TRD short-shifter 5speed

[Gibla]

Following a forum discussion many moons ago I decided to source one (I think Carolynne highly recommended one iirc)

Now after much delay of a couple of years I obtained one, this was fitted today replacing what I considered a fairly slick OEM unit that gave little cause for complaint.

It is difficult for me to describe the action other than it is satisfyingly notchy with zero hint of vagueness or any possibility of making a shifting error. Maybe not as sweet as a Honda or Mazda OEM shift change, but seriously impressive none the less in a more mechanical way.

Certainly if I ever have a 6-speed '2' again I will seek out a TRD 6-speed shifter or maybe the 'C' that is supposedly quite similar

[Chilli Girl]

Hi @Gibla - Alan when I owned Sapphire, the last blue 2 I had,  I actually preferred her 5 speed to the 6 speed in my other two.  I don't think it was a TRD however, I did prefer it.

[Pete McCue]

The sweetest gearbox/gearchange I've ever come across was in my 1976 MK2 Ford Escort! 

[Joesson]

The sweetest gearbox/gearchange I've ever come across was in my 1976 MK2 Ford Escort! 

Such is progress!

[Beachbum957]

Certainly if I ever have a 6-speed '2' again I will seek out a TRD 6-speed shifter or maybe the 'C' that is supposedly quite similar

We are using a TRD  5 speed shifter on a 6 speed, and it works fine. We had a SuperKlasse C's / TRD "Hybrid" Short Stroke shifter and prefer the TRD. The SuperKlasse was OK, but the throws were even shorter and a bit higher effort than the TRD, and we sometimes missed shifts. Other people have preferred the SuperKlasse and have no problems.

[Carolyn]

We are using a TRD  5 speed shifter on a 6 speed, and it works fine. We had a SuperKlasse C's / TRD "Hybrid" Short Stroke shifter and prefer the TRD. The SuperKlasse was OK, but the throws were even shorter and a bit higher effort than the TRD, and we sometimes missed shifts. Other people have preferred the SuperKlasse and have no problems.

I was always under the impression the TRD works on both boxes.  I have one on my MR-S LSD box and it's a stellar set-up.

[Beachbum957]

I was always under the impression the TRD works on both boxes.  I have one on my MR-S LSD box and it's a stellar set-up.

The only change needed for the 6 speed is to add 8mm washers between the shift housing on the transmission and the steel bellcrank bracket on each of the bolts that mount the bellcrank bracket.  This adds a tiny bit of extra travel to get reverse properly.  Simple, cheap, and works perfectly.  Works with the stock 5 speed shifter or any short shifter when using a 6 speed.

Found the picture

[Joesson]

There has previously been mention of adjusting the height/ throw of the OE stick, I remember pictures of the process, can only find this reference:

https://www.mr2roc.org/index.php?msg=833044. Post #22 last paragraph.

Maybe the pictures were on Spyderchat.
Part of the process does seem to require replacement of the flexible cage mounts with solid as provided in the past by @widermuller.
This does tie in with the gear box end of the shifter cables as it has long been considered an improvement to replace the OE flexible rubber cable ends with at one time brass bushes, then ball bearings and more recently spherical bearings. All to give the shift movement less flexibility.

[Beachbum957]

We use spherical bearings GEBK8S on the shift cables where they attach to the transmission in place of the rubber bushings.    They were a tight fit in the cable end, so we made a little install tool with a bolt and washers to press them in.  Been working for years.