03-04-2011, 09:33 AM | #1 |
Drives: '11-1LT-Barton STS-MRT 2.0 Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Northeast Ohio
Posts: 19
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Barton Short Throw Install
Last week I installed a Barton short throw shifter in my ‘11 1LT. It has totally transformed my car.
I installed it with the front end up on ramps. It would have been a lot easier on a lift but I had to work with what I had. It was easy to get the console off. I used a paint scraper with a thin cloth on the blade to get it started. The plastic is soft so as long as you take it easy, you don’t have to worry about cracking it. Be careful taking off the factory knob- it’s pressed on and it comes off all at once. Don’t give yourself a black eye. To get at the centering springs, I stretched the rubber dust boot. When under the car, the shifter assembly looks easy to get at. Since my car is a V6, I didn’t have to drop the cross member. The dust boot came right off which exposes the linkage. Be careful taking off the clips that are on the pin connecting the linkage to the shifter. They too come off quick and it would be easy to lose one in the space between the heat shield and the floorpan. I was lucky, one of mine that popped off landed on my chest. (One thing I wish I had was a extra long socket extension with a swivel to get around the exhaust and the driveshaft. It turned out that my long extension was too short and my short one was too long. So I had to get my arm up there and go at it an 8th of a turn at a time.) With the linkage off to the side I got the two bolts holding the shifter out using a small ratchet handle with a deep well socket. They came out easy. The factory shifter dropped right out, literally. When I went to put the new one in it was hanging up at the last O ring. Since I couldn’t use both hands to push it up into the housing it wasn’t going in straight. And that was the problem. Plus I suspect that the factory housings vary slightly in diameter. So after fighting with it for awhile I called Dave Moses (he puts his number on the directions in case you encounter a snag while installing the shifter.) He picked right up and told me that it happens once in a while and to get a couple of longer bolts and just draw it up into the housing evenly. That worked perfectly, an 8th of a turn at a time. A word of caution, because the factory shifter housing is an aluminum casting, be sure you don’t cross thread the bolts or try to muscle them into the threaded hole. Get more than a few threads to grab before you start tightening things up or you might strip it. The dust boot underneath was a bit of a pain to get back on. Just have patience, which is tough at this point because the job is close to being complete. Back inside, just retrace your steps. I left the centering springs off. The shifter is outstanding. My 38 mile commute consists of country roads, freeways and downtown Cleveland stop-and-go. The 2-3 and 4-5 shifts are now a certainty. It’s amazing how much the factory shifter damps out the mechanical feel of the transmission. (It’s very heavy compared to the Barton, and the fulcrum point is lower. But I understand why the factory shifter is the way it is- it has to appeal to a wide range of drivers. A short throw would be extreme with it’s increased effort and sound when you shift. I haven’t had any of the noise that short throws are noted for. All in all, I’m very happy with my Barton shifter. It’s very high quality and beautifully made, it looks good in the car and Dave’s customer service is second-to-none. The phone numbers on the instruction sheet actually lead to Dave himself, and he picks up. I would recommend the Barton short throw to anyone. |
03-10-2011, 01:03 PM | #2 |
It's that guy
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NICE review
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We mortals are but shadows and dust.
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03-10-2011, 09:41 PM | #3 |
Drives: 2016 2SS, Yellowjacket, A8 Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Pembroke Pines, FL
Posts: 133
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Is the installation a 6 pack or a 12 pack job?
GeorgeM |
03-10-2011, 09:57 PM | #4 |
Drives: 2010 Camaro SS/RS 6spd Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Jefferson, Ga
Posts: 4,399
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Good ?!!!!! I don't have the barton but wonder how many it would take for the install!!! LOL!!!
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03-14-2011, 10:09 AM | #5 |
Drives: 2010 ABM 2SS/RS M6, 98Z28 M6 Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Granbury, Tx
Posts: 1,532
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So now that you have driven it a week or so what do you think?
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Always Remember! Rest in Peace Brothers
9/11/2001. And thanks to all those who defend and serve! Ordered 5/23/2009 3400 with TPW of 08/03/09 3800 8/11/2009 Arrived 8/21/2009 2SS/RS/Aqua Blue/Grey Interior |
03-15-2011, 08:40 PM | #6 |
Drives: '10 1LT/RS Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Canada
Posts: 610
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Can you explain the centering springs a bit more (location, purpose, anything else that might help) and maybe do you have a picture? I am waiting for my Barton flat stick shifter to show up any day now. Thanks for the info and tips!
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03-15-2011, 09:26 PM | #7 |
Drives: Really Slow Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: PA
Posts: 56,955
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They are basically springs that prevent the shaft from having too much "play". In other words, doesn't wiggle back and forth too much.
You will need a pretty large hex drive to take the bolts out that are holding them in place. One is located just to the north of the shaft, and the other is just south of the shaft.
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