Shift Cable / Short-Shift Kits

[Brit-Car-Nut]

I currently have THREE (3) Sets of Uprated Shift Cables as well as several matching Short-Shift Kits available for anyone wanting to improve their car's driveability over the winter.

The Shift Cable Kit provides all the parts needed to upgrade the stock cables to fully Teflon jacketed cables with spherical rod ends which reduce the drag significantly.

The Short-Shift Kit dramatically reduces the distance your hand travels when you make your shifts.

Uprated Shift Cables / Short-Shift Kits

More Info about the kits.

[Saltire]

I am deeply tempted, but just to confirm: are these suitable for the S2 (which I have), or will they only fit the SE?

[Brit-Car-Nut]

They fit All: FED, SE and S2. They come with all the brackets needed to install and it is a complete bolt-in kit so nothing is damaged or modified. Easily reversed if wanted.

[Saltire]

I'll take a set for the Green Monster then, please (cables and short shift). Could you PM me PayPal details and I will sort it out over the weekend; thanks so much

[Brit-Car-Nut]

PM sent. Thanks.

[Brit-Car-Nut]

I currently have THREE (3) Sets of Uprated Shift Cables as well as several matching Short-Shift Kits available for anyone wanting to improve their car's driveability over the winter.

The Shift Cable Kit provides all the parts needed to upgrade the stock cables to fully Teflon jacketed cables with spherical rod ends which reduce the drag significantly.

The Short-Shift Kit dramatically reduces the distance your hand travels when you make your shifts.

Uprated Shift Cables / Short-Shift Kits

More Info about the kits.

I still have some cables and kits available. Spring is almost here and summer not far behind... Start the new driving season with smooth and short shifts!

[epipete]

John, it might be time for me to bite the bullet on your short shift kit, can you pm me a price to uk please (post code BA1 2AS)

Pete

[Artaban]

John,
Same for me; full kit and cables to SP8 4GB. Thanks.
Andy

[dapinky]

John,

If Pete is having a short shift kit, perhaps I should grab a set of cables at the same time - it'll save you splitting a 'job lot' and help us both with the P&P costs....

..... after 130K miles my 'fore/aft' cable is getting a bit dodgy - I've done a 'temporary' repair to support the partially seperated plastic bit to keep it going, but the only proper way to do it is to replace the whole lot.

I've already got one of Daves 'original' short-shifts, so just need the cables (and associated bits & bobs)

[alan e]

If anyone has the fitting instructions for Dave's short shift kit and can copy them for me I would be very grateful, I brought a new/second hand set but it come with no fitting instructions I don't mind paying for them.

[Brit-Car-Nut]

John,

If Pete is having a short shift kit, perhaps I should grab a set of cables at the same time - it'll save you splitting a 'job lot' and help us both with the P&P costs....

..... after 130K miles my 'fore/aft' cable is getting a bit dodgy - I've done a 'temporary' repair to support the partially separated plastic bit to keep it going, but the only proper way to do it is to replace the whole lot.

I've already got one of Daves 'original' short-shifts, so just need the cables (and associated bits & bobs)

I wish it was that easy...

To keep the price down, I decided to make my cable kits with SAE (US) hardware. Why? Because over here anything with the name "metric" is almost double the cost. Since the cables require adapters, it was cheaper to make the adapters work with SAE threads than have to buy expensive metric parts.

The Short-Shift Kit I usually make is made to match the fittings on MY cables, so doesn't play well with metric installations, thus my decision to not make any for the OEM SE/S2 OEM cables. Pete is an exception since he scrounged a set of Bob B.'s cables from a breaker and I CAN make a Short-Shift Kit to fit THOSE cables since they use standard Metric Rod Ends. I made some Fore-Aft levers with metric threads, so I can install a rod end stud to one of those and it will fit just fine. The Cross Gate lever will have to have a metric adapter made up to get along with the metric rod-end but that won't be too much work.

Dave, The only suggestion I can offer is to buy a combined kit from me and sell the Dave H kit to someone else on LEC or eBay. The used Dave's kits seem to sell around 70 quid, so it is basically a break-even against my kit price.

[dapinky]

John,

I remember that there was (somewhere in the past) a potential issue with the cables and DH's Short shift, so am happy to try and get some clarity.....

.... Am I right in thinking from your above explanation that your cables are not any use on an elan without your short shift kit (ie, not a 'standard' replacement for the OE cables) ?

