[EcoBeast]

I set my alarm to get a head start on Sunday but I guess I woke up before it went off due to the excitement of getting started!

The H1 and H11 lights were really easy to install and I have to say they met my expectations on color and brightness. Regarding the removal of the light: I did not realize the light assembly is held from underneath by a big white clip and as I pulled straight up it made a big noise as it lets go. I thought I broke something at first but it was just overcoming the friction. On the next one I gently rocked the light back and forth and it gave way more easily.

The yellow fogs are VERY bright and really light up the relatively dark patch between the bumper and where the headlights just start to touch down on the ground. They offer really great contrast on the asphalt. Weather has been clear for past few days so I am curious to see how it performs in rain and drizzle that is due my way soon.

It is a great upgrade in my opinion and something very useful that looks good as well.

The Mountune short shift kit is an absolute joy to use. The installation not so much!

The instruction were very clear but I really had to remove/unclip more things than were listed there to be able to install the alternate parts. I cannot imagine doing it without more access.

I counted five additional items to disconnect and/or shift out of the way (1) sensor switch on transmission just below shifter arm (2) electrical plug on a vacuum tube assembly near shifter arm (3) sound symposer tube (4) vacuum tube connection near front of engine to allow rotation of vacuum tube assembly out of the area (5) air hose and vacuum tube connection.

The stock pin came out easily but the installation of the socket head cap screw from below was very challenging. I got to thread it in halfway by hand but thereafter it enters the recessed area under the shifter arm and fingers don't go in there. My 5mm allen key would not fit and what I really needed was a 5mm allen key socket drive. By then the wife had taken the "parts run" car, i.e. the minivan. So I had to make my own.

I cut off the allen drive and superglued it into a 5mm socket. This allowed me rotate the SHC screw all the way in by hand. The funny thing is that you cannot use the socket with a ratchet to do the final tightening - no room for both socket and ratchet underneath the shifter arm! Ay caramba. I cut the allen key again to get a short "L" shape so it would allow me to rotate it in the small space. The two side set screws (2.5mm) were easy to tighten which was good because by then my back had given way from being hunched over.

I can think of a different way to bolt down the piece to give easier access from top but I am not going to second guess Mountune on that one. It is done now.

It is an immensely positive and noticeable upgrade - it was worth the torn knuckles and stiff back. A couple of bandages and Motrin 400mg and I am reaping the rewards on every shift.

If you are on the fence, I would suggest you go for it - just get an allen drive socket.

 

[WestcoastST]

I just cut an Allen wrench shorter. I think this is one of the very few installs where being left handed was an advantage.

 

[Roger]

Did you take the battery and ecu out? I did and it made that job a whole lot easier. Plus the battery and ecu come out in like 2 minutes.

 

[EcoBeast]

I just cut an Allen wrench shorter. I think this is one of the very few installs where being left handed was an advantage.

I tried doing that but I had something like 10 more turns left to bottom out the bolt after I could not reach with my fingers anymore. I could only get 1/3 a turn with a shortened key, which meant I needed to take the allen key on/off the bolt head something like 30 times. Because I am working "blind" and cannot see the hidden socket head cap underneath the shift bar, it took forever for me to find it with the allen key each time I rotated it 1/3 turn.

Being left handed would certainly help too.

I suppose one of those ball driver type allen keys would have been very handy as well. With the ball end (as opposed to a flat end) allen key, it is more lenient with slipping the tool into the bolt head.

Anyway, it is done and the pleasure of shifting makes the task a distant memory.

 

[EcoBeast]

Did you take the battery and ecu out? I did and it made that job a whole lot easier. Plus the battery and ecu come out in like 2 minutes.

You know I was contemplating that option during the whole time I was trying to slip the allen key blindly into the bolt head.

The ECU (I assume that is the assembly attached to the left of the battery) seemed too involved to remove. I guess not!

Well, that is good info for others venturing into this job.

 

[RodMoe]

Yup once the battery is out the ECU and battery box are two clip plugs and 3 bolts away from being removed.. Then if you want to get real adventurous take the two bolts out that hold the gear selector and pop off the shift cables so you can lift out the gear selector and do it in a well lighted work area lol

 

[EcoBeast]

Yup once the battery is out the ECU and battery box are two clip plugs and 3 bolts away from being removed.. Then if you want to get real adventurous take the two bolts out that hold the gear selector and pop off the shift cables so you can lift out the gear selector and do it in a well lighted work area lol

Wow RodMoe- it would have been nice to work on it at my kitchen table! Maybe enjoy a cup of coffee and a doughnut while I am at it.

Does it come out straight or do you have to wiggle and rotate it out. I am imagining some type of pins/cogs would go inside the cutouts of the square shaft.

It's parts like these that make me think cars are actually pretty inexpensive relative to what you are getting. If my machine shop had to make one of these, it would cost around $1000. Throw in a set of tires, wheels and a spare that's almost another $1000 retail price. Just these items are 10% of the price of the car!

It's a wonder of industrial engineering, mass production and global procurement that makes it work out to $22K

 

[RodMoe]

If I recall it was a bit of rotation to get the shift arm to clear the engine side wire loom and pretty much up and out. Coffee was consumed as it was like 10 deg F outside and 25ish deg F in my unheated insulated garage. The gear selector has little tab like things that slide into the gears sets to allow shifting . More pics posted in my shifter fix or Quaife install thread ., pretty easy to work on with the help of the manual .