Thoughts on the Blowfish bracket installation and performance

This morning I went over to a friend's house to do the Blowfish Racing MT82 bracket installation. Together we make a good team: I'm burly and am great at breaking loose stubborn nuts and the like, and he fits into spaces that I don't.

It took us about 1.5 hours start to finish, with no lift (had to jack up the car). Installation was very straightforward, with some bolts in some tight locations but the instructions were quite good.

Jacking up the car was a bit touchy. I used a scissor jack from a Toyota Yaris to cradle the pinch weld on the left side jack point (Performance Package = no jack at all. Nice) and bring the car up enough to slide a regular floor jack under the engine crossmember. Jack stands fit underneath the K-member between the bolts; it's buttressed internally here and exhibited no signs of compression under load.



Also, that's JR under the car. Hi, JR!

The 10mm on a long extension and a wobble at the end really helped remove the stock bracket nuts.



There's a distinct lack of clearance, as noted by my mitt.



Also, JR ended up using a 10mm wrench to tighten up the top bolts. He was barely able to turn it using just his fingers; this is a seriously tight place. With a lift it might've been easier to position, but it's going to be tight no matter what.



Shifter snout installed:



Bracket on the back of the transmission:



And here's the GT next to one of my bikes, Scooty Puff Sr.

Thoughts so far:

Installation wasn't that bad, but then again, JR did most of the work in the tight spaces. I could have done installation alone with a lift, but as a two-man team we did well.

There's significantly more vibration through the shifter but this doesn't bother me at all. This is a product of hard-mounting the shifter and is to be expected. This vibration does not propagate to the cabin and there's no increase in noise.

Shifting is substantially more precise and direct. I wouldn't say it's a night-and-day difference, but it's noticeably improved and well worth the money.

Speaking of money, I bought this below retail as a scratch-and-dent unit from mustang-madness on eBay, Steve Puffpaff's storefront. The quality of the unit was excellent with some superficial scratches on the powdercoating. The only flaw was that one of the carriage bolts was obviously used and had some corrosion and completely befuckered threads. Of course I didn't notice this until starting the installation! That said, the bolt was unnecessary: I didn't need the extension piece (generally used on the EB and V6 models) and so the bolt ended up being superfluous.

Ultimately, if you find the stock shifter to be a bit mushy this is likely a good investment for you. Thus far I'm quite pleased with the product.

Great description, I myself did have access to a lift so it took under 20 Mins to do. You hit the description in the head: not night n day, but a definite improvement".

I went a couple of steps further with the Whiteline insert and Boomba short shifter and weighted knob... my next move is MTL, however, even at this stage, I can't imagine not having these mods... the car really feels together and accurate (tho sacrificed a bit of quietness)

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I was hoping to install the Boomba short-throw shifter today but USPS, while they say they delivered the package, lost the parcel. It never made it to me and I'm really bummed about it. Hopefully I'll be able to get it sorted out with Boomba and get a replacement soon.

Interestingly, when we buttoned up the bracketry we used the rubber buffer as the setting point (tightened the bracket to just below the buffer). The shifter itself rides about 1/4"-1/2" higher now, so the Boomba product would be even more appreciated.

The next bit I do to the transmission will be to swap the fluid, but I probably won't get to that for a while yet.

brandonsmash said:

I was hoping to install the Boomba short-throw shifter today but USPS, while they say they delivered the package, lost the parcel. It never made it to me and I'm really bummed about it. Hopefully I'll be able to get it sorted out with Boomba and get a replacement soon.

Interestingly, when we buttoned up the bracketry we used the rubber buffer as the setting point (tightened the bracket to just below the buffer). The shifter itself rides about 1/4"-1/2" higher now, so the Boomba product would be even more appreciated.

The next bit I do to the transmission will be to swap the fluid, but I probably won't get to that for a while yet.

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Wow, talk about a though break with USPS, I was lucky to get mine so soon. Hope you got the tool with it.. it's a must. I didn't experience the higher shifter, but with the crazy stuff I've seen/heard with the Mustang, I guess it's normal, lol. One thing for sure, I love the shifter... also consider a weighted knob, it completes everything!! Looking to try a fluid change before winter gets here, will post about it when I do it. I'm sure Boomba will help sort things out, those guys are on point!

Yeah, I'm really hoping they come through. They insured the package and the local USPS says that they can claim the insurance, so at least there's that.

If the knob is really that great an add-on I might end up buying one of those, too.

Here's the stupid thing with the lost package: I was gone when they first attempted delivery so I requested a re-delivery online and taped the slip to the front door. I left specific instructions to leave the parcel on my porch.

