Wed, 18 August 2004 04:01
|
|
ill swing past and have a chat to him this weekend about things...
michael, there are a few different shifter designs, some with the lever about 20-30mm shorter as you describe. the pivot and lever that engages the shift yoke is all the same though.
leigh - yeah, from what ive seen, the r154 shifter is identical to the w58. however, we'd have to confirm that the atual shifter pivot housing assembly (and as a consequence - the spacer id make to put under it) is the same.
cheers
ed
|
|
|
Location:
Lost in the K hole
Registered:
May 2002
|
|
Re: MA61 gearstick
|
Wed, 18 August 2004 04:08
|
|
| 7M-Brisbane wrote on Wed, 18 August 2004 01:26 |
Also never really looked at a short shifter... will I have to take the extension housing off or does this thing just bolt on the top? And if so how much higher is the shifter going to sit (floor clearance issues)?
|
nope, extension housing stays on.
you will have to take the shifter itsef out, as well as take off the shifter pivot housing. to raise the pivot fulcrum id make a 16mm CNC'd spacer to place under the pivot housing - thus rasing everything 16mm, this shouldnt be enough to foul the tranny tunnel, but its worth having a look.
the stick itself would be moified (in a non dodgy way - can explain if you like) extending the lower lever arm 16mm. the upper section would be shortened about 20mm to compensate for the 16mm increased height, and would sit only 4mm shorter than stock. barely noticable.
|
|
|
Location:
Brisbane
Registered:
May 2002
|
|
Re: MA61 gearstick
|
Wed, 18 August 2004 07:04
|
|
16mm seems like a lot... does this make the shift super-duper-short, ie difficult to live with in the day-to-day commute?
|
|
|
Registered:
August 2002
|
|
Re: MA61 gearstick
|
Wed, 18 August 2004 07:51
|
|
ED,
Give me a price and im in.
Oh and id like one of those metal bushings for the extention housing as well. I want that toight feel.
|
|
|
Location:
Lost in the K hole
Registered:
May 2002
|
|
Re: MA61 gearstick
|
Wed, 18 August 2004 08:56
|
|
16mm isnt a lot at all actually. IMHO its actually a nice 'in between' shift stroke, and certainly not overly short for regular use. i always err on the side of caution, and this time me thinks i got it right.
glen - i need a shift yoke to make a metal bush. find me one, and its easy to do. i just need to pull my finger out of my sweeet sweet ass..
|
|
|
Registered:
June 2003
|
|
Re: MA61 gearstick
|
Thu, 19 August 2004 10:59
|
|
Well I got the stick back today after being shortened. Haven't started work on the short shifter yet, and to tell the truth, I don't know if I want to.
As is stands, the throw has already been slightly shortened by simply shortening the length of the stick. I'm really quite happy with it! It's out of the way of my stereo now, doesn't look nearly so ugly, and the throw is fantastic.
I'll post some pickies up in a sec.
-J-
|
|
|
Registered:
August 2002
|
|
Re: MA61 gearstick
|
Thu, 19 August 2004 11:27
|
|
|
The throw hasnt been shortened at all by only chopping down the length of the stick
|
|
|
Registered:
June 2003
|
|
|
Location:
Lost in the K hole
Registered:
May 2002
|
|
Re: MA61 gearstick
|
Fri, 20 August 2004 02:32
|
|
|
the angular displacement of the lever is identical = same throw
|
|
|
