Rawr... My 2011 STi Build Log by Heide264

9 minute(s) of a 127 minute read

Driveline 'Overhaul':

So this covers most of the 6MT Super Shift Kit group buy from a bit ago. To summarize:

• KB 6MT Short Throw Shift Lever

• KB 6MT Pivot Bushings (They go in the actual lever part)

• KB 6MT Linkage Bushings (These go in the linkage before it hits the tranny)

• KB Front Shifter Bushing (This helps hold the pivot point of the lever in place)

• KB Rear Shifter Bushing (Same as Front Bushing, only in the rear)

• Group N Transmission mount (Big rubber brick that is inbetween crossmember and transmission)

• TiC Crossmember Bushings (they are cherry blossom red, enough said)

I have them labeled with pictures up above under my box of goodies if you want. I didn't take too many pictures compared to stock.

Install:

Agh. That was rough. Hands down, (expected) hard install for me. I am still a mechanical noob, and I was not sure that I'd be able to finish this installation after getting into it. There is a lot that can go wrong in this install, and I first hand found everything. If you plan on simply following instructions, plan for the car to be in the air for two days. Instructions should just be a supplement - you need a frekin battle plan for this.

I would be more than willing to offer advice to anybody that does this. There is advice all over the internet - I used all of it, and still have some further tips I think. Really read around before trying this. I have some pictures to help anybody in question out, and will comment as I go through them. It was too long and stressful of an install to have organized thoughts and full install instructions.

Basically, my battle plan looking back at it:

-Get back of car on ramps. I like ramps. They always work as expected.

-Take center console apart to get shift lever out

-Prepare KB lever, being careful to not drop a pivot bushing down drain

-Jack front of car up as high as possible

-Remove crossmember parts and tranny mount. Use jack to manipulate transmission.

-Extend and block reverse lockout (I was out of order, but it works either way)

-Loosen front bushing stay thingy

-Somehow, get the linkage unattached from the transmission

-Assuring that the rubber is free from the metal plate inside of the car, pull entire assembly down

-At bench, replace all bushings - soak rear in hot water to get it on. Use grease.

-Somehow, get assembly back to where it was

-Thread one bolt of the rear bushing on as a temporary support

-Somehow, get the linkage back attached. Verify you didn't screw up the orientation of the linkage.

-Get front stay back attached - don't snap bolt

-Somehow, get both the rear stay bolts threaded and torqued

-I put the lever back on here so I could test it out here.

-Verify that the shifter works as planned, and secure reverse lockout cable to the stay (away from drive shaft)

-Remove reverse lockout mechanism (mine was a cut off nail)

-Bolt new transmission mount back on

-Bolt crossmember parts back on, replacing bushings as you go

-Hope you didn't screw up

-Put console back together and drink copious amounts of beer after testing

Pictures (Large and over kill as normal):

Prep your interior. There will be grease involved. I can't imagine that alcantara gets along well with white lithium:

First group are pictures to take the center console apart. Hopefully this saves some sorry soul from breaking any little clips.

First two screws to undo:

Next, get the parking brake boot loose. Careful with the leather. I started by getting the clips loose on the bottom by pulling up as shown:

Remove screw under parking brake boot:

Pull piece straight BACK:

Remove crap from cubby hole. Pull piece mostly back - take some muscles but these clips are more durable:

I just popped the light power off - there is enough slack you can just set it on the floor too. This is what you are left with eventually. There is no snap for the shifter boot. Just pull it up over the little ledge its on after removing the shift knob:

After you take the rubber bolts off and get the dust boot out:

Note the evil C clip. Even with C-clip pliers that sucker is a PITA for me. Also, you will need to loosen that metal 'frame' piece to pull the rubber part down later on. I'd just do it now.:

Everything out and compared to stock:

Beer break time. Yes I'm cheating and starting before the fat lady sings. This install sucks. Take it in small doses and take lots of breaks for your own good:

On my car, this was my inital view of my target area. Note all the sharp crap between me and my goal:

Pair of tin snips and a reality smack from another member led me to save my hands, put the car on a tad bit of a diet, and maybe kill a tree or two. This will not be going back on:

New target, now visible:

I used a 2" or so nail without a sharp point on the end and jammed the reverse lockout. There was a convieneint hole in both parts so I figured why not. Worked very well. Picture A:

Picture B:

Shifter assembly amazingly out of car. New bushings on. Note the time lapse where I was too ****ed off to take any pictures. Good luck getting to this point. Jack manipulation under the tranny is key throughout this whole install. I shoved the transmission over, but I had to push so hard I thought I was going to break something. It took most of my strength. No idea why. But, I got it. Sucks to be you - mines done.

One thing I noticed was that the kartboy bolt would not thread when I went to put the rear bushing up. Note how the stock one has a 'helper' area:

I tried going at it with a dremel. As expected, it didn't help anyhow. Just man up, get the passenger side one threaded first. Then get the driver side one in there somehow.

Yep. I got it. Its on there and torqued to whatever my arm felt like torquing it to. Those little bendy-joint socket extensions that I never find a use for saved my ***. Again, one of those, 'sucks to be you' issues. Just keep trying and don't strip it out by strong arming it.

So that's my install help. Feel free to ask me any questions about it if you haven't done it already. Really, I had a hard time with it. But, it was completely worth it...

Impressions:

Wow. Just wow. 

First impression - I could feel when my shifter was in the gate. Clearly. With a nice, 'thunk' confirmation. No fluff or questions asked. It was in there. Could feel it enter the gear all the way down to the transmission without any loss of feeling. 

Second impression - holy short throw. I had the factory short throw. To my understanding, the linkage on it is shorter, so that multiplies the affect of the KB lever. I don't know how true that statement is, but its really nice and short nonetheless.

Third impression - I can feel/hear my transmission now. A nice 'whirrrr' in lower RPMs and mostly 1st/2nd gear. I love it. I could see some not liking this. Mainly girlfriends and men without balls (cough, mango). Just kidding. The car is noticeably louder inside. I mostly blame the mount and Xmember bushings. I would not look over this detail if you are concerned about noise. 

Fourth impression - I feel much more connected to my car. Even less slop in the driveline. I like it a lot more. A whole lot more.

Fifth impression - In addition to the third impression, the transmission at higher RPMs is an even better experience now. It adds a lot to a WOT pull that is impossible to describe.

Now I want to put my engine mounts on .