Gear shift shortener

[NormT]

Here is my modified stock shifter linkage on a Verano Turbo 6-speed. It should be very similar to the GS.

http://buickforums.com/forums/showthread.php?p=165449#post165449

 

[WHITEGS13]

I found the short shifter for the 2013 and newer models on the site. The part # is 170025 It looks totally different than the 2012 and older set ups. The 2013+ is just a piece of steel with a bend in it. It's cheaper too, only 121.00 Euros plus 49.50 Euros for shipping. $223.20 US dollars shipped to the USA I might pull the trigger and buy it.

 

[trevgtp]

ok so i installed the shortener and it was a pain in the butt to take out the battery and then the shifter itself was stuck on there tightly. went together super fast and before i put the batter in, i went through the gears and it was sensational! I put the battery back in and buttoned everything up, but reverse and 2nd were being hung up. turns out that the bottom of the battery box is interfering with the shifter now. i have to see if i can put washers under it or something to raise it up. i emailed the company because maybe i didnt put it in all the way, even though it was flush and tight..maybe they have had this problem. dunno-either way i will work on it tomorrow and report back.

if this works with the battery box needing to be lifted, i would say it's so worth it because it makes it feel great.

 

[viOlaziOne]

ok so i installed the shortener and it was a pain in the butt to take out the battery and then the shifter itself was stuck on there tightly. went together super fast and before i put the batter in, i went through the gears and it was sensational! I put the battery back in and buttoned everything up, but reverse and 2nd were being hung up. turns out that the bottom of the battery box is interfering with the shifter now. i have to see if i can put washers under it or something to raise it up. i emailed the company because maybe i didnt put it in all the way, even though it was flush and tight..maybe they have had this problem. dunno-either way i will work on it tomorrow and report back.

if this works with the battery box needing to be lifted, i would say it's so worth it because it makes it feel great.

Thanks for the feedback, keep us updated as soon as something comes up as I'm VERY interested in this mod .. Just to verify, did you get part number 170025 ?

 

[trevgtp]

170050..I have a 2012gs

 

[WHITEGS13]

ok so i installed the shortener and it was a pain in the butt to take out the battery and then the shifter itself was stuck on there tightly. went together super fast and before i put the batter in, i went through the gears and it was sensational! I put the battery back in and buttoned everything up, but reverse and 2nd were being hung up. turns out that the bottom of the battery box is interfering with the shifter now. i have to see if i can put washers under it or something to raise it up. i emailed the company because maybe i didnt put it in all the way, even though it was flush and tight..maybe they have had this problem. dunno-either way i will work on it tomorrow and report back.

if this works with the battery box needing to be lifted, i would say it's so worth it because it makes it feel great.

I'm wondering if that's why the design has changed on the 2013 and newer models. Maybe they realized the interference between the bottom of the battery and the shifter?

 

[trevgtp]

ok-so i put in 3 washers under the battery box screws and it is perfect! oh man this shifter is short and precise and fast! a must have for all you wanting a better shifter! well worth it IMHO, but be warned that you need the washers. anyone need advice on install or anything PM me..getting the damn battery out was the hardest part

 

[viOlaziOne]

I gave a quick glance under my hood and my part looks a lot like the red piece on the website for the pre 2013 but my car IS a 2013 .. Definitely want this part just now I'm a little confused as to which one .. Did you use standard washers to gap the box and cables ?

 

[trevgtp]

Three washers, about 3/16" all around, so 9 washers total and you cannot tell at all

 

[ImminentFailure]

Thank you for pulling the trigger as a guinea pig, and reporting back to the forum!

 

[viOlaziOne]

so I went out, removed the computer next to the battery and took two pictures to get a better idea of which part I'm ordering .. looks like the 2013 idea is gone and that their website isn't correct (thank God I looked) .. I think I need the red one (170040) .. now, the site says with start-stop and without .. does this pertain to the GS ? also, the install instructions says that you need to drill out the top of the OEM part, is that what you did to install yours ?? thanks

http://i44.tinypic.com/ulmv9.jpg

http://i44.tinypic.com/2s7w48l.jpg

 

[ImminentFailure]

Did you double check the window sticker? No joke I thought i leased a 2012 in late 2011 but nope it was a German built 2011 lol. You for sure have the '2012' style that was installed by trevgtp.

