Just installed smallcar shift kit....

Chicane · #1 04-06-2004, 10:07 PM

Alright, I just finished installing the shift kit... No error codes, so that's good.

Anyway, before I give my opinion, we all need to remember my car has been sitting for 2 days, due to me waiting for rear pads to come in. Anyway, I only drove it down the block then came back, since my FRONT brakes are brand new, and I want to break them in properly... so I don't want to go anywhere or do any conclusive tests until I have those pads installed, brakes bled, and broken in. Anyway, I started the car... like I said, no error codes... so I shift into reverse... CLUNK. WTF was that? It was the normal 'changing gear' sound, only a LOT louder, and you could feel it in the whole car.... so I shift back to park. Try again, reverse, CLUNK. Again, it's the NORMAL noise (my tranny is fine), but it's a LOT louder, and accompanied by quite a bit of a jolt to the whole car.

So I back out of the driveway, then put it in forward. CLUNK. Again, same noise, really loud. Drive.... shift.. well... it definitely feels a LOT harder.... but... I'm not sure I'd like that for daily driving.

Anyway... so far I'm not impressed at all... it takes away a LOT of 'refinement' and 'integrity' from the car.... but maybe it'll be better once I adjust it. I'll post a follow up on Sat or sunday.

- Rob

Chiketkd · #2 04-06-2004, 10:17 PM

I'd be interested in hearing your follow-up over the weekend Rob. The Small Car Shift Kit and Oil Cooler are some of my first planned mods as I'd want to try and extend the life of my 4EAT for as long as possible before doing the 5spd swap.

-Chike

nordique14 · #3 04-06-2004, 11:48 PM

When I installed mine, it did that. Then I figured out I had installed it wrong! Each end of the cut wire goes to the outside prongs of the shift kit. I had mine connected to the two prongs that make the kit look like you could plug it into and electrical outlet. Check to make sure you have it connected to the right prongs.

If it is still shifts too hard, you can adjust the shift speed by adjusting the screw where the vacuum hose gets attached. You will need an allen wrench (I can't remember wat size, but it's a small one).

Matt

James Scott · #4 04-07-2004, 03:16 AM

Sounds like you may have hooked it to the wrong terminals as Matt suggested. If so, it would be like just unhooking the stock resistor (some of us have done this to stiffen shift quality). Check out my locker photo on the smallcar shift kit to see for sure if you connected the right terminals. This is a great mod (my personal favorite) when hooked up correctly, especially if you've been getting slow, indefinite shifts from 2nd to 3rd!

GOOD LUCK!

P.S. The two terminals that have the diode soldered to them are the ones to connect to (as in my locker photo).

Chicane · #5 04-07-2004, 10:25 AM

DOH! Okay, I hooked them up wrong.

No offense, but hte instructions online really freakin' suck.

- Rob

Phast SVX · #6 04-07-2004, 10:37 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Chicane
DOH! Okay, I hooked them up wrong.

No offense, but hte instructions online really freakin' suck.

- Rob

Ya, especially if you dont follow them

jk rob.
phil

subafan · #7 04-07-2004, 10:50 AM

hehe good to know we got someone in madison with that kit installed..... now i know where to turn for help when i get around to installing mine.... =)

nordique14 · #8 04-07-2004, 11:56 AM

The instructions do suck. I even had to add my own resistor as I had one of the "old" models.

If anyone going to Reno in a couple of months wants some help installing one, I'll be happy to help. Just check to make sure your insurnace covers explosions.

Matt

#9 04-07-2004, 03:01 PM

I tightened mine as much as possible, I THINK SHE LIKES IT ROUGH. It shifts so hard you dont feel it, unless your going slow, it'll go from a stop and if i dont get on it, the whole car is like KABLAM SHIFT! Its cool, mine's in right.....When im romping on it, it THROWS AND I MEAN THROWS you into the next gear, i think its rather fun.....

Landshark · #10 04-07-2004, 03:58 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Chicane
No offense, but hte instructions online really freakin' suck.

a picture would be better, but the instructions explain exactly what to do.

Chicane · #11 04-07-2004, 08:07 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Landshark
a picture would be better, but the instructions explain exactly what to do.

I COMPLETELY disagree with you. To quote the instructions: "Plug these connectors into the two outer lugs on the switch provided in the kit. The center terminal is not used."

Outer lugs?!? I was assuming since there are three prongs on the switch, and they were referring to 'THE two outer lugs (wtf is a lug?)', that they meant a group of TWO... meaning the two next to each other.

The instructions are horrid.

- Rob

James Scott · #12 04-07-2004, 08:13 PM

The Instructions Suck, PERIOD!
Look at my locker photo (if you have 20 minutes for it to load!) or someone's diagragm or photo!

#13 04-08-2004, 10:55 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Landshark

a picture would be better, but the instructions explain exactly what to do.

I guess we're the only ones who can envision the end result, it took me about a minute of thinking on the part when it said, "So that the unit is in serial with the wire or something, and I thought, now wtf is it talking about. But then i had a oh, i see, and life went on, and install went smoothly.

svxcess · #14 04-08-2004, 01:59 PM

I installed the Smallcar shift kit yesterday and can confirm that it works extremely well. Normal acceleration is exactly as stock, but in spirited acceleration the shifts are firm and quick (sort of a soft abrupt change) not the slow lingering slide into the next gear.

Installation was fairly straightforward. My only modifications were to the bracket. I lengthened the slot at the base of the bracket about 1/2" and drilled a hole further up the bracket. The slot slides over the bolt that holds the bottom of the resistor to the fender and the hole allows the screw that holds the top of the resistor to pass through. This mod allows the top of the switch to be aligned with the top of the battery instead of protruding up too high. I had to lengthen the wires that I cut by about 6" for them to reach.

It doesn't even look like its an add-on item. The vacuum line runs under the fuse box cover and under the throttle body cover to where it attaches to the manifold vacuum line.

Landshark · #15 04-08-2004, 05:39 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Chicane
I COMPLETELY disagree with you. To quote the instructions: "Plug these connectors into the two outer lugs on the switch provided in the kit. The center terminal is not used."

Outer lugs?!? I was assuming since there are three prongs on the switch, and they were referring to 'THE two outer lugs (wtf is a lug?)', that they meant a group of TWO... meaning the two next to each other.

The instructions are horrid.

- Rob

switch has 3 lugs. the center terminal is not used. plug connectors to the outer two. what is so hard about that? trade in your Mac for a Commodore.

Quote:

Originally posted by tancred
I guess we're the only ones who can envision the end result, it took me about a minute of thinking on the part when it said, "So that the unit is in serial with the wire or something, and I thought, now wtf is it talking about. But then i had a oh, i see, and life went on, and install went smoothly

that's the only part where i had a bit of confusion, but after re-reading the instructions and thinking about what was going on (the switch is series with the resistor, altering the effect of the resistor), it made sense as it was written.