IS - 2nd Gen (2006-2013) Discussion about the 2006+ model IS models

Short shifter project for 2IS complete and a success

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 01-02-20, 02:41 PM
  #1  
soulific
Advanced
Thread Starter
iTrader: (3)
 
soulific's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: CA
Posts: 704
Received 37 Likes on 20 Posts
Default Short shifter project for 2IS complete and a success

I have been wanting to post this thread but got caught up with holidays... I’ve been working on a short shifter idea for a while, as I was unhappy with the stock manual shifter on the 2is, and even the Fsport quick shifter wasn’t that great and short shifting. The 2is is a beautifully designed car, but after a while i regretted choosing it over a manual is300.

I was seriously at a point of selling the car from being that unhappy with the shifting feel...

Shifting is now awesome and has now improved even over the fsport quick shifter! Shifting was sluggish, and now it’s tight, notchy, and surgical like. It made my clutch response/control better also. Something with being in gear and letting go at the right time now in the right rpm rather then playing catch up with changing gears. It feels like a new car now! I test drove a STI with a factory short shifter while entertaining the idea of getting a new car last month, and the IS250 feels better than that now. Im not even thinking of a new car now...

I’ve made a limited few and installed some on a few other manual 2is’s and the same positive response.

Stock shifter throw from 1st to 2nd gear was 4 inches... Now it’s under 2.4 inches! I was amazed, I have some videos but gotta upload onto YouTube before sharing.

I spent a lot of time, effort, and even money on making this reality. Very proud of the result. The shifter adaptor came out amazing, Milled perfectly, and anodized/zinc plated where needed. The machinist I used to make my design reality, does freelance work for Space X and other big companies. So the same machine that made this short shifter, also made parts a components that went on space X's rockets that were launched.

So glad to say there is a short shifter available now for the 2IS. This is even a upgrade over the discontinued F sport quick shifter, as it shifts even shorter by around 5%. If anyone is interested, I have 1 available on the marketplace, if you search the marketplace or google for "Raiden Industries Short shifter" it should pop up.






STOCK SHIFT DISTANCE, 4 inches

AFTER SHIRT SHIFTER INSTALLED , under 2.4 inches

The install is actually quite easy, with a lift under 30 mins. Without a lift with a jack I'm guessing 1-1.5 hours max.

Last edited by soulific; 01-02-20 at 03:09 PM.
The following 9 users liked this post by soulific:
bbaugher47 (01-02-20), flowrider (01-02-20), kevinvip (12-26-20), lilwatty19 (02-17-23), Mario32129 (01-05-20), MikeFig82 (01-02-20), MrHarris (07-17-22), ncatona (12-27-20), NinjaSocks (01-03-20) and 4 others liked this post. (Show less...)
Old 01-02-20, 04:12 PM
  #2  
flowrider
Lexus Champion
iTrader: (9)
 
flowrider's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Arizona
Posts: 10,504
Received 1,896 Likes on 1,337 Posts
Default

Congratulations - You did good

Lou
The following users liked this post:
soulific (01-02-20)
Old 01-03-20, 02:41 AM
  #3  
bbaugher47
Moderator
 
bbaugher47's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: RVA
Posts: 1,912
Received 224 Likes on 195 Posts
Default

Why didn’t you measure from the same spot??
Old 01-03-20, 03:21 AM
  #4  
eddysoares
Driver School Candidate
 
eddysoares's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: MA
Posts: 36
Received 7 Likes on 5 Posts
Default

mine arrives today. I can’t wait to get it on a lift and installed Monday.


idc who criticizes you or for what. A lot of people talked about re engineering that piece over the years but you did it dude. Thank you.
Old 01-03-20, 07:00 AM
  #5  
trujtru
Driver
 
trujtru's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: New York
Posts: 76
Received 5 Likes on 5 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by bbaugher47
Why didn’t you measure from the same spot??
I was thinking the same thing. My best guess is where the tape measure starts, is where 1st gear actually ends, which if there was a video of the shift, would be a better illustration.

Either way good job!
Old 01-03-20, 10:54 AM
  #6  
soulific
Advanced
Thread Starter
iTrader: (3)
 
soulific's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: CA
Posts: 704
Received 37 Likes on 20 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by trujtru
I was thinking the same thing. My best guess is where the tape measure starts, is where 1st gear actually ends, which if there was a video of the shift, would be a better illustration.

Either way good job!
Photos were a screen shot from a video clip.

The video showed me measuring from 1st gear to second. 1st gear before installing the short shifter had a further gap and distance then when installed. So my point of starting measurement was different, as I showed the final measurement only.

Shifting from neutral to gear was 2 inches stock, and under 1.2 inches with my short shifter.

I’ll try posting the video this evening.
Old 01-03-20, 11:47 AM
  #7  
IS350mumba
Pit Crew
 
IS350mumba's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: ca
Posts: 102
Received 27 Likes on 17 Posts
Default

380usd and does not come with rubber boot as original fsport.
Old 01-03-20, 11:59 AM
  #8  
MikeFig82
Lead Lap
iTrader: (13)
 
MikeFig82's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Texas
Posts: 4,089
Received 773 Likes on 675 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by IS350mumba
380usd and does not come with rubber boot as original fsport.
Well judging by the OP's post #1 a lot of R&D went into it. That being said it cost money to get parts machined, and CAD files to get drawn up.