The next day I had to leave town so I had my wife watching for the package. Nothing. After a couple days I called USPS and they said the carrier delivered it and was sure that she put it in the mailbox (NOT the porch). Okay, well, inside the mailbox was some mail (including credit card applications and another parcel) -- everything BUT this package. So unless some S550-driving thief had a line on my mail and stole ONLY that package out of the mailbox, they just didn't deliver it correctly. Plus, of course, they ignored my special instructions so that's just awesome (at least I have a screencap of the delivery request where I stipulated that the package be left on the porch).

*sigh*

"8 out of 10 times it's just theft," says the USPS guy.
Well, I've never had theft here before, not even when I've accidentally left my garage door open with several motorcycles (with keys in them) inside along with many thousands of dollars of tools, nor when I've had firearms delivered to my doorstep. . . but sure, I bet that a thief rifled through my mail just to steal my shifter.

Just installed my blowfish bracket today. Took about an 1.5 hr with no lift. I've found that with my lowered mustang it's easier to just back it onto ramps and then I can get my floor jack under front and put on jack stands.

Ive only driven it once since the install and agree with you. It's better but not mind blowing. It got rid of the notchyness but the looseness in gear is still there. My Boomba shifter and know have been at post office since Monday since I've been out of town. Hope to install tomorrow.

brandonsmash said:

Yeah, I'm really hoping they come through. They insured the package and the local USPS says that they can claim the insurance, so at least there's that.

If the knob is really that great an add-on I might end up buying one of those, too.

Here's the stupid thing with the lost package: I was gone when they first attempted delivery so I requested a re-delivery online and taped the slip to the front door. I left specific instructions to leave the parcel on my porch.

The next day I had to leave town so I had my wife watching for the package. Nothing. After a couple days I called USPS and they said the carrier delivered it and was sure that she put it in the mailbox (NOT the porch). Okay, well, inside the mailbox was some mail (including credit card applications and another parcel) -- everything BUT this package. So unless some S550-driving thief had a line on my mail and stole ONLY that package out of the mailbox, they just didn't deliver it correctly. Plus, of course, they ignored my special instructions so that's just awesome (at least I have a screencap of the delivery request where I stipulated that the package be left on the porch).

*sigh*

"8 out of 10 times it's just theft," says the USPS guy.
Well, I've never had theft here before, not even when I've accidentally left my garage door open with several motorcycles (with keys in them) inside along with many thousands of dollars of tools, nor when I've had firearms delivered to my doorstep. . . but sure, I bet that a thief rifled through my mail just to steal my shifter.

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What a nightmare dude. USPS isn't the most reliable method. I have them ship to my job instead for that reason, it's a bit better there. The knob is a must, you'll love it. I had it for a while before the short throw and really noticed the benefits.

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D3adch1ld said:

I'm sure Boomba will help sort things out, those guys are on point!

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Nope. They're unwilling to send a replacement. I have to file a claim with PayPal now.

Shitty situation.

brandonsmash said:

Nope. They're unwilling to send a replacement. I have to file a claim with PayPal now.

Shitty situation.

Click to expand...

Holy crap, never imagined that would go that way. Please, by all means, keep us updated on the outcome. Sorry to hear brother, honestly.

D3adch1ld said:

Holy crap, never imagined that would go that way. Please, by all means, keep us updated on the outcome. Sorry to hear brother, honestly.

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Yeah, from the reputation Boomba seems to enjoy here I really thought they'd just a good thing and send out a replacement and then deal with USPS. Nope. It especially chafes because I was one of the very first to get in on the group order and then order and pay for the shifter.

I filed a PayPal claim today.

Wow that suck. Guess I'm glad I let mine sit at USPS for a week.

In my hurry to install and return tool before my flight out I forgot to include the nut from the tool in the box. Sent them PM and they want me to send it or they may dock my refund. Ouch.

brandonsmash said:

Yeah, from the reputation Boomba seems to enjoy here I really thought they'd just a good thing and send out a replacement and then deal with USPS. Nope. It especially chafes because I was one of the very first to get in on the group order and then order and pay for the shifter.

I filed a PayPal claim today.

Click to expand...

Best of luck brother!

Thanks, guys. I'm not super-positive about this whole experience.

I've had USPS destroy outbound packages from me before; I can't say I trust them overmuch. I love the fact that they consciously ignored my specific instructions on package handling. "Well, it fit in the mailbox so that's where the carrier put it" (ostensibly). Well, my instructions said specifically to leave it at the porch (which is off the road) -- do you think maybe I left those instructions for a reason?

I'm disappointed that Boomba can't spare a $150 part for goodwill while I'm stuck in USPS/PayPal limbo. I suppose the take-away is to not schedule redelivery from USPS and to pick it up at the post office; problem is, that's tremendously inconvenient as I am at work before they open and don't get home until after they close. Maybe henceforth if anything's going to ship USPS I'll request that it be delivered to my work address only, where I'll be here to sign for it.