Shifter position question

I like my bent CSP.  40% reduction & no slop.

http://www2.cip1.com/ProductDe...1%2D711%2D120%2D202K

x2 on the CSP.  A lot of us on here have them and love them.

Any pics of the car?

Here is the link to the home site in Germany 

 

http://www.csp-shop.de/cgi-bin...ail&artnr=21574c 

CSP in my Beck as well, one of my most enjoyable upgrades. Well worth the price of admission.

 

I had a CSP shifter in my IM and I found the reach too far for 1st and 3rd.  After Henry drove my car he said the same thing. 

Could just be my car, though.

I have a bent Vintage Speed shifter that has been shortened, but my car is not on the road yet, so I don't know if it has helped correct the long reach to 1st and 3rd.

Are you vertically challenged, Race Car Guy? I'm 6 foot and I know Tom and Lane are of a similar size. Reaching for third has never been a problem for me.

Actually, Rich, I think the reach is more of a problem when one is long of leg.  I'm 5' 10", so I fit well in most things.  Lane has longer legs than mine & has to reach a little more.

Mine seems just fine for my stature and seems rather natural for me. I just went out and checked mine for the actual reach. I guess someone with shorter arms might have a problem.

Or you could go for a bus shifter for the Rat Fink rat rod look :-)

 

http://www.dansperformancepart...hift/buggyshift1.htm

Berg Bus Shifter...Kidding

I really like the Vintage Speed products.

I also have a problem with third gear. The VW had the seats a lot farther forward than a pan based Speedster. There is a builder in the UK that says on their website that one of the things they do to the pan is move the shifter five inches to the rear. Actually should be easy to do.

 

Thanks to all of you who have replied to my question- I am learning a lot. This is what I have taken from your comments. Both the CSP and the Vintage are well made products that would probably improve the shifter operation. It looks to me(from ads) that the CSP has about the same bend in the shaft that the shifter Beck  installed on my car has, and the Vintage speedster shift has a bit more bend and should move the knob closer. Is that the case? Also, is what Beck installs basicly stock VW?

Beck is stock VW.  As a side note IM usually installs EMPI ball with trigger (like the link I posted earlier).  I didn't have a reach issue, but wanted shorter throw and less slop.  The shorter throw should help the reach issue though.

The shorter throw definitely helps and was one of the several reasons I went with the CSP.  I had Carey move my seat back an inch or two further than normal so it was a bit of an issue.  3rd is a good bit closer now, but I wouldn't mind it it was closer still.

I still have the build manual for my older Intermeccanica (late '70's) and-

"You might want to heat and bend your shift lever for driver's convenience. Make this bend about 1 1/2" above the pivot point.

"For a nicer installation you might consider moving the shifting and emergency brake section of the tunnel (top) back about 3 inches."

Al, any chance you would share a copy of your old-IM build manual? I didn't think such a document existed for IM's as it does for CMC's. Thanks !!

Race Car Guy, if you go with the Vintage don't be afraid to ask for a custom build.  When I ordered my speedster shifter I had them shorten it (can't remember by how much).  I bet they could also bend the shaft more too.

 

 

 

Henry installs whatever is appropriate for the set up of the car.  His combinations work very well.

Theron has already been in contact with me, Doug, and we will make it available.

Al, thanks for your [continued] willingness to share !