Cobb vs Kartboy Shorter Shifter

[Bugeye01WRX]

Hey guys!

I am planning on getting a Short Shifter and bushing combo. I was pretty much 100% sold on Cobb as I prefer the stock shifter height and the Kartboy is lower and I like the adjustability.

 

However...

 

After looking on Cobb's website it says the throw is adjustable down to a 25% reduction?

 

I was reading heaps of reviews and it was saying that the Cobb could adjust to as much or even lower than the Kartboy which is at 40%?

 

I'm now a bit confused and not sure I would want the Cobb at only 25% reduction but then I don't know if I like the kartboy lever being shorter.

 

I really like the stock height of the shifter so the Cobb being able to be a short shifter at stock height is appealing compared to the Kartboy.

 

Also as a side note, anyone know if JDM V7 WRXs have A short or narrow barrell shift fork? Might save me having to open up the shifter.

[Loren]

I had a GFB short shifter on mine... was terrible... you lose precision... can't tell when it's in gear properly... can 't tell what gear it's in... can easily change into the wrong gear. Hated it.

[Timmah]

I have this in my WRX: https://www.rallysportdirect.com/part/shifter-and-bushing-combos/kar-kb-002-wrx-combo-kartboy-short-shifter-and-bushing-combo

 

Love it.

[Bugle]

OEM bushes and a second hand STI short shift was always my go to in 5spd days

[Andy_Mac]

Tony has always been against aftermarket ones. Supposedly the different positioning can cause them to not sit quite right and wreck synchro's or something like that. Could be that that is only the case with the more extreme models but it was enough to deter me from taking that route. 

[Bugle]

I'd had similar warnings from folk re going too short with the shift kit, synchro needs time to do its synchro thing, go too short and they wear out/dont shift well, hence sticking with OEM

[Bugeye01WRX]

2 hours ago, Bugle said:

I'd had similar warnings from folk re going too short with the shift kit, synchro needs time to do its synchro thing, go too short and they wear out/dont shift well, hence sticking with OEM

 

That doesn't make sense as the only thing that changes is the throw length, the gears are still engaging in the exact same way that doesn't change.

 

THe only way synchros would be affected would be from too fast or aggressive shifting, which is not to do with the short throw shifter but to do with the driver.

20 hours ago, Andy_Mac said:

Tony has always been against aftermarket ones. Supposedly the different positioning can cause them to not sit quite right and wreck synchro's or something like that. Could be that that is only the case with the more extreme models but it was enough to deter me from taking that route. 

 

That is a driver thing not a short shifter thing. The only thing that changes is the throw the gears still engage the same. If you are smashing it into gear or shifting too fast then yes, can damage things but you can do the same on stock OEM throw.

On 6/08/2021 at 6:14 PM, Loren said:

I had a GFB short shifter on mine... was terrible... you lose precision... can't tell when it's in gear properly... can 't tell what gear it's in... can easily change into the wrong gear. Hated it.

 

Can you elaborate on how you lose precision? Most reviews I read and watch on YT with a Kartboy/Bushing combo or CObb/Bushing Combo speak about how much more precise and great the shifter feels.

On 6/08/2021 at 7:27 PM, Timmah said:

I have this in my WRX: https://www.rallysportdirect.com/part/shifter-and-bushing-combos/kar-kb-002-wrx-combo-kartboy-short-shifter-and-bushing-combo

 

Love it.

 

Nice! Yeah I think I am going to get Cobb because being able to adjust the shift and lever is just such a great feature to pass up on.

[Andy_Mac]

 

I think it's more down to the position of the lever point on the shifter assembly as the rod isn't adjustable to make up for the changes in the throw geometry caused by reducing/increasing the spacing between those two points. Maybe it doglegs a bit to make up for the shorter vertical distance, I don't really know as it's not something I've really bothered looking into too much.

 

The top half adjustment like the Cobb has will have zero effect along with others that shorten the length above centre point

 

The bottom half shortening can have the same effect as someone always leaning firmly on the shifter in theory. 

 

 

[Loren]

Quote

 

  On 6/08/2021 at 6:14 PM, Loren said:

I had a GFB short shifter on mine... was terrible... you lose precision... can't tell when it's in gear properly... can 't tell what gear it's in... can easily change into the wrong gear. Hated it

Can you elaborate on how you lose precision? Most reviews I read and watch on YT with a Kartboy/Bushing combo or CObb/Bushing Combo speak about how much more precise and great the shifter feels.

 

You lose precision because all the distances are smaller.... imagine the extreme case where the distance between 1st and 2nd was only 1 cm... and the distance between 1st and 3rd was only 5mm.

Your ability to judge the position of each gear is diminished... your ability to tell when it's properly engaged is diminished... and your feel for if you are lining up each change correctly, is also diminished.

 

Edited August 10, 2021 by Loren