so whats the word on the short shifter - Honda Prelude Forum

Si_g · 04-20-2004, 01:49 PM

i ve done a few seachers, and read some reviews on the 4bidden short shifter. I cant say how much i m impressed with all the positive reviews. For some reason i love the stock shifter, yea its kinda long but i dont mind it. Its more challenge to the driver. The only thing is, i have heard and read so much about this 4bidden shifter, that i think its time for me to get one. I am a bit of a perfectionnist so i like my car to look as clean and stock as possible. ( notice i said as possible) I know a few local people that have the forbidden shifter. From what i have seen, it sits a bit to the right, which i dont like. I also read a few posts on here, and some have said the same thing. Now i dont understand why it sits on the right for some people, and it doesnt for others! I saw a pic of 4bidden's shifter in his car, and it looked very str8, sittin like stock. There was a nother one where it was sittin on the right on someone elses car. I would like to get the shifter, but i would like to know if there is some kind of a trick to install it and have it sit str8, or any cutting to be done, or anything that would involve modifying so that the shifter can sit properly in neutral ? If it is due to installation, then where can i read about the proper procedure b4 i actually get one. Is the 4bidden shifter
a perfect fit for the stock boot over a long period of time ?

Please put in your comments.

thx

RedH22A1 · 04-20-2004, 02:05 PM

Best mod under $120.

Rapture · 04-20-2004, 02:09 PM

it's not like you're buying a damn house.

Si_g · 04-20-2004, 02:49 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Rapture
it's not like you're buying a damn house.

no, but i m making an investment on my car that will last me forever considering the fact that i intend to have my kid (praise God i ll have a son one day) drive this car. I carefully study every little detail before i spend my money on anything, thats just a lesson in life i learned. What can i say? i m just a perfectionist about little things. I m doing my hw on the subject, and i m askin for relevant information, not opinions; i ve read enough of those about this topic.

cleanLude · 04-20-2004, 02:57 PM

truthfully, it sits to the right only if u know it does...ask a friend to evaluate it and i get he wont even know the difference...plus with a boot there, its really hard to see it...and the shifter is a completely functional upgrade, NOT cosmetic...u may as well just cut ur stock shifter if u want it to look cool...

DOHCVTEC190 · 04-20-2004, 03:05 PM

I'm somewhat of a perfectionist also when it comes to my things. When I first installed the shifter with the stock knob and boot, I noticed it sitting to the right. It doesn't really bother me anymore and actually forgot about it til I read this thread. I have the RSX Ti knob and CTR boot now.

Besides the shifter feel makes it worth it!

ludebeginnings · 04-20-2004, 03:36 PM

mine sits to the right also, don't think that there is anything that can be done to correct such.

G_Loc · 04-20-2004, 03:42 PM

The assembly where the shifter attaches to sits a bit to the right of the console, so Honda compensated by bending the shifter to the left in order to make it seem centered. 4bidden's doesn't have this bend. Its barely noticeable, unless you look at it directly from the front or back or have a very keen eye.

preludestud11 · 04-20-2004, 03:59 PM

Wow, I didnt even notice mine sitting to the right. i dont know what any of you guys are talking about. Have you driving a car with the Forbidden SS, if you have then you will know that it is well worth it, and by looking in my car, you wouldnt even be able to tell that i have a SS, I will get pix of you want.

Rich

4bidden · 04-20-2004, 04:09 PM

On most every 93+ lude I have seen the linkage is adjustable for the neutral position. That is one reason why I didnt add the 2 bends required to make it sit in the perfect middle, which most have said is not hardly noticable.

Pop your console and look on the smaller (select) linkage and you will see a hex nut that looks like its built into the linkage about 3 inches in front of where the cable attaches to the arm. Simply undo the cotter pin and remove the linkage from the arm and twist in or out to get your shifter to the neutral position you like the most.

I'll take pics later if you guys dont understand what I am talking about.

euforik · 04-20-2004, 04:34 PM

Shifter barely sits to the right. I too am a bit of a perfectionist and was cautious of the purchase for this same reason, but after having it installed and driven my car for 20k+ miles. I can say nothing but 'purchase it', don't even second guess the mod for a vanity reason. Stock shifter doesn't even compare to this.

