it was really very easy (thanks to Chad for the idea). Although I'm not sure if I used the same method that he did, here is a brief description:

The shifter sits in a hub that is bolted to the floor. The hub contains a plastic ball joint with a short sleeve extending out of it, through which the metal shifter rod extends. The rod is held in place on the sleeve with a metal pin. This metal pin also guides the movement of the reverse lockout collar.

The idea is to lower the shifter rod in the hub, and then raise the hub to allow enough clearance for the coupler underneath. This requires three basic modifications: Drill an identical hole in a metal shifter rod about 1-2 cm above the original to refit the pin. Cut an appropriate length out of the plastic reverse lockout collar. I ended up removing about 1" from the lenght of the collar and then taped it together with duct tape (this tape remains hidden under the bellows, and because the collar is never under any strain the tape will hold it fine).

Find four spacers (one for each bolt) to raise the hub off the floor about 1/2" I had to fit new bolts because the spacers rendered the original bolts too short.

This modification not only shortens the length of the rod above the hub, but also commensurately increases the length of the rod underneath. This has a two-fold effect upon the shortening of the throws.

The result is VERY short, crisp throws that I never thought were possible in a Saab. I have to wonder why they didn't just design it like this in the first place. Although the effort is slightly increased, the dramatic improvement in shifter feel is worth it. It seems like you can really get a sense of the syncros working, and the gates are far more defined.

The nice thing is that, if you don't like the result, you can easily revert to the original configuration. The shifter sits in approximately the same position as before.

It took about two hours.

-Kyle
'91 9000T


posted by 24.60.133...

• I did the short-shifter modification yesterday >>>, Kyle, Sun, 15 Sep 2002 19:24:28 <-- Viewing This Message
  • Yup, that exactly how I did it..., Chad, Mon, 16 Sep 2002 10:05:53
    • I'd be interested to hear it sometime..., Kyle, Mon, 16 Sep 2002 11:39:22
      • Re: I'd be interested to hear it sometime..., Chad, Mon, 16 Sep 2002 11:49:39
  • Removing the knob, Stefano, Mon, 16 Sep 2002 06:54:12
    • I replaced the knob a while ago >>>, Kyle, Mon, 16 Sep 2002 09:37:30
  • Re: I did the short-shifter modification yesterday >>>, John, Sun, 15 Sep 2002 22:22:43
  • Re: I did the short-shifter modification yesterday >>>, mikeP98, Sun, 15 Sep 2002 19:37:45
    • $10 please...Just kidding - I'll try to post pics soon., Kyle, Sun, 15 Sep 2002 19:43:58
      • How is it compared to Saab Savior's short shift kit /nm, aerobot, Mon, 16 Sep 2002 04:06:41
        • Re: How is it compared to Saab Savior's short shift kit /nm, John, Mon, 16 Sep 2002 09:53:29
        • Re: How is it compared to Saab Savior's short shift kit /nm, John, Mon, 16 Sep 2002 09:51:36
        • Couldn't tell you, I've never seen a 9000 >>>, Kyle, Mon, 16 Sep 2002 09:40:38
          • However, judging by the picture on their website >>>, Kyle, Mon, 16 Sep 2002 10:09:55

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