I have to admit I'm not over worried about the short shift, and can easily live without it. If the cables are still suitable for a straight replacement for the OE ones, then I'm still happy to grab a pair, but if they'll only work in conjunction with the short shift, then I'll probably find a more robust way to change my 'temporary' fix into a more permanent one.

[Brit-Car-Nut]

If anyone has the fitting instructions for Dave's short shift kit and can copy them for me I would be very grateful, I brought a new/second hand set but it come with no fitting instructions I don't mind paying for them.

Alan:

It is fairly straight forward:

To gain access to the gearbox's "control box", you might want to carefully move the coolant bottle and Intake hose out of the way.

Disconnect the shift cables from the "control box" at the gearbox end. Keep track of where each washer goes.

For the Fore-Aft Adapter, just slide it over the original Fore-Aft lever and secure it with the screw/bolt, washers and nut. Tighten it very tight.

For the Cross-Gate pivot, you need to CAREFULLY remove the pivot pin snap-ring (It LOVES to take flight and disappear into the distance) and slide the pin down and out of the housing.

Slide the CG pivot out of the transmission "control box".

Remove the "cable attachment pin from the original CG pivot" and move the parts directly to the "new" CG pivot.

Slide the "new" CG pivot back into the "control box" and insert the pivot pin and attach the snap ring.

Connect the cables to the NEW attachment pins reusing the washers and clips.

Because the pin locations have changed, you will probably have to readjust the cables:

Adjust:

Unlock BOTH cable adjusters. Look at the instruction in the workshop manual if you don't know how.
Put the gearbox in 3rd gear.
Have a friend hold the shift lever in the position you really like for 3rd gear. REMEMBER: leave a little bit of travel so don't push and hold the lever all the way forward, instead, push it forward until it stops and then pull back a little bit.
Re lock the adjusters.

IF that doesn't make sense, send me an email and I will try to put together some pictures to go with the instructions.

[alan e]

If anyone has the fitting instructions for Dave's short shift kit and can copy them for me I would be very grateful, I brought a new/second hand set but it come with no fitting instructions I don't mind paying for them.

Alan:

It is fairly straight forward:

To gain access to the gearbox's "control box", you might want to carefully move the coolant bottle and Intake hose out of the way.

Disconnect the shift cables from the "control box" at the gearbox end. Keep track of where each washer goes.

For the Fore-Aft Adapter, just slide it over the original Fore-Aft lever and secure it with the screw/bolt, washers and nut. Tighten it very tight.

For the Cross-Gate pivot, you need to CAREFULLY remove the pivot pin snap-ring (It LOVES to take flight and disappear into the distance) and slide the pin down and out of the housing.

Slide the CG pivot out of the transmission "control box".

Remove the "cable attachment pin from the original CG pivot" and move the parts directly to the "new" CG pivot.

Slide the "new" CG pivot back into the "control box" and insert the pivot pin and attach the snap ring.

Connect the cables to the NEW attachment pins reusing the washers and clips.

Because the pin locations have changed, you will probably have to readjust the cables:

Adjust:

Unlock BOTH cable adjusters. Look at the instruction in the workshop manual if you don't know how.
Put the gearbox in 3rd gear.
Have a friend hold the shift lever in the position you really like for 3rd gear. REMEMBER: leave a little bit of travel so don't push and hold the lever all the way forward, instead, push it forward until it stops and then pull back a little bit.
Re lock the adjusters.

IF that doesn't make sense, send me an email and I will try to put together some pictures to go with the instructions.

That's very good of you pictures would be very helpful I will PM you my email address

[Brit-Car-Nut]

John,

I remember that there was (somewhere in the past) a potential issue with the cables and DH's Short shift, so am happy to try and get some clarity.....

.... Am I right in thinking from your above explanation that your cables are not any use on an elan without your short shift kit (ie, not a 'standard' replacement for the OE cables) ?

I have to admit I'm not over worried about the short shift, and can easily live without it. If the cables are still suitable for a straight replacement for the OE ones, then I'm still happy to grab a pair, but if they'll only work in conjunction with the short shift, then I'll probably find a more robust way to change my 'temporary' fix into a more permanent one.

My cable kits will work fine without my Short Shift Kit because I get to choose what fittings get included.

The reality is I adapt EVERYTHING to fit at the gearbox control box end and likewise at the shift lever end. The problem arises when someone wants to put something between my cables and the control box.

