Looking for a knotchy aftermarket shifter

[kenand1988]

I have a 2020 GT 6 speed. I have had a lot of manual cars. One of my favorites was a 96 miata. I'm looking for a really crisp mechanical feeling shifter. I don't have many complaints with the stock one except it occasionally locks me out in high rpm shifts and let's face its a pretty vague feeling shifter. Im looking at the Barton or MGW shifter. In both videos I've seen of it they look nice and smooth but you can't actually tell how they feel. I like a really positive engagement. I also come from motorcycles where you are directly connected to the trans so anyway that's what I like. I know it won't feel like a miata because it's just too mechanically different but which would you choose in my shoes? And are there any other alternatives you would suggest?

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[offroadkarter]

I have a MGW in my car and it is a very chunky, direct mechanical feel (as much as you can get with a remote mount anyways). It took some getting used to compared to the stock shifter you can poke around with two fingers, but I don't have to worry about missing a shift due to deflection in the stock shifter anymore. Every shift is very positive, you know exactly what is going on as you row gears.

I haven't tried a Barton in a Mustang but my brother had one in his 392 scat pack Challenger and it had much of the same feel just with much shorter throws (I got the MGW with the second lowest amount of reduction on purpose).

I personally like the MGW but you'll get what you're after with both shifters I'm sure.

 

[NGOT8R]

Steeda Tri-ax race shifter with the stiff springs is another option that will give you the feel that you’re looking for.

 

[Strokerswild]

Steeda Tri-ax race shifter with the stiff springs is another option that will give you the feel that you’re looking for.

Good to know. I had Steeda shifters in all my SN95s and loved them.

I have no FHE with the MGW shifters, but everyone seems to love them. And their gun products are top-notch, so I would believe that the shifters are as well.

The shifter in my '15 is still stock, the Steeda billet shifter base bracket and BG oil fixed what I didn't like about my MT82.

 

[beefcake]

I have a 2020 GT 6 speed. I have had a lot of manual cars. One of my favorites was a 96 miata. I'm looking for a really crisp mechanical feeling shifter. I don't have many complaints with the stock one except it occasionally locks me out in high rpm shifts and let's face its a pretty vague feeling shifter. Im looking at the Barton or MGW shifter. In both videos I've seen of it they look nice and smooth but you can't actually tell how they feel. I like a really positive engagement. I also come from motorcycles where you are directly connected to the trans so anyway that's what I like. I know it won't feel like a miata because it's just too mechanically different but which would you choose in my shoes? And are there any other alternatives you would suggest?

The MGW's are a really great option to have a more direct shift feel, as much as you can with the remote mount setup that the MT82's are.

One of the most popular upgrades for the MT82 to make it feel more smooth and precise. Plus, with the MGW you have 2 shifter options, 3 handle options and 3 shift knob options since you're able to keep your stock knob or stock thread pitch knob. So you have tons of options to customize it to how you like from the throw reduction to looks!

Hit me up and we can get one on order for you.

Feel Free to DM me or call with any questions.
Terry "Beefcake" Reeves
Office - 855-TBR-RACE
Owner Team Beefcake - 20+ Years Experience
Deal Directly with the boss, no pushy sales guys!!!!!!!
https://www.beefcakeracing.com - Your Forced Induction Specialists
#beefcakeracing #teambeefcake

 

[kenand1988]

The MGW's are a really great option to have a more direct shift feel, as much as you can with the remote mount setup that the MT82's are.

One of the most popular upgrades for the MT82 to make it feel more smooth and precise. Plus, with the MGW you have 2 shifter options, 3 handle options and 3 shift knob options since you're able to keep your stock knob or stock thread pitch knob. So you have tons of options to customize it to how you like from the throw reduction to looks!

Hit me up and we can get one on order for you.

Feel Free to DM me or call with any questions.
Terry "Beefcake" Reeves
Office - 855-TBR-RACE
Owner Team Beefcake - 20+ Years Experience
Deal Directly with the boss, no pushy sales guys!!!!!!!
https://www.beefcakeracing.com - Your Forced Induction Specialists
#beefcakeracing #teambeefcake

Do you know if you have them in stock? I was looking at a couple other stores and it looked like they were on back order

 

[stungjoe]

I have the Barton Hybrid3 and have no complaints...well one but it was my fault and can easily be corrected. The Barton comes with body mount and trans mount hardware. You can pick your poison there. It does have a pull-up collar reverse lock out option or a push down option where the MGW only has a push down reverse lock out. I understand you would get used to whichever mechanism you have. I do believe both have a flat stick option to give yourself a more vintage hot-rod look. These will be push down RLO. Both the MGW and Barton are quality products.

The Steeda is another option but when I researched it Steeda scavenges some parts from the stock shifter. I found this to be a negative should I ever want to swap things back to stock (just extra work really but still).

Now about that complaint of mine with the Barton. The shifter has two sets of springs that place the shifter mechanism back to center. You can use one set or two. I left both sets in and the handle is very stiff. This can be remedied by removing the top mount of the shifter and pulling out one set of springs and from what I hear can be done with the console in place even.

Good luck with whatever you decide and you can expect to pay somewhere in the $200 range for installation.

 

[AMC401V8]

The MGW is incredibly tight. The design is such that it wants to center itself at all times, meaning that a shift from first to second requires energy to be applied to the left or you'll find fourth instead of second. The shifter is sprung in such a way that it's always seeking center. It takes some getting used to but the feel is that of precision, no question. This shifter isn't for lightweights but I'm happy and would do it again.

 

[beefcake]

Do you know if you have them in stock? I was looking at a couple other stores and it looked like they were on back order

They're not necessarily on back order because they're built to order. Since there are so many customization options MGW builds each to order.

 

[2morrow]

I was in the same boat as you OP. I went with a Barton V2 because another one of my racer friends went to a different trans and he essentially gave it to me.

I really like the crisp engagement and I haven't missed a shift (yet). I also like retaining the reverse lockout. I mounted mine to the body so there is a little more NVH but my car is mostly track use anyways so who cares.

I've read really positive reviews about the MGW as well. It is a quality piece. My friend has a Steeda in his and that was nice too but not nearly as "Mechanical" feeling as the Barton.

 

[kenand1988]

I'm also wondering what trans fluid do you guys go with? I am pushing a lot more than stock and I want to go with the best of the best.

 

[2morrow]

I use Red Line front to back. Made a huge difference with my gearbox.

 

[kenand1988]

I use Red Line front to back. Made a huge difference with my gearbox.

Do you know the specific name of the exact redline product?

 

[2morrow]

Do you know the specific name of the exact redline product?

For sure bud, here's a quick run down.

For gearbox I use MTL 75w80 GL-4
https://www.redlineoil.com/mtl-75w80-gl-4-gear-oil

Motor: 5w-50
https://www.redlineoil.com/5w50-motor-oil

Torsen Diff: 75w-85 (already has friction modifier in it)
https://www.redlineoil.com/75w85-gl-5-gear-oil

Brakes: RL600
https://www.redlineoil.com/rl-600

Radiator: Water Wetter
https://www.redlineoil.com/waterwetter

Many people like BG Synchro Shift II for their trans which is a solid product as well as Amsoil products for motor and brake fluid. I'm particular to Red Line as I've been using it for years and I
know a lot of the Red Line folks (great people) and got schooled by their lead chemists.

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