I've done parts before, and luckily I have friends that will machine the parts for me. I've also sent out the same parts for outside quotes. Those quotes are always pretty pricey for a one time part run, or low quantity.
The following users liked this post:
eddysoares (01-03-20)
Old 01-03-20, 12:04 PM
  #9  
IS350mumba
Pit Crew
 
IS350mumba's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: ca
Posts: 102
Received 27 Likes on 17 Posts
Default

Looks like 99% of fsport copy to me.
Old 01-03-20, 01:27 PM
  #10  
eddysoares
Driver School Candidate
 
eddysoares's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: MA
Posts: 36
Received 7 Likes on 5 Posts
Default

It’s tough for the expert to get out of the armchair.
The following users liked this post:
sheetmetalfab (05-25-24)
Old 01-03-20, 03:16 PM
  #11  
soulific
Advanced
Thread Starter
iTrader: (3)
 
soulific's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: CA
Posts: 704
Received 37 Likes on 20 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by IS350mumba
380usd and does not come with rubber boot as original fsport.
I actually do have a rubber boot extension I designed that can go along with the shifter, but I find it pointless. In the three IS250's I installed this short shifter in, including mine. The stock outer boot was already torn/missing and not even there when i went to install.

Over time it tears/falls off I suppose, and who knows how long it was missing for? 3-4 years maybe, while all this time the driver never notices and has no effect on the function or integrity, unless your driving in 2 feet of mud and water all day... There is also extra protection from head shield that sits below it.

The part is aircraft grade aluminum so won't rust regardless, and its anodized to further protect from elements and corrosion. The internal pieces are zinc plated for extra protection. So really having a boot isn't really a big concern, a thick coat of grease over the part/component would protect it the same.

As far as the cost, Im not Toyota. Even the mass produced Fsport part was around $380-$400 before shipping and tax , some people got it for cheaper when it was plentiful but thats the average price.

From my design/drawing, rendering, programming of the model, sampling, sample testing, creation of the part, plating..... It does cost money. I also took a lot of time out to create this and I know what my time is worth, but didnt even add that into the equation

Im not in my garage cutting these out on a jigsaw and gluing them together, while having a few beers... This is a quality part....

Last edited by soulific; 01-03-20 at 03:24 PM.
The following 5 users liked this post by soulific:
eddysoares (01-03-20), Mario32129 (01-05-20), MrHarris (07-17-22), ncatona (12-27-20), NinjaSocks (01-03-20)
Old 01-23-20, 04:01 AM
  #12  
soulific
Advanced
Thread Starter
iTrader: (3)
 
soulific's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: CA
Posts: 704
Received 37 Likes on 20 Posts
Default

Finally got time to upload the video of the shifting distance. Ive sold the majority of the first production and all customers are happy with the short shifter.


Last edited by soulific; 01-23-20 at 06:33 AM.
Old 01-23-20, 07:46 AM
  #13  
lilasiian8
Driver School Candidate
 
lilasiian8's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: california
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by soulific
Finally got time to upload the video of the shifting distance. Ive sold the majority of the first production and all customers are happy with the short shifter.

https://youtu.be/Gl9FIxBzd3c
Thanks for making these!!! The short shifter improved the feeling and distance of the throws. It’s pricey but totally worth it.
Old 01-23-20, 11:52 AM
  #14  
gone2morro
Driver School Candidate
 
gone2morro's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2018
Location: AL
Posts: 32
Likes: 0
Received 17 Likes on 9 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by soulific
I actually do have a rubber boot extension I designed that can go along with the shifter, but I find it pointless. In the three IS250's I installed this short shifter in, including mine. The stock outer boot was already torn/missing and not even there when i went to install.

Over time it tears/falls off I suppose, and who knows how long it was missing for? 3-4 years maybe, while all this time the driver never notices and has no effect on the function or integrity, unless your driving in 2 feet of mud and water all day... There is also extra protection from head shield that sits below it.

The part is aircraft grade aluminum so won't rust regardless, and its anodized to further protect from elements and corrosion. The internal pieces are zinc plated for extra protection. So really having a boot isn't really a big concern, a thick coat of grease over the part/component would protect it the same.

As far as the cost, Im not Toyota. Even the mass produced Fsport part was around $380-$400 before shipping and tax , some people got it for cheaper when it was plentiful but thats the average price.

From my design/drawing, rendering, programming of the model, sampling, sample testing, creation of the part, plating..... It does cost money. I also took a lot of time out to create this and I know what my time is worth, but didnt even add that into the equation

Im not in my garage cutting these out on a jigsaw and gluing them together, while having a few beers... This is a quality part....
soulific, Great job! I'm a 3d CAD designer and I can appreciate what you've made. People don't understand how many times you design, try, re-design, try, re-design, many times over to get it perfect. So many hrs. of R&D. So IF I had a manual trans, I'd gladly pay what you're asking.
Thanks for creating it, I hope you sell truck loads of them!
The following 2 users liked this post by gone2morro:
MrHarris (07-17-22), soulific (01-23-20)
Old 04-01-20, 05:44 AM
  #15  
soulific
Advanced
Thread Starter
iTrader: (3)
 
soulific's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: CA
Posts: 704
Received 37 Likes on 20 Posts
Default

Hope everyone is safe during this time. Just bumping this thread to see if anyone else is interested in a short shifter. I’m down to my last one in hand of the latest production.

Im trying to decide whether to produce more and continue production.


Quick Reply: Short shifter project for 2IS complete and a success



All times are GMT -7. The time now is 03:13 PM.