B&M mega shifters please explain! - Ford Forums - Mustang Forum, Ford Trucks, Ford Focus and Ford Cars

DansEdgli · 10-15-2003, 07:29

What is the point of having one of these to shift gears instead of the normal T bar? Other than to look cool.
What do they do different? As far as i know you still change gears the same way?
Can someone please explain what the hype is about?

Thankyou
Dan

xespack · 10-16-2003, 00:48

Its a ratchet shifter. This means you can have it work in 2 ways. You can use it normally as you would with the stock t bar. Or you can lock it on the bottom position and tap it forwards to manually change through the gears.

danege · 10-16-2003, 01:52

xespack, can you elaborate a bit more.

xespack · 10-16-2003, 03:18

When you have it in ratchet mode it is similar to using one of those new sports mode autos. Where you push it up to shift up. But it doesnt shift down like they do as its designed for drag racing etc. So you start at 1st. Hit it once to go to second when ever you want and then to 3rd.

danege · 10-16-2003, 22:48

Hrmm, do you know about how much these retail for / cost to get put in?

Can the be done on electronic boxes.

Got a pic of one?

danege · 10-16-2003, 23:03

Its alright, i answered my own questions.

Except for if they make these for any electronic boxes, so far i can only find ones that work for c4-6 etc...

Aaron_EF8 · 10-20-2003, 11:53

Depends what you mean by electronic boxes. Ford still use the arm/linkage system, so a Pro rachet can still be used, but you need to work out some way to get a bit of extra length from the cable, otherwise the shifter will go as low as second.

And I reckon xespack is talking about a Pro-Rachet (silver sheetmetal cover, white round knob) while DansEdgli is talking about a Mega-shifter (black box, chrome T-bar handle).

A pro-rachet goes for around $400 new.

DansEdgli · 10-20-2003, 19:07

Can these shifters still be used like a normal shifter. ie. Put it in drive and leave it there?

Ive heard all this talk about fully manualising an auto so you can shift up and down manally. But cant all autos do this already? I do it when driving mums EA.
What is the difference between a fully manualised and a normal shifter other than the drive gear not being automatic in a manualised version?
Are the shifts better or not as detrimental to the gearbox or something?

Thanks
Dan

danege · 10-20-2003, 23:04

Dan, say if you have a normal auto...put the gearbox in first and floor it off the line, (leaving your foot to the floor) and shift the selector to second at say...3500rpm, it wont actually change then, it will still change when it wants to.

It just really restricts the gears it can go into, it doesnt change them

If you have these type shifters / manualised auto then if you do the same procedure as above then it will make the auto change into 2nd at 3500rpm, because its when you told it to...not when it decides it wants to.

And yes, im pretty sure these shifters can be used normally, theres just 2 different ways you can use it. Normal, or rachet mode which was explained before.

DansEdgli · 10-20-2003, 23:33

I didnt realize the normal autos dont change when you want them to. I must not be pushing hard enough. Ill have another go in mums car tonight. I cant wait to get my car back. The EA is so slow.

Thanks for the info.
Dan