MGW self install issues

[buggy whip]

I used a 1k watt heating gun after soaking the 10mm with WD40.
Applied some more and it came off without much effort ...

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[geep81]

It will lose some of the notchiness over time I believe. I had one installed earlier this year and at first it was more notchy than my stock shifter. I believe it just needs to wear in and it will get smoother again.

Mine has improved in the 3-4 months I've had it.

 

[HoosierDaddy]

I'm trying to install an MGW in my 2016. I've watched videos on it, and I'm having problems with the 10mm top arm bolt. I've broken 2 10mm ratchet wrenches on it now because it won't budge whatsoever. The videos show a little resistance but nothing crazy. Does anyone have any tips getting it loose? everyone says the painful part is having clearance to actually remove it, but I can't even get the fucking thing loose

Yep. Due to manufacturing variance, there may not be clearance to remove/install that bolt. But the tunnel gets wider the closer to the ground. You should be able to get clearance just by pulling down on the trans. If on jack stands you may not be able to do that because you can't get any more force than your upper body weight. I had to get someone to push down from inside the car whole I pulled from below.

 

[GrabberBargeCaptain]

Glad you got it done. One of the better mods i've done on my car. The notchiness doesn't go away, but you do get used to it. You can try a heavier shift ball from MGW and it will feel a bit smoother but you might miss the more direct feel.

Only thing that annoys me about it is the 5-6 shift, it can be easy to accidentally go into 4th if you aren't making sure you nudge it to the right and down. Not a big deal, since all the other shifts are basically just straight up and down.

 

[Mr.Sweet]

I got this done not long after my last reply. The trick for me was letting the dust boot soak in hot water for a good 20 minutes, made it a lot more pliable and easier to get into the groove on one side, then I slowly worked it around. But because I'm from Australia, the distributor I bought the MGW from did not mention that I needed either an adapter to keep the stock shift knob, or one of MGWs shift knobs, so rather than waiting on one getting shipped here from the US, or using the stock one but with a massive gap on the shifter, I ordered one from Temu for $10 and it surprisingly slotted in okay.

Thank god this is finally done. Lucky I had a second car to drive around while this was out of commission, otherwise I would've given in and just taken it to a shop much earlier.

Thanks for the tips along the way Mr.Sweet

Haven't driven it too much yet since the install but so far, definitely feels a lot notchier than the stock shifter. Throw is a little less but nothing too drastic. Doesn't sit too low either thankfully. Main thing I like is the 2-3 shift needing basically no guidance, makes it a lot faster. I can just bang it into 3rd by pushing up and not have to worry about a money shift

Fantastic! I very glad that you got it done. It looks great in the car.

I didn't know about the water trick, that's great, and now you can help someone else out with that one.

I ordered mine direct from MGW. They do point out that you need an addapter to use the old knob, so I just ordered one of theirs with the shifter. I like the one I got, it has the silver shift pattern on the top, but it does get hot in the summer.

I know a shop would have been easier, although who know what they would charge for the install. I know every time I grab a new gear I appreciate that I was able to do the install. It makes for a better experience for me. I hope that it does for you as well.

It will stay notchie but the stiffness will ease up a bit. Mine is starting to, so I don't have to lean on it as hard going back to 2nd or 1st. 2nd to 3rd and 3rd to 4th still blow me away! I always love the feel of it, even when I'm not shifting hard. As others have said, this is how it was meant to be.

Congrats again for getting the job done for yourself. I'm very happy I was able to help in any way.

Mr. Sweet

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