UUC Short Shift Kit is STRAIGHT :)

[x.shell]

Hey guys, I'm just throwing out hypothesis's now...

To me, the newer version of the UUC SSK is straight and centered in the boot. But maybe some people still think it's right biased because they assume that the center line is goes along the 3rd/4th gear gate; when in actuality, the center line rides in between 1st/2nd and 3rd/4th.

I photoshopped an image of my shifter to illustrate this hypothesis. If the shaft was literally centered in the boot, it would cause the shaft to hit the top-left corner when putting it in reverse.

[jeff@autocouture]

Glad you like it, and thanks for taking the time to show where it sits

[sh55]

Ok, so here are some photos of mine from above.

The order is as follows:

Neutral
1st gear
2nd gear
3rd gear
4th gear
5th gear
6th gear

You can see in Neutral that your pictures have more space to the right of the shift lever making it more centered.

[rubber_ducky]

^^^from the angle that those pics were taken from, you appear to have a first gen UUC lever

[sh55]

Originally Posted by rubber_ducky

^^^from the angle that those pics were taken from, you appear to have a first gen UUC lever

Well it's supposedly the 2nd gen lever, UUC sent me the replacement

[jeff@autocouture]

Originally Posted by sh55

Well it's supposedly the 2nd gen lever, UUC sent me the replacement

just curious, do you have the stock shifter? can you put it on for comparison pics, also, where do you have the height set at, the lower or higher position

[RocketBoots]

Originally Posted by sh55

Well it's supposedly the 2nd gen lever, UUC sent me the replacement

They just sent you the same 1st get one j/k, J/K! Sorry, I know it's not funny.

Do you have the stock shift knob/boot? If so, it might be helpful to put it on, for a more apples/apples comparison. Also, from the angle of the pics, it looks like exo took it from above the center armrest, while yours looks like you took it leaning from the driver's seat a little?? From your pics, though, it's definitely NOT the same as OEM neutral.

How does it FEEL? I mean, in terms of where the gears are. Previously, others have said 3rd felt like where 5th used to be.

[RocketBoots]

Originally Posted by Alex@AUTOcouture

Glad you like it, and thanks for taking the time to show where it sits

Did you guys install it from the bottom? And did you have to loosen or lower part of the drive shaft, or the exhaust?? Would be nice if you let us know, since you obviously did it right

[jeff@autocouture]

Originally Posted by RocketBoots

Did you guys install it from the bottom? And did you have to loosen or lower part of the drive shaft, or the exhaust?? Would be nice if you let us know, since you obviously did it right

Yes yes and yes

That is the only proper way to install it

It's a good 2.5-3 hours for the install

[V3rbatim]

Originally Posted by Alex@AUTOcouture

Yes yes and yes

That is the only proper way to install it

It's a good 2.5-3 hours for the install

Damn that is a lot of work for a ss kit for this platform.

[jeff@autocouture]

Originally Posted by V3rbatim

Damn that is a lot of work for a ss kit for this platform.

It wasn't much different for the E9x M3 either

very much worth it though as a drivers stand point

[V3rbatim]

I was talking more like the evo x. Installing a ss kit in that was super easy. Can be installed while sitting in the cabin.

[jeff@autocouture]

Originally Posted by V3rbatim

I was talking more like the evo x. Installing a ss kit in that was super easy. Can be installed while sitting in the cabin.

Got it, i haven't done one on those so i don't know personally,
I do know there is very limited space to do it

[mshab356]

Originally Posted by Alex@AUTOcouture

It wasn't much different for the E9x M3 either

very much worth it though as a drivers stand point

My mk4 Golf R32 was a 15 minute SS kit install. So easy. Wish it were the case for our platform

[mrrm3]

Could you measure the distance between 6th gear and the plastic surround with the boot pulled up/away ? I have a tad more than 1/2 " (which is much less w/ the boot in place).

I am still trying to figure out if I have v.1 or v.2.

Many thanks,
Matthew

[x.shell]

Originally Posted by mrrm3

Could you measure the distance between 6th gear and the plastic surround with the boot pulled up/away ? I have a tad more than 1/2 " (which is much less w/ the boot in place).

I am still trying to figure out if I have v.1 or v.2.

