OTTP Short Throw Shifter Review
12-16-2013, 08:18 AM
#1
OTTP Short Throw Shifter Review
Right of the bat this piece is a thing of beauty. The maching on the pieces are flawless, the welds are clean, and the mechanisms operate smoothly with very little effort. Josh packaged the shifter well and it comes fully assmebled. Out of the box pics.
This unit is my second aftermarket short throw, my former being the BPS with the stock knob. I decided to give the OTTP a whirl to do a write up on it and see what else is out there.
The first thing you will notice about the OTTP is that the pivot arm below the ball is longer than other short throw shifters. The second is that the tang for the reverse lockout is shorter. The arm is longer to reduce the shift throw and the tang is shorter to more easily engange reverse. Both of these functions work and work well.
Install of this shifter is cake as everything comes apart by hand. Undo the knob by unscrewing it, unscrew the adjustment knub beneath, and undo the thumb screw in the side of the shifter. The main shaft will now slide right out of the tang. Install the pivot ball bushing from your car, slide on the lock down bracket, and cover the shaft in grease. Grease is important as the machining is precise. If you do not have enough grease on the shaft the reverse lock out will drag and be difficult. (I can pull up my revrse lock out with on finger). Install the tang, spring, adjustment knub, and ball. Bolt it in.
Once it is in reassemble your cernter console leaving the cup holders out. adjust the center cable so that all of the gear engage smoothly. This may take a few tries. Once they all smooth and reverse work, pop in your cup holder and enjoy your new shifter feel.
Issues:
None
Positives:
Shorter throws
Is exaclty what is says
Exceptional crasftsmanship
Perfect fitment
Facts:
You have to use the OTTP shift knobs
This may require more than one time adjustments to get working right
No permanent modifications need to be made to install this.
Comes with a knob
Does not come with base bushings
Install time: <30minutes for an experienced installer and <60 minutes for some one reading the How-To and tackling this alone.
Skill level: If you can change your oil, you can install this.
*IMPORTANT NOTES*
1.) The shaft is drilled and threaded all the way through for the tang set screw. Make sure that reverse lock out tab is facing the passenger side of the car before you assemble! It will go together the wrong way and you will have to take it apart again.
2.) You will notice that 5th gear is something you will need to adapt to. If you push it all the way to the right (against the blocker in the bracket) and then up to 5th it will not go. 5th becomes a smooth transition similiar to 2nd to 3rd instead of a push over and slam up deal.
OTTP Short Throw Shifter with Machined Spherical Shift Knob
Rating: 5 out of 5 for being exactly what it should be and not having any issues out of the box.
Would I buy this again? Yes.
Would I recommend this? Yes.
This unit is my second aftermarket short throw, my former being the BPS with the stock knob. I decided to give the OTTP a whirl to do a write up on it and see what else is out there.
The first thing you will notice about the OTTP is that the pivot arm below the ball is longer than other short throw shifters. The second is that the tang for the reverse lockout is shorter. The arm is longer to reduce the shift throw and the tang is shorter to more easily engange reverse. Both of these functions work and work well.
Install of this shifter is cake as everything comes apart by hand. Undo the knob by unscrewing it, unscrew the adjustment knub beneath, and undo the thumb screw in the side of the shifter. The main shaft will now slide right out of the tang. Install the pivot ball bushing from your car, slide on the lock down bracket, and cover the shaft in grease. Grease is important as the machining is precise. If you do not have enough grease on the shaft the reverse lock out will drag and be difficult. (I can pull up my revrse lock out with on finger). Install the tang, spring, adjustment knub, and ball. Bolt it in.
Once it is in reassemble your cernter console leaving the cup holders out. adjust the center cable so that all of the gear engage smoothly. This may take a few tries. Once they all smooth and reverse work, pop in your cup holder and enjoy your new shifter feel.
Issues:
None
Positives:
Shorter throws
Is exaclty what is says
Exceptional crasftsmanship
Perfect fitment
Facts:
You have to use the OTTP shift knobs
This may require more than one time adjustments to get working right
No permanent modifications need to be made to install this.
