With every new generation of car manufacturing there is room for continual improvement. When the 2011 Mustangs were introduced with the MT82 manual transmission, it was an improvement from past designs. However, owners soon started mentioning the shifting issues they discovered out on the streets.
The wizards at Blowfish Racing went to the drawing boards and created a shifter support kit to address the issues that 2011-2014 Mustang owners had noticed. They discovered that the issue was with the semi-remote shifter design. In theory, it was great at reducing noise vibration and harshness, but it hurt the accuracy with each shift. When the engine is under a full torque load, the engine/transmission should rotate to one side and bring the shifter in line with it. Instead, the shifter ends up in a bind that causes it to twist, resulting in missed shifts from gate lockout and the synchro gears grinding.
With the Blowfish Racing kit, a redesigned semi-remote shifter was turned into a direct shifter mount. This concept allows the shifter assembly to work as one with the transmission design and allows cleaner and more accurate shifting during any engine load. As a bonus, the Blowfish Racing shifter support kit is also an NHRA legal Driveshaft Safety Loop—that's two benefits out of one single design!
01. With the car supported on the factory jacking points, the removal can began.
02. Start by locating the shifter bracket setup underneath the car.
03. By using a deep socket, a 12-inch extension, and a Ratchet, the two nuts can be removed from the shifter assembly located above the driveshaft. Remove the bracket to allow the shifter to hang down.
04. Next, back off the three bolts securing the lower transmission mount by 1/4 inch with a socket, but do not remove it completely.
05. With the new lower bracket, use the center keyhole to help guide the bracket over the center bolt head, until it contacts the isolator body. Then slide it downward to engage the bracket's slots with the three bolts. (Note: If it doesn't engage, loosen that bolt until the bracket slides into place.)
06. Once the bracket is fully engaged, tighten the three bolts back up and torque to 45 lb-ft.
07. Next install the supplied two M10 button head screws and two M10 serrated hex nuts into the isolation mount and the upper bracket as shown.
08. Torque both bolts to 45 lb-ft.
09. Apply a small amount of lubricant to the clamp pins to help with the installation into the isolator bushings (anything not solvent-based is recommended).
10. With the two supplied M6 hex screws, install the isolation clamp assembly on to the shifter box rubber snout with the “pins” facing rearward. From there, torque both screws to 25 lb-ft.
11. Install the upper bracket assembly in the upward position as shown. To make it easier, rotate the assembly around the driveshaft and upwards behind the shifter assembly.
12. Next move the upper bracket assembly into the clamp pins of the isolator bushings as shown.
13. With the eight supplied M10 serrated flange hex bolts and hex nuts, loosely attach the upper and lower brackets together. Then adjust the upper bracket assembly towards the shifter until it makes contact with each other. From there, lower the assembly 1/8 inch. It’s important to make sure the upper bracket does not contact the bottom of the shifter box.
14. Tighten all eight bolts to 45 lb-ft.
15. Before you lower the car, make sure all the bolts are tight.
Final Thoughts
With the car back on its own feet, it was time for a test drive. Our first impressions were a good solid feel with every shift. With the design of this kit, it did provide more driver feedback through the shifter when driving the car, and we felt a more connected experience. The installation was clear and straightforward, and it only took us a little over an hour. We give this Blowfish Racing shifter support kit two thumbs up. And with the added benefits of the kit also being a driveshaft safety loop, it just becomes a double win in the pocketbook.
