This could be correct, but not having met Fiend in person, I can't confirm. However I feel it is important for me to clarify that I am not a wanker, which of course helps





That Froudey is a very good question, and is a question that I had asked myself prior to ordering one.

Let me elaborate on my impressions after you read the following update.

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Right then. Billet Short Shifter. Ebay Link

Installation.

Got to work this morning around 9.30am and started pulling the console out.

This is what the standard T5 Shifter looks like.



And with it removed, the T5 looks like this inside.


If you look at the above picture, you can see that I decided to drill and file two holes in the tunnel to access the two front 13mm bolts of the shifter plate. The rear two are easily accessed through the shifter hole. The other option is to jack up the car, undo the T5 mount and lower the rear of the box down and undo the bolts. By making the holes, if I need to remove the shifter in the future, everything is alread done to do so from in the car.

The following is a series of photos showing the factory shifter next to the billet one, and then some different views of the billet shifter, so that other modders can have a good look before deciding if the they would like to purchase one for themselves.









Now, I found this interesting. Instead of using a normal bolt to hold the billet shifter in, you are provided with a stud with a hex head in one end, and a nut and washer.



It is worth noting that the nut is a 9/16 size, so if you don't have any imperial sizes, be prepared.

I used some locktite on the studs and screwed them into place and sat the billet shifter in place.

I found that the large nuts on the studs that you screw in to limit the fore and aft travel were sitting on the tunnel floor and prevented the shifter from sitting correctly on the gearbox. I fixed that with short 1/2inch extension bar and a baby sledge, creating the needed clearance with an appropriate use of force. I spoke to Troyman about this, and he said he didn't come accross this in his ED. It is our thought that this could be down to different cars, or that mine is an EB1, or that it is a wagon.

Here are some pics of it installed. I think it looks like something from a transformer or the terminator LOL





I adjusted the studs for the fore and aft movement, so that in spirited driving I don't break something inside the box.

At this stage I went for a spin around the block to ensure the gearbox stayed in gear and everything felt as it should. All Good!!!!

I think it is a shame that a piece of equipment that looks sooooo nice, gets covered up. I used the factory rubber dust seal. I screwed it down without the metal bracket, as it wouldn't fit. Then I used racing tape to seal the edges. Over that I lay the factory sound deadner from the auto.






And after the centre console and shift boot were all installed it looks like this.





Impressions.

Initial impressions are good. The travel between gears is roughly half of the standard shifter. The movement is more direct and there is a nice mechanical feel as you move through the gears. Shifting down from third to second took a bit more to get used to due to the springs installed to assist shifting up from second to third.

It is relevant to note that my T5 is from an EA, and therefore well used. It was stripped down, inspected and reassembled, so would be in above average condition in comparison to other T5s of the same age and type.

In the 100kms or so of driving I did this afternoon (having a nice quiet lunch with my wife at her suggestion, instead of working on my bonnet!!!!) I found the shifter to be precise, direct, a tad more noisy, and the speed of the changes is definitely quicker. I feel this will improve over the next week, as I recoordinate my clutch and shift movements.

I did find that the gear knob was a bit to far to the left for me, so when I got home I swapped the top part of the gear lever to the right side of the shifter as shown below.



For the $124aus delivered from the USA, I feel this is a worthy addition to your T5 if you like spirited driving. The quality is good, and it works as advertised. You are supplied with heavier springs if you wish to install them, to make the second to third change more positive. I have not installed these. I left the pre-installed springs in place.

I will provide additional feedback over the next month or so.

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The Bonnet.

I put the bonnet on the Wagon last night for my weekly visit to Liverpool, so that I could attain some thoughts from the Fordmods Pit Crew, on if the bonnet was ready for paint.

The good news is YES it is. YAY!!!!!!!