SolRayz · 04-20-2004, 05:04 PM

I love the shifter too and well worth the money for it. One thing I noticed though is that the shifting does feel a little notchier than before and Im wondering if it is because the cables are being bent up slightly when they are attached at the middle and race positions. Has anyone else oticed this?

4thGenReady2Go · 04-20-2004, 07:19 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Rapture
it's not like you're buying a damn house.

well hey, if $120 comes so easy to you, and a purchase of that amount is so frivolous, please send me some money, pm me for my address. This board exists so people can run ideas by others and get their input.

Honestly dude, it actually sits straight, because the stock shifter bends a little to the left. The only thing I wasn't comfortable with (aside from getting grease all over me, lol) was the way that 'U' bolt (bolt with a right angle bracket attached to it), which fits securely into a proper spot on the stock shifter, has to sit on the Forbidden shifter. Because there's not slot for the right angle bracket, when I tightened that bolt I just had to leave it so the bracket was forced up against the shift lever. Otherwise, installation was easy (time consuming, but that's all on me), and I have to say I think it really does shift easier (at middle setting) than the stock shifter. I say go for it, the nice thing about this one is if you don't like one setting, or get tired of it, you have 2 others to choose from. My 2 cents.

SLICK96 · 04-20-2004, 10:46 PM

Okay, we understand now, clearly....it sits to the right. I didn't even notice that the 4bidden sat to the right after LuckE (Brian) and I did the install at his house (he did most of the work, b/c I'm lame w/ tools), until I read this thread.

Nobody's assuming you are rich, so don't get butt-hurt. I will also attest to the worthiness of this product. If the fact that the shift knob sits a little to the right irks you, don't buy it. If you're looking for MUCH BETTER shift performance than the stock shifter, or the stock shifter w/ the HORRIBLE Neuspeed adapter, then buy the 4bidden model...it's that simple.

J

Si_g · 04-21-2004, 01:02 AM

Thx for all your inputs guys. But you have it all wrong. I never I have planned on buyin the shifter. I just havent gotten around it, cause i had other priorities for the car. Now that i have finally gotten around to getting it, i m addressing certain issues just because thats how i am b4 i make any kind of investment. Some people just go by what others say. I m not a follower. I like to get stuff broken down to me to where i can clearly understand the situation, and go from there, which was the whole point of this thread. I never doubted the capabilites of the shifter, not have i said that it was bothering me to the point where i would not get it. I simply wanted to have more input on the reason why it sat a bit to the right, and if it was due to an error in installation, or anything. As i noticed, some people didnt even notice that theirs sat to the right. Probly cause they dont care. I like to have reasons for everything, thats why i observe, listen, question, and decide. Its a simple process. Its like trying to trace through a programming algorithm without knowing what is the purpose of it, or what language it is writtin into. Then you could do it, and someone can tell you its right, but how would u know its right unless u go and find more information about the actual algorithm to see whats its doing, and if your are tracing it correctly and verify, then you can ask questions about reasons why its done this way, and why not another way.Its gonna do what you what its supposed to do, but do you know that its right, or do yo know how ? Its called being curious. Noone wants to do things just cause everyone does it, u do it cause u want to, and cause you have your reasons why.My point is, i was just trying to get input on some areas of the shifter, i wasnt asking wether i should buy it or what it does, or how it feels, or how most of you felt about it. I read all the reviews, and i m convinced that its a great shifter, which is my reason for wanting to know more about it, since i plan on buying one very soon.

Thanks for all your help. It was greatly appreciated.

4bidden · 04-21-2004, 01:39 PM

Yes it sits a little to the right, hardly noticeable, but can be adjusted in most 93+ cars during installation.

Adding the two bends to make it sit that hair back over the to the left would have increased the cost considerably.

Si_g · 04-21-2004, 05:43 PM

^^^ thats fine, i have a 93, so it should be fine. I ll be gettin it pretty soon, i m finishing up with my full suspension set up right now, and i ll get in contact with you. What is your price so i know ahead of time how much i need to come up with.

thx

red92si · 04-21-2004, 07:34 PM

Just to note... I have a 92 and my shifter cable is also adjustable.