IPSCO short throw shiftter review

[CSXT802]

A quick review for any Gen II owners thinking about getting the IPSCO STS ..........DO IT !!!!! Money well spent. The shifting on my GTS was a pain in the ass, to the point it was taking away the joy of driving it. It's hard to have fun when your constantly thinking about weather or not your next shift is gonna go where you want it to. Then when it does happen, beating your self thinking was it me ? Did i have the correct grip for the gear change I wanted ? Well after changing engine mounts , transmission mounts (all poly) which helped , but did not stop it. I had enough and gave Mark at IPSCO a call and ordered one of his STS last week. Now before you start thinking it must be operator error. Let me say I've been driving standard shift vehicles for 21 years. After driving my daily driver manual 6 speed, cable shifted FWD 135 miles a day back N forth to work. It made shifting the viper less tolerable. Well it's fixed now and I don't have the anxiety when shifting.

[Fatboy 18]

Great to hear, I tried all sorts of different length knobs on the OEM link arm, I now have a Hurst shifter, the springs are much, much stiffer and occasionally I still miss a shift.
Been driving sticks most of my life. (but usually using the Left hand) ;)

[DaveW]

A quick review for any Gen II owners thinking about getting the IPSCO STS ..........DO IT !!!!! Money well spent.
I agree! Thought it was just me. Added the IPSCO STS this year and my shifts went from sloppy to accurate and solid. Not missed a shift since adding it, and without hoping I remembered where I positioned my hand for each shift. They just snap into gear! The best upgrade I've made for driving pleasure.

[CSXT802]

I agree! Thought it was just me. Added the IPSCO STS this year and my shifts went from sloppy to accurate and solid. Not missed a shift since adding it, and without hoping I remembered where I positioned my hand for each shift. They just snap into gear! The best upgrade I've made for driving pleasure.
It's a night and day difference. I was so happy with my first drive after the install I had to call Mark at IPSCO and thank him.

[ZZ SRT]

This is good to know. I literally hate my stock shifter with MGW ball on it. It's very hard to be accurate.

Thanks for the write-up!

[C.J]

Okay, now I really have to get motivated and install mine. :)

It's encouraging to hear great news about the STS!

[CSXT802]

This is good to know. I literally hate my stock shifter with MGW ball on it. It's very hard to be accurate.

Thanks for the write-up!
Do it and get back to enjoying the car without having to worry about missed shifts. There's enough to worry about when driving one of these cars shifting shouldn't be one of them.

[Anonymous]

It's a night and day difference. I was so happy with my first drive after the install I had to call Mark at IPSCO and thank him.

I have mine for a year now,funny cause I called Mark to thank him to!

[72hemi]

I also love the Ipsco STS, installed one in my 96 and it made a world of difference.

[CSXT802]

I also love the Ipsco STS, installed one in my 96 and it made a world of difference.
I completely agree. This should be one of first mods a gen 2 owner does.

[venum4u]

will the STS provide smoother & notchy free shifting, unlike the OEM. Thanks

[Red Kaos]

I have a B&M on my '97 bw; and, a MGW ball on my '02. I like the B&M. However, I don't want to put a B&M on my '02 because I like the driving differences between the two Viper. Nevertheless, the STS interests me. Thanks for the review and for those who added their experience with the STS.

[Bugman Jeff]

The very first thing I used to tell people who were driving my Viper was "Do NOT accidentally shift 3-2 instead of 3-4. It's very easy to do, and bad things will happen." After the IPSCO install, it's a non-issue. It's almost impossible to go 3-2 unless that's what you're intending to do.

[Red Kaos]

Bugman Jeff, your post mentioned something interesting that others, like me, who might be interested in a STS should know...excellent instructions. Hey, it is not rocket science, and IMO most folks with even weekend mechanical skills can do it. So, for those thinking about a STS, check it out. Needless to say, the IPSCO is now my next planned purchase and future Sunday afternoon project.

[CSXT802]

will the STS provide smoother & notchy free shifting, unlike the OEM. Thanks
The IPSCO STS will be smoother and less notchy because it naturally centers itself , not needing your input to go to neutral position.

[CSXT802]

The very first thing I used to tell people who were driving my Viper was "Do NOT accidentally shift 3-2 instead of 3-4. It's very easy to do, and bad things will happen." After the IPSCO install, it's a non-issue. It's almost impossible to go 3-2 unless that's what you're intending to do.
+1!

[Sybil TF]

I guess I'm getting one, so I have been told.

[CSXT802]

I guess I'm getting one, so I have been told.

You will enjoy it!

[Sybil TF]

Got it installed, have to try it out this weekend I hope.

[My98RT10]

Very curious to see how you like it!

[Sybil TF]

Very curious to see how you like it!Love it! Went from being lousy at shifting to semi-lousy lol, worth the money.

