There is a thread already similar to this but it kinda was left hanging, there was a lot of interest it, I am trying to see if we can spur up more progress this time.

https://my350z.com/forum/exterior-an...ift-plate.html

well anyways, I am a valet driver and the other day I parked an Audi R8. The shift gate in there was beautiful, kinda feels like the shift were more precise, lol. Anywho, I was poking around on the internet, looking if I could find an aftermarket shift gate for the 350z, no real luck, but found acouple of starting places.

Comparison of the r8 and 350z.




People on these VW forum have come up with some prototypes.
http://forums.vwvortex.com/showthrea...n-a-Shift-Gate


More pictures on page 1-3 and also videos on page 4-5 I believe. Not to shabby looking, could be better. I think needs work on the base covering the exposing shift linkage, and also inscribing the gears.

This is website that make switch panels and such. They don't have one for the Z, but here is the one for the Celica. Definitely could be a lot better if it was thicker metal, some roundness to the plate, not just a flat piece of aluminum. Also the numbering looks cheesy. I gave them a email, hopefully we can work something out.
http://customswitchpanels.com/



This website has some decent ones, thick metal, nice inscriptions, but none that fits are car.
http://www.italiancarparts.com/acces...gatevault.html




Again, these are just ideas and starting points. Hopefully if we can get enough interests we can get ball rolling. So what do you guys think?

 

I like it--let's see where this goes . . .

 

Be a leader! Perfect one then you can be the one to market them.

Personally, I see them as a throwback to the 50's and 60's exotics. No place for it in a modern car (not even the R8).

 

subscribed, interested in hearing more about this

 

These always remind me of a riding lawn mower. . . . .

 

I like it.

 

has potential.

- RB.

 

I can talk to the guy who makes the 3S shifter again, but like i said in the other thread, he has no 350z to work with.

 

There's already a thread on this somewhere.

 

Looks nice, and I think and Aluminum one would fit the Z interior nicely. But ya it doesnt make your shifts more precise. Its just for aesthetics.

 

I dont think I can fit my Nismo under that plate though... the adjustable collar sits right there. Looks cool non the less..

 

I think this might work (the same one above but upside down):

 

I really like the idea. OP, run with it.

 

What do we need to do to get this rolling?

It's awesome!!!

 

cool

 

cool idea, would be nice if you can make a drop in kit.

 

has anyone noticed how much the shifter moves side to side between accelerating and decelerating?

how do you plan on dealing with that movement?

 

This actually doesn't seem like it would be all that hard to fabricate.

A plate of aluminum and a plasma cutter.

Would take a few tries to get the alignment right, but after you finished one, it would be fairly easy to reproduce the design.

It would be pretty easy to secure the plate too. It could be mounted with the same screws that mount the finishing ring around the boot. Just remove the boot, secure the peice under the finishing ring with the same screws.

Now making the peice pretty would be difficult.

Unless someone can chrome them. I'd imagine painting them would be easier.

 

Wow thanks for the replys you guys.

Well I got an email back from custom switch plate .com website, the guy on there said he try to make one already but said something bout the 350z shifter was to short.


I am still looking around, but it seems to get a good looking plate going, we are gonna need to fabricate a longer/skinner shifter.

 

Can definitely be done, but at what cost and how purty will it be? G/L OP with the project.