I had every intention of getting the painting process underway this afternoon, but as I described above, my lovely wife had other ideas. Don't ya love em? (sometimes)

I did manage to apply some Blade Putty to a couple of pinholes and sand the whole bonnet with 400 Wet and Dry. I will apply a full coat of Primer in the morning, lightly block that back before laying down a couple of light coats of Jet Black.

Until tomorrow.

BenJ

Good stuff benj looks tops and yes it is a pity that it is ll covered up.

Mate, saw a loverly bonnet today.... It was unfortunately still attached to the original car - and a damn fine example it was too. The oh-so-cool driver just about drove straight ahead off a corner from laughing too hard at my bonnet!!!! Poor guy.......

ben..
after our conversation today i decided to swap sides that the upper shift handle was bolted like you have..
and its much better it might only be 10 to 12mm but it brings it that little bit closer..
the only nrgative thing ive noticed is the shift gives off a hormonic vibration(buzzing rattle) at certain revs..
this might be due to the high km on my box..
still a good buy though!

Good to see you got it in Ben, it's pretty sweet for the price aye! Haven't got around to doing mine yet..... i would be quite interested in seeing how the heavier springs go so i might swap mine over.

Well after having a silly wank, I will be buying one of those shifters because Im a wanker. Nice work there Ben, and thank you for the pics of the shifter.

Josh

Bonnet Progress Yay!

I got home after work yesterday at 3.30pm. The sun was out, so I decided to lay down a coat of Primer before it go dark. Primer went down nicely, except for a small run on the inside edge of one of the vent inlets. After it dried so I was able to block it back lightly with 400 Wet and Dry and remove the run (it's all a learning experience! I keep telling myself this when I do something wrong LOL).

Today, I took half a day off work to come home and work on the bonnet. I carefully inspected the primer finish, and noted a number of small pin holes. I grabbed the Blade Putty, and filled in all the little blemishes I could see.

I sanded it again after it dried, and layed down the final primer coat. This will be blocked back lightly with 400 Wet and Dry.

Photo if it in Final Primer Coat.


I hope to lay down a coat of the Jet Black paint this afternoon.

I will post up pics if I do.

Cheers
BenJ

Great news Ben, I hope to see it in black later tonight.

Josh

Well did you paint it?
Please tell me you used a foam rubbing block when you blocked it back and not just the palm of your hand and fingertips.

I used a rubber sanding block for the flat areas, and had to use my hand for all the curved bits.

And no, I didn't get a chance to apply any black today. The bonnet didn't dry quickly enough, and the clouds rolled on over.

I will be having another half day tomorrow, if the weather is nice, and will apply the black then.

BenJ

Lookin' forward to seeing some colour on it Ben, should come up a treat!

Never mind, good luck with the weather tomorrow. Hey, how can you have so many half days?

LOL


Josh

Another Day, Another Bonnet Update.

We have Black on the bonnet. Yippeeeee

OK, got home around lunch time.

Yesterday when I sanded the primer coat, I went through to the metal on the edge of the left hand vent intake AHHHHHHHH!!!!!

So I ducked up the road and grabbed the Septone Acrylic Primer in a rattle can and sprayed the offending part, as well as sanding a couple of other spots as required. After that dried I gave it a light sand and washed down the rest of the bonnet.

Half an hour later, the bonnet was all dry, and I sprayed the first coat of Jet Black. I just gave it a light coat, so it looks a bit patchy in the first pic.



I waited around 20mins and then gave it a second light coat. Unfortunately, some nice little birdy left a present on the newly laid paint!!!! Bahhhhh!!!! I sanded the the offending spot after the paint had dried, and then decided to give the entire bonnet a light sand.

I also sanded and sprayed the vents in Jet Black.



The plan now is, after work tomorrow, I will give it another coat of Jet Black and let that dry. I will give it a quick sand with some 800 wet and dry. Then look at applying the Black Pearl on Friday afternoon.

Cheers
BenJ

Well done mate, progressing well. You need to put some sort of cover over it for the final coats so nature does not attack again

Looking tops Benj.