I just purchased the TWM Cobalt short shifter! I also bought the bushing kit, cable clamp and a new boot for the whole thing. I hope it is money well spent.

I read quite a few reviews before making this purchase. My package should arrive on the 20th, and I plan on doing the install Friday night/ Saturday. I'll have to snap some pics during the install and then make a big ole' thread on it.

This will be the first real upgrade I've done to my Cobalt since I picked it up. I'm excited to start turning some wrenches on this thing!

 

The first mod I ever did on my L61 and never regretted it. You won't either!

 

Can't wait to order tonight after work, I hate the stock shifter so much, hopefully that'll fix the issue!

 

I equate the stock shifter feel to that of driving a truck. Just too much effort to get it in gear. Be careful with the plastic pin when you uninstall the old and reinstall the new. You will see what I'm talking about in the directions and the part itself.

 

Just ordered mine, can't wait to install it and see what the hype is all about!

 

I'll keep this in mind when I'm looking at all of the instructions BEFORE I decide to tear into my shifter console. I hope its a "fairly" easy install and I don't run into any weird stuff like paper clips and zip-ties inside of the shift boot lol. Lord only knows what the previous owner may have attempted to do.

My Cobalt is in good shape though, and not much is damaged or missing. One of the rear truck light covers, the black plastic things the hide all of the wiring on the inside, are missing, but I can get over that and probably pick up a new one for real cheap.

I'm already saving up cash to upgrade my clutch to something thats 300hp+, and eventually saving for a forced induction set-up. Cobaltss members seem to be 50/50 on a SC or TC, while I'm on the fence just trying to figure out which path to take.

 

^one thing at a time there. TWM shifter is nice. Install is easy. Don't remove the console, thats a waste of time. You can easily remove the shifter assembly after removing the top trim pieces on the console. Took me about 45min while in no particular rush. Took longer to get the engraved shift pattern on the knob to line up properly lol

 

The console takes literally 10 seconds to take off.

The shifter is well worth the money. I would have saved a few bucks and went with the bps but either way.

 

You will need to modify the shifter assembly by cutting a notch out of the plastic so the shifter and cable linkages don't bind or smack off of it. A small hacksaw blade did the trick for me. The TWM shifter is straight while the stock has a bend in it. That's also in the destructions. My buddy busted the plastic teeth off the pin mentioned but I was able to source an aluminum one and shoved a bolt in the hollow end and rocked that for a week or two until I found a permanent solution. PM if you have any questions or if you do break that dreaded piece.

 

Could you supply us with a picture of that dreaded plastic part?

 

I'm at work right now but will get some pictures of the aluminum one location and the cut assembly after. I don't have the plastic one anymore for obvious reasons but the part will look similar in size and shape.

 

Is that the part you're talking about?

 

It is the pin on the main shifter assembly. Yours will most likely be gray in color and the end is hollow with four teeth to keep it in place. I recommend a long thin screwdriver or a long thin drill bit that will fit inside it and with a few light taps of the hammer to get it out. It will usually pop back in by hand or a light tap of the hammer will put it back in place. GM doesn't supply these individually and they'll tell you to buy 350 dollars (whole new assembly) worth of plastic to get a new one. I found a better solution from a competitor in the aftermarket for way cheaper. Sorry for photo size lol. But those cable clips are delicate and a pain to close sometimes also.

 

Got my shifter and cable clamp all installed! It was fairly simple with all of the instructions TWM includes. The hardest part was messing with the shift boot they sent me. My plastic retainer broke and the boot was made very poorly. I was able to get everything attached with a hot glue gun.

I'm only sad that the seams on the boot are not symmetrical. No biggie, that's just cosmetic junk.

As for the shifter, its amazing! So smooth and hardly any travel! I will have to get used to where neutral is again lol. Yes, trying to get the engraving to align was a pain, but I managed. Tomorrow I'll post pics of my accomplishment. Plus try to sell the stock parts and the extra set of aluminum base bushing I bought.

 

If the engraving doesn't line up and its bothersome, you could always wrap some Teflon tape around the threads of the shifter and then screw the knob back on until its tight and straight. My knob bangs into whatever is in the cup holder. I think it's partially the giant Desert Eagle size that's causing it. But passengers use the holder more than me so no big deal lol. I'm still rocking the stock boot, been meaning to get a new one but I need tires right now. Pics?

 

the few people that are looking to buy soon save some money and go with BPS

 

I don't see why, TWM is offering a nice shift knob and the base bushings for free. Also there's the 10% discount going on at the same time. It's the best time to order!

 

have you seen the prices/offerings at bps? even with 10% discount BPS are still cheaper, they also give you free base bushings.

you pay almost an extra 100$ for the twm over BPS.

You can order any shift knob you want, WITH the short shifter, and still pay less at BPS. No brainer to me.

Do the research.

 

Chevrolet Cobalt SS/SC Short Throw Shifter

Cobalt SS/SC Short Shifter - Billet Pro Shop

 

I've been wanting to get a TWM for the longest time already, I was just waiting for a sale (and it finally happened), I let myself know I would accept no substitute (Hurst, BPS, ARK). I don't mind investing more money and getting a top of the line product, regardless of how good BPS is.

 

you saying "top of the line product" what are you basing saying that off of?

 

Also for the record im neutral and have no bad feelings towards TWM or anyone else mentioned in this thread.

 

The stock shifter in the Cobalt is so awful that I've been wanting to change it since day one. So of course, I've been doing a lot of research. I've read countless threads on several different Cobalt forums about what kind short shifter was available. And from what I've read TWM really seemed to shine and came out as a good quality product. Now I'm not saying BPS is a bad product as I know that's a quality company too. I'm just saying that I set my mind on the TWM regardless that it was more expensive. Maybe I won't like the product either, hopefully not though!

 

fair enough. Theyve deffinitely been around the longest. My fiance has a twm in her scion tC and loves it, I have the BPS in my cobalt and love it. Weve both driven each others cars and both like them equally.

good luck with purchase!

 

Finally have a chance to upload all of my pictures of the install!

Here is my antenna install.



The new MPx short antenna!



Getting read for the install...















Fabbing the shifter base.





All the new parts installed into the base.



Everything installed into the shift column. To include the new TWM cable clamp.





Finished hot gluing the shift boot onto the plastic boot retainer. THIS step took the most effort. Now for the finished product.