Installing the B&M Edge Shifter
The B&M Edge shifter provides the Neon with a shorter throw than the stock unit. The basic design is the same but it is shorter. The linkage attachments are also reversed on the bottom of the shifter. Installation is very easy. One thing, You must buy an after market shift knob for the shifter. This little piece of information is tucked away at the bottom of the instructions on the last page. I recommend the B&M models over the rest. As an alternative you can hack a few inches off your stock shifter also - same results / cheaper price.
Oh, and for all those nay-sayers: I have been flogging the piss out of my B&M equipped Neon for about 3 years now and have never broken a linkage or sustained any tranny damage. Let's put this myth to rest right now about the B&M tearing stuff up... YES, the mopar unit is nice - properly aligning everything and so forth but for the cash you spend on it is it really worth it? That is if you can FIND one...
Tools: Phillip's Head screwdriver, Flat Head screw driver, 8mm socket and driver, 4mm and 2.5mm Allen wrenches, White Lithium Grease.
· First start by removing the stock shift knob. To do this, you pull the knob and boot away from each other. You then unclip the ears attaching it to the shaft.
· Next, remove the 6 screws in the console. There are four in the console box and 2 by the cup holders.
· Put the car in 5th gear and pull the E-brake all the way up. Now remove the console by pulling back and up. This can be tricky.
Shifter boot
· Three plastic clips hold in the boot. Simply pull up on the boot and place it aside.
· The three mounting bolts for the shifter are now present.
Location of 3 - 8mm bolts
· Take off the lower linkage first. It is retained by an E-clip. Pull the linkage off and push it aside.
· Now, take the upper linkage off. It pivots on a shaft at the top of the shifter. It too is held on by an E-clip. When you pull it out be sure to keep the spring together.
Locations of linkages
· Remove the three 8mm bolts and pull the shifter up. As you can see, the stock shifter is held in place by a black plastic boot that fits around the ball. It pries apart.
· Put the boot on the B&M shifter the same way it was attached to the stock unit. Be sure to thoroughly grease the ball and socket.
· Bolt the B&M back down to the mount. Attach the upper linkage the same way it was removed. Grease the shaft and ball. Use the E-clip to attach it.
· On the bottom of the shifter, attach the linkage on the other side of the stock one (see Pic). Run the supplied 4mm Hex bolt through the linkage into the shifter.
· Now check the clearances by putting the car in every gear and watching for rubs.
· Reinstall the boot, console and knob. The B&M knob uses three 2.5 mm hex nuts to attach it.
ramzees87