Perhaps they had a bunch of left over old style shifters in the plant. Yes it's the same gear box, but there's no mixed production anymore to my knowledge, it's all in North America for our Regals.

Perhaps the 2013 Opel cars overseas, and the North American Verano (which added the 6 speed manual option to it's 2013 line up with the 2.0L over the 2.4) got the update shift lever, and the 2013 North America Regals/GS kept the old one??

Any other 13 GS owners, and 13 turbo 2.0 able to snap a picture?

The start-stop pertains to eAssist models.

 

[WHITEGS13]

Did you double check the window sticker? No joke I thought i leased a 2012 in late 2011 but nope it was a German built 2011 lol. You for sure have the '2012' style that was installed by trevgtp.

Perhaps they had a bunch of left over old style shifters in the plant. Yes it's the same gear box, but there's no mixed production anymore to my knowledge, it's all in North America for our Regals.

Perhaps the 2013 Opel cars overseas, and the North American Verano (which added the 6 speed manual option to it's 2013 line up with the 2.0L over the 2.4) got the update shift lever, and the 2013 North America Regals/GS kept the old one??

Any other 13 GS owners, and 13 turbo 2.0 able to snap a picture?

The start-stop pertains to eAssist models.

I'll go out and take a look at my car in a little while and let you know what I find. I'll try to post a pic.

 

[WHITEGS13]

so I went out, removed the computer next to the battery and took two pictures to get a better idea of which part I'm ordering .. looks like the 2013 idea is gone and that their website isn't correct (thank God I looked) .. I think I need the red one (170040) .. now, the site says with start-stop and without .. does this pertain to the GS ? also, the install instructions says that you need to drill out the top of the OEM part, is that what you did to install yours ?? thanks

http://i44.tinypic.com/ulmv9.jpg

http://i44.tinypic.com/2s7w48l.jpg

The start-stop feature isn't on the GS, it's some kind of option on the other Regals that turns your car off at traffic lights, etc. to help save fuel. I saw a video of the install somewhere and you do have to drill a hole in that cover. it's just so you can pop it out to get to the nut. The new shifter comes with a new rubber cap that just pops into place.

 

[WHITEGS13]

Looks like viOlaziOne is correct. Thanks for checking my friend! My GS is definitely a 2013 by both the build date on the placard and my window sticker. Here is a pic of my shifter, looks exactly like the previous model year GS's.

 

[jepva]

So I have a 2012 canadian built GS...anyone know which part # I would need?

 

[MIDUN]

FWIW, the same company sells the Quaife LSD. maybe a package buy?

 

[ImminentFailure]

Nice. Looks like Opel changed and buick didn't.

 

[jepva]

FWIW, the same company sells the Quaife LSD. maybe a package buy?

The quaife is already available from some distributors in the states that have it in stock, so it wouldn't be worth it. It's the same unit for the pontiac g6 and the other F40 transmission cars (astra, saab, etc.)

 

[trevgtp]

someone just PM'd me for instructions, so I figured I'd do the quick write-up here, too...


ok-here it goes. first step is to disconnect the cables from the battery, then the front cover of the battery box slides up and then the grey hold-down clamp unbolts. take out the battery. there is a coolant cable attached to the box, unclip the 2 clips. there are 3 bolts holding in the battery box-2 inside and 1 behind it. unscrew them, which is where you will put the washers back on before the box. move everything out of the way,

ok-now you have access to the shifter linkage. take a drill and drill out the top of the shifter plug near the edge so you can get a pair of pliers on it. if you can't use pliers, i just snipped the crap out of it with clippers.

take pliers and unhook the shifter linkages at the ball bearings.

on the vertical linkage (you'll know when you see it), there should be a pin holding the vertical assembly to the horizontal assembly. take out the small clip and carefully slide the pin out so you can remove it from the shifter assembly, but you cannot completely remove it.

take your 8mm socket and unscrew the nut holding in the shifter.

you might need a bearing puller to get it off, but the shifter should eventually come out.

put the new one back in, being careful to line up the gear teeth with the proper indent, and bold everything back up in reverse.

put in the washers on first, then the battery box, then bolt it up...then reverse everything else.


then enjoy your new, crisp, fast, short throw shifter that still has a stupid plastic knob and vinyl shift boot! it doesn't fix the glaring issues with the transmission or shifter itself, just makes the absolute best of an alright situation!