Out came the Dremel, and I cut off the offending plastic trim that was clashing with the shifter.
With the modification, I got enough clearance to put the center console all the way back down.
I did have to remove the shift boot hook feature on that side. I figured there was still the other hook feature to keep the rear of the boot in place and the two front clips keeping the front secure. The boot hasn’t moved.
What I thought would be an hour job turned into about ten hours over two days. I could do it much more quickly now that I have found all the issues and know what to adjust for. For anyone attempting this, I’d recommend getting some M6 washers that are oversized in outside diameter and around a millimeter thick to act as spacers. The screws are M5, but an M6 washer gives a bit of tolerance to make it easier to install the screws.
So how does it drive? I bump up the shifter action rating from an 8 out of 10 to a 9 out of 10, putting it on par with the S2000 shifter. There is less slop and more positive feedback when getting into gear. With the Numeric shifter set at the lowest height, the throws are shorter and the effort a bit higher than stock even with the softer 1.5mm spring. I think the biggest difference is the feel of getting into first gear, which is less sloppy. Considering I have to shift into first every time moving from a stop, I’ll get to enjoy this improved feel tens of thousands of times over the life of the car. I’ve heard many people say the Numeric feels like a bolt-action rifle in precision, but I don’t think it’s that good yet. I would attribute the lack of absolute precision to reusing the factory cables, which have the plastic ends that snap onto the shifter. Maybe the Numeric shifter cables will bring the shifter action all the way up to a 10 out of 10. Well, that’s maybe another future project. For now, I’m quite happy with the improved shifting feel of just the Numeric shifter.
Sources
Numeric Racing
6 comments
Install the Numeric cables because they make a significant improvement and because the stock cable ends have a reputation for breaking.
Took me two days to do the shifter and cables. Miserable work. Adjusting the cable ends on the transmission is fiddly but the vids online help it make sense. Routing the cables in the engine bay sucks. Trying not to break or damage the interior trim pieces made for slow going. Sometime more force than you want to use is the answer. Sometimes a better tool or technique is required.
Regardless, it sucks. The end result is worth it though. They are that good.
Appreciate the insight. So I’ll plan on a 2-day install. I’ve taken apart most of what is needed in the interior to do the cable swap; the only part I haven’t removed yet is the center tunnel and armrest. Looks like I should bundle it in with an air filter and oil change job. Maybe a header swap.
Numeric video on the cable swap into a 718.
https://youtu.be/-5yQTwCA5EY?si=pn1VrN2GOPMohDIw
Thanks for this- Based on how involved this was, I will wait until I wear the stock linkage out to move to Numeric.
I am very interested in the headers, so I hope you pull the trigger on this.
I would say my experience was abnormal. It seems my car was just at the extremes of the tolerance ranges. The grinding I did to the base of the shifter to offset it is unnecessary, just a tweak that I did. Having some washers ready to act as spacers and knowing how to adjust the cables in case you can’t get into reverse cuts off pretty much all the extra time. It really should be less than an hour job.
am I the only one that finds how much extra crap you had to do to make this shifter work ridiculous? its a $700+ part going into $70k+ car and you still had to grind down the part and the car and trim interior plastics…? kinda shameful… Acuity does a 10x better job for shifters half the price for shitbox hondas
I do think they should have done a design update given it’s a known issue on some vehicles to have the clash. And I would have engineered in a few other tweaks. But, it does seem my car is a bit more out of the norm as far as fitment issues.