Comes with a knob
Does not come with base bushings
Install time: <30minutes for an experienced installer and <60 minutes for some one reading the How-To and tackling this alone.
Skill level: If you can change your oil, you can install this.
*IMPORTANT NOTES*
1.) The shaft is drilled and threaded all the way through for the tang set screw. Make sure that reverse lock out tab is facing the passenger side of the car before you assemble! It will go together the wrong way and you will have to take it apart again.
2.) You will notice that 5th gear is something you will need to adapt to. If you push it all the way to the right (against the blocker in the bracket) and then up to 5th it will not go. 5th becomes a smooth transition similiar to 2nd to 3rd instead of a push over and slam up deal.
OTTP Short Throw Shifter with Machined Spherical Shift Knob
Rating: 5 out of 5 for being exactly what it should be and not having any issues out of the box.
Would I buy this again? Yes.
Would I recommend this? Yes.
Last edited by blueLNFftw; 12-19-2013 at 09:24 AM.
12-19-2013, 10:22 AM
#5
Most people don't realize that the short throw part of a short throw shifter is created by the length of the unit BELOW the pivot ball, not above. Good pick up.
Part of the reason that I hated the TWM so much was that the ball at the bottom was machines (at least on mine) too small and the aluminum cable clamp came off twice. In addition the channel for the c clip was too big, which also made the clip less effective. The ball on the BPS was properly sized for the clamp they sell. Which clamp did you use with the OTTP shifter and how well does it match?
The other reason that I hated the TWM was that the reverse tang was misplaced, creating the necessity to adjust the shifter too far to the right. BPS got that right. How did OTTP do?
Part of the reason that I hated the TWM so much was that the ball at the bottom was machines (at least on mine) too small and the aluminum cable clamp came off twice. In addition the channel for the c clip was too big, which also made the clip less effective. The ball on the BPS was properly sized for the clamp they sell. Which clamp did you use with the OTTP shifter and how well does it match?
The other reason that I hated the TWM was that the reverse tang was misplaced, creating the necessity to adjust the shifter too far to the right. BPS got that right. How did OTTP do?
12-19-2013, 10:27 AM
#6
I used and still use the OEM cable clamps. The OTTP pivot ball for the cable clamp is the same size as stock for a nice tight fit that did not require ridiculous force to get in. It is not coming off by itself.
The tang for the reverse lock out on the OTTP has a taper to it so it guides in and out nicely and does not make a "thunk". Adjustment for it is on par with what it should be. The only thing is 5th. On the OEM shifter you could push the shifter all the way to the right and then up into fifth. With the OTTP it will not go if you do that. The transition from 4th to 5th is close and smooth just like 2nd to 3rd.
The tang for the reverse lock out on the OTTP has a taper to it so it guides in and out nicely and does not make a "thunk". Adjustment for it is on par with what it should be. The only thing is 5th. On the OEM shifter you could push the shifter all the way to the right and then up into fifth. With the OTTP it will not go if you do that. The transition from 4th to 5th is close and smooth just like 2nd to 3rd.
12-19-2013, 11:40 AM
#9
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Nice review. I recently installed a BPS STS w/ a 300 Series knob in my 05 IRL. No complaints really, minus the occasional problem going into fifth, doesn't happen very often though. Money well spent IMO. Just curious why you decided to switch from the BPS?
12-19-2013, 11:51 AM
#10
On the BPS you need to adjust your cables a bit it sounds like. Adjust the middle cable to go a notch or two closer to the front of the car.
12-26-2013, 12:15 PM
#18
One week check in.
I am finally used to the weighted knob and I like it. It is not too heavy, like I have seen, that it pulls that shifter. I am going to weigh it up and post that info in this thread as well. All and all this is a great product and I would definitely recommend it to anyone in the market.
I am finally used to the weighted knob and I like it. It is not too heavy, like I have seen, that it pulls that shifter. I am going to weigh it up and post that info in this thread as well. All and all this is a great product and I would definitely recommend it to anyone in the market.
