Well look what just showed up today at the house: TWM PERFORMANCE SHORT THROW SHIFTER:

 

Is that the "regular" aluminum knob, or one of the upgraded ones?... just curious

I'm hoping to get one for x-mas...

I like the one in your picture.

 

It looks like the regular one. You're gonna love that shifter Eric. It's SOOOO much better than stock. Just be ready to toy with it alot during the install. You have to do alot of trial and error with the cable clip positioning to get it right. It's a time consuming process.

 

i'll keep that in mind too when i get around to installing mine. won't be tackling that til after she gets her work done in the body shop. finally gonna get that door fixed.

care to give a brief description of what this process entails?

 

i just went on there site couldnt find one for the ss anyone got a link?

 

I was ****y and thought the install would be quick and easy. Not so.

Cliffs from my install:

1. The instructions that came with it are for the Cobalt SS/TC. I downloaded the base HHR manual at the TWM website and used some common sense to combine the two into good instructions. The first major difference is the removal of the trim around the shifter. Removing the entire E-brake cover is not necessary.

2. There is a step in the instructions when you pull off the stock shift knob that says something along the lines of "use caution." It says so for good reason. A LARGE amount of force is required to remove the stock shift knob, and I was pulling up on it so hard that I almost knocked myself the f*#! out when it finally gave. I punched myself in the forehead so hard I left a nice knot. I'm just glad it wasn't my nose.

3. Adjusting the clips is trial and error. I had to adjust BOTH clips, which is not mentioned in the instructions. The one in the center is for the front to back movement of the shifter, and the one on the left is for side to side. I just had to keep repositioning the clips until I got the combination right. The reverse lockout/5th gear was hard to get right, but it works fine when you do. It makes a loud pop when you come out of reverse because of the increased spring force on the reverse lockout, but only if you don't pull back up on the lockout. Also, on hard shifts, I knock up against the reverse lockout when shifting into fifth. That's actually a GOOD thing though, because I don't end up pushing the shifter too far to the right and missing anymore.

4. When you think you're done, you're just getting started. The aluminum bushings are a PITA. I think that because you have to adjust both clips anyway, if I had to do it again I would install the bushings BEFORE installing the STS and after pulling out the stocker. That way you can pull out the whole assembly and open both clips to install the bushings without being afraid to undo the clips again and lose that perfect setting.

5. If you do it in the way the instructions say, be careful not to drop the bushings under the shifter, and when you do, they're easier to get to from behind the plastic panel where your go foot rests against the center stack. Just pull it out, and there's a hole where you can get to the bottom of the shifter.

The install was a PITA, but it was WELL WORTH IT. The shifter is a GREAT product. The shifts are clean and precise, and it doesn't feel like you're shifting through chewing gum anymore.

 

It's identical to the Cobalt SS/TC.

 

thanks just wanted to make sure!

 

Hey guys,

AaronSS, thanks for the installation tips and feedback on the short shifter! There is a few things I'd like to add to complete your very informative post. The shift knob on the HHR and Cobalt SS is glued on and tends to come off the shifter quite suddendly when you force it. We mentioned to use caution because in one of our test cars the shift knob did not want to come off and when it finally did, I almost knocked Kevin right in the face... Then again, in our other test car it was a piece of cake to remove.

As for the adjustement on the cables, it seems the second cable that controls the side-to-side motion has to be adjusted on some SS/TC and HHR SS, none of the SS/SC we installed the shifter in had to have this cable adjusted.

If you have questions on the installation, feel free to contact us or give us a call.

Frank
TWM Performance

 

Aaron its not an issue my buddy works for GM he has the SS but in Automatic I'm letting him install it as well as with my GM STAGE 1 Turbo upgrade kit....all for a small nominal fee. very small fee...