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Old 04-28-2002, 09:34 PM   #1
sdseagles
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Default kartboy vs. factory short shifter upgrade

Just so I understand this correctly . . . when you buy the kartboy short shifter, you get only the shorter shifter and the bushings if you want. But when you get the factory short shifter it's a different linkage also? Wouldn't the best thing be to get the factory shorty and add bushings after so you get the improved linkage? Any thoughts or comments would be appreciated. Thanks
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Old 04-28-2002, 10:52 PM   #2
JenisonWRX
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The only reason you get the linkage is to maintain height of the stock shifter. If you go kartboy (I have one btw) its not as tall.

Also, lets factor in price...

kartboy wins...hands down. its a great mod.
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Old 04-28-2002, 11:06 PM   #3
nqwan
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the actual linkage doesnt look much different than the stock linkage. from the comparison pics of the stock linkage and short throw linkage i've seen, i could not make out any differences aside from the actual shift lever. the kartboy will give you short throw than the sti kit but it will also lower the height a bit.

oh and installing the linkage would be much more trouble some than just the kartboy bushings and level imo. the kartboy install is really quite simple, the only hard part about it is gettin the level to pop back into the socket.
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Old 04-29-2002, 01:20 AM   #4
wolf8314
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Ya but factory would be covered under warranty .....hmmmmmmm

Wolf
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Old 04-29-2002, 09:29 AM   #5
Slack
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Default short shifter

Hey, anyone tried one of those adjustable short shifters from SPO? If so, how did you like it? I was thinking of buying one since it is adjustable and looks sweet (w/o the boot)...and its only slightly more money than the kartboy one.
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Old 04-29-2002, 11:08 AM   #6
nqwan
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Default Re: short shifter

Quote:
Originally posted by Slack
Hey, anyone tried one of those adjustable short shifters from SPO? If so, how did you like it? I was thinking of buying one since it is adjustable and looks sweet (w/o the boot)...and its only slightly more money than the kartboy one.
cobb has a a dual adjustable short shifter iirc.
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Old 04-29-2002, 12:17 PM   #7
sdseagles
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Default factory shorty

I know how popular the kartboy is, in fact I'm probably still going to get one. But I realized the factory shorty includes a different (upgraded?) linkage and was wondering if anyone has it and what they think.
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Old 04-29-2002, 02:07 PM   #8
XROLLER
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Default I've heard....

that when you buy the whole thing linkage and all it's not really all that different from stock......In my opinion i would just buy the kartboy(i did), and spend the rest of the money on something else.
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Old 04-29-2002, 04:15 PM   #9
Slack
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I guess nobody has tried the SPO adjustable short shifter???...And I checked Cobb (which really didn't answer my questions to begin with) and I didn't see one. I just want to know if its comparable to the kartboy and other non-adjustable shifters. Anybody know?
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Old 04-29-2002, 06:12 PM   #10
jhonas
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I installed a kartboy in my car and it made a LOT of noise, besides the noise (and hassle it would take to make it go away) it was a really nice shifter.

me = saving up for STi.
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Old 04-29-2002, 06:20 PM   #11
plas
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Quote:
Originally posted by jhonas
I installed a kartboy in my car and it made a LOT of noise, besides the noise (and hassle it would take to make it go away) it was a really nice shifter.
What kind of noise? Was the link scratching the bracket or something?
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Old 04-29-2002, 06:21 PM   #12
phestik
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Default kartboy gets my vote

at first I didn't really like the stiff and notchy feeling of the kartboy w/bushings, and my 1 - 2 felt weird. I had to trim down that surrounding piece of metal (1st was rubbing), I also had the bolt tightened too tight, fixed both of those problems, and I've also got used to the feeling. I was at the dealership again this past weekend, and I tried out the stock shifter and the STi short shifter. BLEH!!! Didn't like em at all. The Sti didn't really seem any shorter than stock. I love my kartboy w/bushings.

Go Kartboy!
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Old 04-29-2002, 08:24 PM   #13
Peaty
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Linkage and bushing is the same. One minor diff on the linkage is the legnth of the fork part is all.

http://www.scoobymods.com/forums/sho...?s=&threadid=6







Some more noise is transmitted with both the KB and the STi shifter. There is a rubber insert in the OEM shifter that is eliminated. Then if you install harder shifter bushings (which I suggest) in either the STi or normal linkage a little more noise will be transmitted. Basically the STi maintains stock shifter height the KB is lower. The Cobb one is adjustable from what I can tell. I haven't seen one up close yet. A local WRX owner is getting one and I plan on installing it and taking pics then.

How to install a shift lever:

http://www.scoobymods.com/forums/sho...=&threadid=205

Last edited by Peaty; 04-29-2002 at 08:30 PM.
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Old 04-29-2002, 08:46 PM   #14
bjteel
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Go with the Kartboy (spend the extra dough on an STi shifter trim).

As for the metal "ring" that interferes with the lever in first...Instead of grinding it down, simply loosen the bolts and push it forward and to the left, it will clear just fine.
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Old 04-29-2002, 08:59 PM   #15
Peaty
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I've had some that hit and others that didn't. Production tolerance I guess:

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Old 04-30-2002, 01:55 AM   #16
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The best is the syms hands down but I don't know where to get them any more and be prepared to spend 300 bucks or more, the STi is not really any different then stock, the KB is much shorter, I installed the KB and bushings and like the feel of it. As far as rattles go I installed STI tranny and motor mounts so i have a lot of rattles so that part doesn't bother me. If I had the money I would have gotten syms but the STi is a waste of money in my opinion.
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Old 04-30-2002, 09:57 AM   #17
gtguy
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People like to scoff at the factory stuff and why, I don't know. I have the STi short shift kit (about 30% shorter than stock) with Kartboy bushings, and it feels excellent. Smooth and solid. I also like the stock shifter height. I also admit to not liking at all the way that a Kartboy setup feels, but that's just me.

Tifosi is right about the Syms setup, btw.

It's also worth noting that we don't know if the STi setup is stiffer or not. All that fancy gold metal isn't just cosmetic, I don't think, and it feels much more solid and positive (yet not notchy) than stock. Essentially, like all factory stuff, it feels like stock, only better, if that explains it correctly. You think it feels the same, until you shift a stock setup. Then you realize.

But recent suspension experiments have taught me that STi knows what it's doing. They aren't selling snake oil. Whether it's your cup of tea is another matter, but the stuff works, no question about it.

Kevin
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