One of the first projects I thought of doing to the spitfire was to cut the shifter. If had so much through I felt like a trucker driving. I have the arm reach for it to still be comfortable so after some fiddling I decided to cut 2" from the top of the shifter. I cut the 2" from the middle of the long straight part then used a section of angle iron to keep is aligned while I welded the threaded portion back on. All in all it turned out well. I touched it up with a file to make it all smooth and then coated it with engine block paint and baked the shaft in the oven to cure the paint. it won't be as shiny or durable as the chrome, but it will be better then bare steel. I'm happy with how it turned out and how it shifts. Enough to reduce the throw, but not so much that it's tough to find the gears. Next project is to locate a small lathe for a reasonable price.
Here you can see a stock shifter with the piece I cut out, in it's approximate location.
All welded up and painted. Ready to go in.
Straight as an arrow thanks to the angle iron.
EDIT***
The shifter has been modified again with another inch removed for a total of 3" less than stock. There is still lots of control and it's easy to find gears.
