New CSP Shifter Installed

[81pumagtc]

Because I have been spending money like a drunken sailor, I bought a new CSP shifter from Germany for the Pig of Plastic.

The one I picked up is angled, and has an actual shift knob rather than one of those silly "T" handles. Of course, it was horrible to install. The two seats had to come out, and then I could remove the center console.

If course. once it was out, it's only two bolts to install the new one. The rub, of course, is that you have to adjust it...which means driving it on the road. Since it has been raining for two days here, I have had a half-assembled Puma in the garage for all of that time.

It stopped raining long enough to get it adjusted last night, and today, I put everything back together.





Here is the old "T" handled shifter. It was not a bad shifter, and it was very easy to adjust.





This is the CSP shifter installed. It is actually a knob, and you use two fingers to actuate the reverse lock. It is a little more than an inch taller, but is so much better, you don't notice it all that much.





Here it is from the back, you can see it a little bit better.





Here it is showing the entire interior. So far, it has been very easy and direct to use. Now the Pig of Plastic drives like a real sports car!

I also re-installed the fire extinguisher in the center console. The original Brazilian one is about 2" shorter, but this was all I could fine. By law, you have to carry a fire extinguisher in all cars in Brazil. Not a bad idea.


Dave Riedle

[MadMike]

Good Job Dave

[dansam]

Looks good and Im sure feels better!

[81pumagtc]

Shifter update:

Now that I have a few miles on the shifter, it's time for an update.

Overall, the shifter is truly wonderful. Shifting is now a joy, and for a car, the shift knob is much quicker to use than a "T" handle. I always suspected this, but could not really quantify it. What I find is that you can shift by just putting your your palm on the shifter, and shifting. With a "T" handle, you think you can do the same thing, but in reality, you sort of grab the handle, then shift. It does, however, feel good to do this...feels manly, very direct. I went out a few weeks ago and was playing around on a road that forced you to shift a lot in the Puma. I went out on Saturday for a couple of hours (since I could not go to Ft. Wayne) again with the new shifter. I was much quicker with the new shifter. Now, instead of being a two-step process, grab the handle, then shift, I could just use my palm to just jab at the shifter and shift.

The shifter is much lighter than it was before, and you can definitely feel the transmission shifting through the nose cone of the shifter. Feels much more mechanical, even "notchey". I am certain I will get used to it, but it is different. It was not as pronounced with the old shifter, probably because of the lightness, and the speed you shift at.

I don't think it would make any difference drag racing, but on a technical course when you turn the steering wheel, and shift at the same time, it is MUCH quicker and more fluid.

Also, I went out in a in a friend's newer Challenger with the old "gun handle" type of Hurst shifter handle, and loved it! You can grab the handle if you want, but the top is flattened and you can use your palm to just snap off shifts without grabbing the handle when things get tight. Very cool!

I found that Jeff's Challenger would be a real handful on a race track, it has over 300 horsepower, but weighs like 3500 pounds. Probably very demanding.

On the street however, where the demands are not nearly as high, it's a BLAST! (Sounds wonderful, too.)

Would be very fun to go get an ice cream cone in. Throw in air conditioning, power windows, seats, steering and brakes, and it's great. I would not like the fact that we spent $65 in gas in two hours...

In realty, I would burn through a set of tires every few weeks, and then the police would take away my driver's license, it's just too much fun, and apparently I am a very week person with absolutely no self control...

Think I will keep the Puma! Spent $10 in gas...and would keep my license.


Dave Riedle

[vw1s]

You could flyways install a 1915 turbo and watch your buddy's face while you hang next to him through the 1/4! Or, better yet, up it to 2276cc's and a bigger turbo and really piss him off!

[MadMike]

Hey Patrick,Doesn't take a 'Turboed' VW to spank a Mopar
most lite weight VW's with a well tuned 2276/2332 can/will

Attachments:

[81pumagtc]

Madmike:

I guess it would be OK for 1/8 mile...but after that, the big Mopar would just vanish into the distance...at least until the gas ran out!

We spent $65 and drove less than 60 miles. Granted, this was very spirited driving, but I just could not own anything that made you check your wallet to check on your available cash before you went out for ice cream. Just not going to happen...

Still, it was mighty fun to drive, and I could get used to power steering, and brakes, and other nice things like power windows and seats.


Dave Riedle

[MadMike]

Depends if the Morpar had slicks if not, It's would be hard to catch a VW, Back when I got to test drive a lot of 'Detroit Iron' at my Dads Transmission shop, so I know what they are capable of,, maybe 13's in the 1/4,, here you on the gas mileage, 3mpg with my old 396 Cheby,

[81pumagtc]

Madmike:

I agree, but any fast car these days are WAY faster than almost any muscle car from back in the day. I always tell folks, if you want to go fast, get a new car.

Jeff's car is an built R/T, but I bet we only got 6mpg playing around. I refuse to have a car that gets that kind of mileage...I am unhappy that the Pig of Plastic needs premium, or it will ping at idle...

The car does sound wonderful, though. If we had a tunnel or something, I would have driven it through that a number of times just just to hear it!


Dave

[gokart]

Nice shifter. I have a Hurst with a ball knob. Love it!