I made up "pin type" short-shift kit adapters, but they suck when used with rod-ends, so I used real and actual rod end studs with my cables and shot-shift kits.

I also found that the short shift kit put the fore aft cable attachment point much further forward and it was actually causing the stock cable ends to hit each other while shifting quickly. I decides to not take the risk of damaging anyone's original cables by making them collide with each other.

When I supply my cables WITH a Short-Shift Kit, I use an "open ball" rod end for the fore-aft cable and put the stud in the fore-aft lever. Without the Short-Shift Kit, I use two "studded" rod ends with square hole adapters. It is not a lot of difference, but makes for a much cleaner solution. Remember, I pre-assemble and install each cable kit to make sure your car will shift as soon as you install it.

[Brit-Car-Nut]

I have enough parts to make another 3 sets of shift cables and Short-Shift Kits if anyone is interested.

If you have a set of Bob B.'s cables and want a Short-Shift Kit designed for his "rod-end" cables, I have a few of those too.

[Artaban]

Just wanted to thank John for doing all the work in putting these kits together. Having just fitted one I thought I'd give some initial impressions to anyone wondering if they should take the plunge or for others wondering what all the fuss is about.

1. The quality is excellent and the instructions are first class. I think anyone could fit them. Don't be daunted by the instructions because they are so detailed you may think the job is hard or complicated; its not but it is a little fiddly in places (feeding the cables through, getting the centre console back in).
2. You could fit them in a morning. Helps employing a small human with long arms.
3. The OEM feel is a bit vague and you know the stick is on cables. This feels much more switch like and if I didn't know I'd swear it was straight into the box.
4. Perhaps its just me but it really feels like the car is tighter, more purposeful, a no compromise driving machine. I'd sat in a car to feel the short shift a while ago but had never driven one. You have to drive the car to really feel the difference. Thats whats such a *ugger. I've just fitted the kit and I'm now selling the car when it feels brilliant.
5. I had put off buying this mod because I thought it a bit pricey for little gain and other stuff seemed to be more of a priority. I now wish it had been one of the first things I had done. These cars are all about the joy of driving and this mod makes you feel good. I almost believed for a minute I was actually a competent driver.

Overall it makes the car feel like a precise automotive instrument of driving pleasure. You only realise how bad the OEM one is when you drive one with short shift and new cables.

Advice is get one; put the wife on the game if you have to.

Andy

[Brit-Car-Nut]

I appreciate the kind words.

[daveiow]

Just wanted to thank John for doing all the work in putting these kits together. Having just fitted one I thought I'd give some initial impressions to anyone wondering if they should take the plunge or for others wondering what all the fuss is about.

1. The quality is excellent and the instructions are first class. I think anyone could fit them. Don't be daunted by the instructions because they are so detailed you may think the job is hard or complicated; its not but it is a little fiddly in places (feeding the cables through, getting the centre console back in).
2. You could fit them in a morning. Helps employing a small human with long arms.
3. The OEM feel is a bit vague and you know the stick is on cables. This feels much more switch like and if I didn't know I'd swear it was straight into the box.
4. Perhaps its just me but it really feels like the car is tighter, more purposeful, a no compromise driving machine. I'd sat in a car to feel the short shift a while ago but had never driven one. You have to drive the car to really feel the difference. Thats whats such a *ugger. I've just fitted the kit and I'm now selling the car when it feels brilliant.
5. I had put off buying this mod because I thought it a bit pricey for little gain and other stuff seemed to be more of a priority. I now wish it had been one of the first things I had done. These cars are all about the joy of driving and this mod makes you feel good. I almost believed for a minute I was actually a competent driver.

Overall it makes the car feel like a precise automotive instrument of driving pleasure. You only realise how bad the OEM one is when you drive one with short shift and new cables.

Advice is get one; put the wife on the game if you have to.

Andy

[tigerdog]

I'll second these sentiments on general principles. I joined LEC and Elan ownership long enough ago that most of the tricky bits on Smaug had been replaced prior to my settling in, so I haven't had the pleasure of buying any of John's bits personally. I have seen how critical it is for the Elan community to have someone as dedicated to the cause as John. The passion, dedication and countless hours in service are probably not compensated by what he earns through sales, so we must all take time to thank John (and the others) who have made Elan ownership and LEC such a singular place in automobilia.
3 cheers!