I got a SPT short throw shifter for my wedding present last week. The assembly has no installation instructions, so instead of winging it, I decided to do some reseach. I found some information on Subaru Drive Performance and ClubWRX. It all looks simple, but when I tried to do it, I ran into some difficulty accessing the 2 bolts in the rear.

The driveshaft and exhaust make things a little cramped, so its difficult to get enough leverage to break the 2 bolts in the rear. Does anyone have some advice or suggestions?

Yep. Just did this myself. Here are my hot tips:

1. Drop the mid-pipe. Not really a big deal to remove and makes SO much more room for hands and wrenches. Make sure to unplug the 02 sensor.
2. Do yourself a favor and do the Kartboy shift bushings (all of them) while you have it apart.
3. Rear bolts: even with the midpipe out, the drive shaft will still cramp your style. The bolts (especially the passenger side) will be much easier to remove with a wobble socket on an extension, rather than trying to stuff a regular socket or box-end wrench up there.

Thanks for the hot tips. I'll give it another stab this weekend.

or get a swivel socket and a long extension. thats usually how i do it. that way i dont have to remove the exhaust.

It is a pita. The COBB is nice because you only have to get under the car to hold the reverse lockout - no bolts or anything.

5MT has no reverse lockout. I agree its a PITA, but I read in the Cobb installation instructions that you have to trim (ie dremel) the metal plate to make space for the shifter. That sounds like even more PITA.