Many thanks,
Matthew

Hi Matthew,

Wow, taking these pics was harder than it looks! Anyhow, here is my try. I didn't have a ruler handy in the car, so I used a pen to mark my best estimation on a piece of paper (butted against the shaft). I then took the paper and measured it with a ruler.

It was a pretty cramped space and the wires kept getting in my way. So I'm not sure which of the 2 marks is actually the edge of the SSK. But as you can see, I have about an 1" or less.

Hope this helps.

BTW, our measurements are totally not scientific in any way. Variables like angle of photography etc can skew the results. Looking at your picture and looking at mine, it doesn't seem too different.

[mrrm3]

Thank you, sir.

[RocketBoots]

This guy installed a UUC SSK on an F30. Had the help of a friend and a lift. Looks like an earlier 1.0 version, where the shifter not only sits too far right, but the knob is turned a little.

He also did a review, and reported it had a nice bolt-action, 'click-click' feel and was much more solid. But, interestingly, he stated that shifting was actually slower, even with the shorter throws, presumably due to the deliberate pause in neutral with each 'click'.

For you guys that installed the UUC, would you say this mirrors your experiences?

Also, they estimated about 90mins for a decent tech to install; this was with using a lift, pulling down the tranny for access, removing the carrier.

[x.shell]

Originally Posted by RocketBoots

This guy installed a UUC SSK on an F30. Had the help of a friend and a lift. Looks like an earlier 1.0 version, where the shifter not only sits too far right, but the knob is turned a little.

He also did a review, and reported it had a nice bolt-action, 'click-click' feel and was much more solid. But, interestingly, he stated that shifting was actually slower, even with the shorter throws, presumably due to the deliberate pause in neutral with each 'click'.

For you guys that installed the UUC, would you say this mirrors your experiences?

Also, they estimated about 90mins for a decent tech to install; this was with using a lift, pulling down the tranny for access, removing the carrier.

Thanks for the post!

The shifter definitely does have click/mechanical feel. I know that "bolt action" has been thrown around to describe the sensation, but based on my experience with shooting (which is not much but some experience) that description might be a little generous. I don't want to get people's hope up that shifting is going to feel like handling a sniper rifle. It's not that awesome. BUT it might get you half way there (using OEM as the starting point).

As far as being slower to shift. The notion makes sense because the gates are a lot more pronounced. But after driving in it for a while, you'll get used to it and it will again feel like second nature. Not that you'll be setting faster lap times, but didn't we all get 6MT for the feel? With that reasoning, the SSK definitely makes the feeling, as James May would say, "fizz".

[Jeff@TopGearSolutions]

Originally Posted by V3rbatim

I was talking more like the evo x. Installing a ss kit in that was super easy. Can be installed while sitting in the cabin.

Originally Posted by mshab356

My mk4 Golf R32 was a 15 minute SS kit install. So easy. Wish it were the case for our platform

Both of those use linkage to connect to a forward transmission which is why they can be installed in cabin.

Originally Posted by RocketBoots

This guy installed a UUC SSK on an F30. Had the help of a friend and a lift. Looks like an earlier 1.0 version, where the shifter not only sits too far right, but the knob is turned a little.

He also did a review, and reported it had a nice bolt-action, 'click-click' feel and was much more solid. But, interestingly, he stated that shifting was actually slower, even with the shorter throws, presumably due to the deliberate pause in neutral with each 'click'.

For you guys that installed the UUC, would you say this mirrors your experiences?

Also, they estimated about 90mins for a decent tech to install; this was with using a lift, pulling down the tranny for access, removing the carrier.

I'd expect to pay 2-3 hrs at a shop. 90 minutes is moving very fast and I don't think most shops will appreciate getting paid 1.5 hour on a potential 3 hour install. That install time is with a lift and experience in the area too. On your back in the driveway and such will take longer.

[Stage1]

Originally Posted by sh55

Well it's supposedly the 2nd gen lever, UUC sent me the replacement

Those pics look like the 1st gen still. I haven't installed the "2nd gen" so I cant say if it is better. I thought you were happy with your 2nd gen after ACM installed it?

[sh55]

Originally Posted by Stage1

Those pics look like the 1st gen still. I haven't installed the "2nd gen" so I cant say if it is better. I thought you were happy with your 2nd gen after ACM installed it?

I'm happy with the feel and all, just a little confused as to why they apparently sent me the same 1st gen shifter again, and I have now made 3 trips to ACM and paid for labor twice for the same damn thing...