[Ron]

Based on this thread I too took the plunge and agree, much improved. For me it's not truly night & day, but a worthy improvement and as mentioned, one that will help prevent 3/2 upshifting. A very high quality piece, well worth the investment and Mark is great. Note that it does raise your shift handle by 1.25" (unavoidable because that's how you change the shifter pivot point to shorten the throw) so you'll need to get Mark's shift lowering rod if you want to maintain the pre-install shift handle/ball height. Also, since I have a lift I found it easier to lower the rear of the trans by removing the cross member and then remove the four shifter hold down bolts from below. No need to drill and plug anything using that method. Also, don't forget to protect the dash just above the radio surround, especially if you have a 1992 through 1997, as the metal clips will absolutely scratch up the soft dash paint.

While you're at it, replacing the flimsy OEM cross member with Mark's billet replacement makes good sense too.

[dave6666]

so you'll need to get Mark's shift lowering rod if you want to maintain the pre-install shift handle/ball height.

I had him make a custom shaft for my non oem thread ball. He did a great job of that.

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff224/dave6666waybad/Picture001-1.jpg (http://s241.photobucket.com/user/dave6666waybad/media/Picture001-1.jpg.html)


Also, since I have a lift I found it easier to lower the rear of the trans by removing the cross member and then remove the four shifter hold down bolts from below.

I coordinated my shifter install when I had my tranny out doing a clutch / slave / flywheel swap. And yes, helluva lot easier than trying to do it from above.


While you're at it, replacing the flimsy OEM cross member with Mark's billet replacement makes good sense too.

I remember one of the members from the morg days that was an engineer in the automotive field. He made the comment that the oem tranny crossmember is indeed not inadequate in strength. The billet one does look better - heck, I have one - but it is not needed to improve strength according to that person.

[Sybil TF]

I already had the adapter shaft for the ball. I think I got it from Parts Rack but can't remember for sure. Threaded right on to new shifter.

[RT SERPENT]

This shifter sounds awesome, but are you saying it raises the shift handle 1.25" higher than the factory stock shifter in my Gen II?
I found the stock shifter was like driving a truck so I had it lowered years ago. …. and I wouldn't want to go back to that height.



Based on this thread I too took the plunge and agree, much improved. For me it's not truly night & day, but a worthy improvement and as mentioned, one that will help prevent 3/2 upshifting. A very high quality piece, well worth the investment and Mark is great. Note that it does raise your shift handle by 1.25" (unavoidable because that's how you change the shifter pivot point to shorten the throw) so you'll need to get Mark's shift lowering rod if you want to maintain the pre-install shift handle/ball height. Also, since I have a lift I found it easier to lower the rear of the trans by removing the cross member and then remove the four shifter hold down bolts from below. No need to drill and plug anything using that method. Also, don't forget to protect the dash just above the radio surround, especially if you have a 1992 through 1997, as the metal clips will absolutely scratch up the soft dash paint.

While you're at it, replacing the flimsy OEM cross member with Mark's billet replacement makes good sense too.

[Sybil TF]

This shifter sounds awesome, but are you saying it raises the shift handle 1.25" higher than the factory stock shifter in my Gen II?
.No, at least not on mine. Stayed exactly the same.

[Colo08]

This shifter sounds awesome, but are you saying it raises the shift handle 1.25" higher than the factory stock shifter in my Gen II?
I found the stock shifter was like driving a truck so I had it lowered years ago. …. and I wouldn't want to go back to that height.

I just Measured the difference between our STS Shift and a Factory shifter and the difference is only .75" taller, so using one of our 1" lowering kits will put you .25" shorter than the factory.

[Eco-Friendly]

I installed the IPSCO short throw shifter and the 1" lowering kit last week and what a difference!!This is a beautiful shifter.No more worrying about mis shifts and the shorter throw feels great. Excellent job Mark!

[Ron]

The shifter is in fact taller as measured from the trans case / shifter mounting surface to the top surface of the arm the threaded shifter rod attaches to. This is both observed and per Mark himself. Why, because the only way to shorten the throw is to raise the pivot point. Basic math. Per Mark, the height increase is approximately 1.25", therefor if you want to maintain the same ball height you have now, you need to shorten your existing shifter rod (the double threaded rod between the shifter itself and the shifter knob) by +/-1.25". Easier, just add to your order one of Mark's shortened rods. If you don't, the knob will be over 1" higher.

The only way this isn't the case is if your replacing an NON-OEM shifter and in that case, the height change is unknown.

[dave6666]

Mark can make a shifter shaft any length you want. As I said in my post, I did that for one, to get the height I wanted, and two, so I wouldn't need a thread adapter for the shift ball.

[Ron]

I stand corrected - After enjoying my IPSCO shift for a few long drives recently it really is a night & day improvement. Shorter throws and more positive shifts. Well done!

[Next Phase]

Let me know when you do your's Craig.

I'm looking into getting one myself. I swapped the engine and tranny mounts and my car isn't quite right. I get missed shifts and it's difficult to engage at times...???

[dave6666]

Let me know when you do your's Craig.

I'm looking into getting one myself. I swapped the engine and tranny mounts and my car isn't quite right. I get missed shifts and it's difficult to engage at times...???

Have you checked to see if the shifter is hitting anything in the top of the tunnel? Depending on which mounts you used they will alter the position of the motor and transmission. Not trying to dismiss the benefit of the aftermarket shifters by any means, but if the OEM shifter is hitting something in your car, an aftermarket one will likely be worse due to the increased height.