The Official MGW Shifter Thread.

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HISSMAN

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The following deals with the installation and opinions of the MGW Ltd. Short Throw Shifter.

This shifter can be purchased from www.MGWLTD.com.
Some instructions in the write-up are borrowed from MGW's Install sheet.

Tools needed for install:
Putty knife or razor blade
Socket wrench
8mm, 10mm, and 13mm sockets.
Socket extension. 6 inches advised
RTV Silicone gasket maker (supplied), or CobraBob Gasket Kit.
3/32 Allen wrench (provided)
3/16 Allen wrench (provided)

Helpful, but non-required tools.
Small Flash light
Flat blade screw driver
A friend.


This is a pic of the stock setup just for reference.
1628.jpg




The first step is to remove the shifter knob, and the console. Simply unscrew the knob. Then Grab the center console with both hands from the inside of the boot area and pull up and out. Be careful not to force it to avoid breaking the tabs on the console.
1625.jpg




Next unplug the lighter and set the center console out of the way.
1624.jpg




Next use a 10mm socket to remove the stock handle.
1614.jpg




Next use an 8mm Socket to unbolt the inner/top dust boot. Be careful not to rip.
1611.jpg




The next step is to remove the inner-most boot. This simply just pulls off. Be careful not to rip.
remove_lower_dust_boot.jpg




Now unbolt the stock POS, I mean shifter using a 13mm socket to remove the 4 bolts.
1615.jpg




Now by using a putty knife, or my method of a razorblade, remove any remaining gasket material being careful not to gouge the soft aluminum.
1609.jpg




The next step is to install the MGW shifter. MGW provides silicone gasket maker, but I used on of CobraBob's T-56 shifter gaskets. Set the shifter on the mount point and line up the holes and insert the NEW MGW bolts and lock washers. Tighten them down as you would the lug nuts on your wheels. Go back and forth from bolt to bolt screwing them down a little at a time. Also note that the MGW logo on the shifter is located closest to the dash so that you can read the lettering from your position. Snug the bolts down, but do no over tighten. You can now also install the lower-most boot. Just slip it over the shifter.
1626.jpg




Now reinstall the upper dust boot.
1630.jpg




NOTE: I did not use the provided stops.



Next install the handle of your choice. Then the console/boot and shift knob.
RED HANDLE
1610.jpg


BLUE HANDLE
1623.jpg


The following pics are of the Red handle in all locations. (1st-6th, and reverse)

1st
1616.jpg


2nd
1617.jpg


3rd
1618.jpg


4th
1620.jpg


5th
1621.jpg


6th
1622.jpg


Reverse
1628.jpg



My Opinion:

WOW!!! Let me first say that George and the rest of the crew from MGW Ltd could have put 1/2 the effort into this unit and it would still have been 5 times better than the next shifter. They did it right the first time out of the box.
Install was as easy as or easier than any other shifter I have ever installed. And quality was second-to-none. I installed the blue handle first, and the throws were very quick, and very precise. I thought this would be the handle that I would stick with for sure. It was a little bit of a reach to hit 5th and reverse (I am 6ft), but it was still very comfortable. Next I tried the red handle. Though the shifts were slightly longer, it was still much shorter than stock and just as precise as the blue handle. I also noted that every gear was very easy to reach. I decided to keep the red handle installed for daily driving and I will switch to the blue during my trips to the track.
Now for the comparison to other shifters I have used. I have driven one 03 cobra with a triax, and one (04) with a five-oh shifter. I felt that the shifts were a little more deliberate with the MGW shifter (a good thing). I like the 5.0 shifter better than the triax, and the MGW better than the 5.0. The main thing that won me over was the comfort level of the shifter. With the red handle is seemed that it was located in just the right spot and the ability to adjust the angle of the handle was great thinking on MGW's part. I have mine angled at about 6:30. Needless to say, this is the last shifter I will install in my 04 cobra, and now I need to save up and buy a composite 1-6 shift knob off of MGW as well as a few other items to complete my interior upgrades. If anyone has any questions or comments please feel free to ask.

Thanks,

Jeff Hoops

And special thanks to MGW Ltd., and SID297.
 
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TRBO VNM

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great write-up. I would only suggest changing some of the text colors, hurts the eyes and hard to read(damn that sounds bad, I guess you do start getting old at 30 :( ). Other than that its great.
 

04cobratorchred

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Hissman that was one hell of a write up very nice job. Also i didn't put that lower most boot on my MGW will i be ok. I never took it off my stock shifter.
 

HISSMAN

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04cobratorchred said:
Hissman that was one hell of a write up very nice job. Also i didn't put that lower most boot on my MGW will i be ok. I never took it off my stock shifter.


You should be fine. I would have just made it a bit quieter. And just for note, the pic I took showing the installation of the lower dust boot does not have it completely installed. I just had it setting on the shifter base and I had not yet pulled it around the base.
 
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eiblish

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:coolman: I am thinking of doing this mod, and your post makes it look much easier than I expected. Very helpful, THANKS!
 

TXRDRNR

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Great write up! Thanks, I'm going to save this so when I am ready to change out I can reference back to this.
 

HISSMAN

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No problem, and thanks for the compliments. If anyone has any other questions, or if I missed something please let me know.

Jeff
 

Crowley

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Very nice write up ... just did this myself and couldn't agree more .. it is a top notch part!!

Crowley
 

RJCobra

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"...felt that the shifts were a little more deliberate with the MGW shifter..."

Could you explain this some more? Thanks
 

HISSMAN

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Your's is great Bob. Sorry to step on your toes. LOL. Mine was actually done on behalf of MGW Ltd.

Jeff
 

HISSMAN

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RJCobra said:
"...felt that the shifts were a little more deliberate with the MGW shifter..."

Could you explain this some more? Thanks

It went into gear easier, and there was no worry about missing a shift. ;-)
 

Jpjr

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a thought, you should move this to the how-to thread after everyone has seen it so that it always stays up front. great write-up.
 

RJCobra

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So far I've only seen one negative review on the new shifter. Does anyone have any experience going from the Pro-5.0 with MGW handle to this shifter?
 

HISSMAN

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I think that in conjunction with the CobraBob shifter gasket it is quieter.
 

saleen09

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I would also like to know how much noise this shifter add compared to a stock shifter.

Thanks.
 
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