1991 - 1992 MR2 Short throw shifter conversion with stock hardware

Please read this fully before you consider doing this or/and before you attempt this. I assume no responsibility if you screw up your own shifter. I had this done by a friend who knew how to weld and had access to air tools. Proceed at your own risk. I will be willing to answer any questions that you have about this procedure. My e-mail is available from my Who's Who Page.

What you will need:

  1. #2 phillips head screwdriver
  2. 12mm socket and wrench
  3. Small pry bar
  4. Hacksaw or airsaw
  5. Air rotary cutter
  6. Access to a welder or someone who can weld
  7. Aftermarket shift knob or 93-95 shift knob

How to do it:

  1. Remove the stock shift knob by unscrewing the knob.
  2. Remove the shift boot from the console.
  3. (This next step assumes that you have the center storage unit between the seats.) Remove the screws from the top compartment and the bottom compartment of the center storage unit. Then, remove the storage unit.
  4. Remove the screws for the center console, and lift straight up for removal.
  5. Remove the retaining clips for the shifter cables with the small pry bar.
  6. Remove the four (4) 12mm bolts that hold the shifter plate to the body and disconnect the cables from the shifter. Remove the shifter assembly.
  7. Disassemble the shifter assembly by remove the four (4) 12mm bolts the hold the shifter in the shifter plate.
  8. Remove the nylon bushings from the shifter. There should be two. One on the bottom of the shifter and on the side of the shifter.
  9. Cut the piece welded to the shifter off.
  10. Turn that piece upside down and weld that piece about .25 - .75" up from the original position.
  11. Take the airsaw or hacksaw and cut of the threads of the shifter at the taper.
  12. Reassemble the shifter and console.
  13. Put your aftermarket shift knob on and your ready to go. You can rethread the shifter to use the 93-95 shift knob.
You can play with how far up the shifter you want to weld the piece that bolts the cable to the shifter. The higher you bring that up, the shorter your shift throw will be., but the longer you have to keep the shifter. This is what I found to be a happy medium between the two. This looks good and looks very close to the 93-95 shifters.

Shawn
91 MR2 Turbo