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Boss Shifter Brackets

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When I first took delivery of my Boss last Summer I was getting some grinding when shifting into second and fourth gear. I did some research on it and found, like many of you, that Ford released a TSB recommending changing the stock transmission fluid to a lighter fluid. I also ran across owners installing a shifter bracket on their Mustangs with some mixed results. After seeing photos of the stock and aftermarket brackets I decided that I would eventually buy a bracket and give it a shot. My car shifts just fine outside of the grinding I experienced when new but I have missed a couple of shifts at high speed and torque conditions on track. Specifically shifting from fourth to third and ended up in fifth and from third to fourth and ended up in sixth. So I thought the shifter bracket would be inexpensive enough to try and see if it helped. I've only put a couple of hundred miles on my car since installing the Steeda bracket and the shifting now feels a bit more precise and mechanical. I'm talking about a minor improvement and nothing earth shattering here. It will be interesting to see if there is any improvement at the track.

There were three brackets I was looking at and all three are slightly different. I purchased the Steeda because it came with soft and hard bushings and I used the softer one. JHR sells one and you can order either the soft or hard bushing and Barton sells one that only comes with a hard bushing. The MGW shifter comes with a new shifter bracket necessitated by their design change and Steeda offers their bracket with their shifter. If I was going to order one now I'd buy the JHR with the softer busing and save a few bucks.

Installation was easy as long as you can jack your car high enough to get your whole body under the car or use a lift. Once my car was on my Race Ramps it took me about 10 minutes to make the change. Here are links to the three brackets I mentioned and a video from Barton on installing their bracket.

Bottom line is if you're not happy with the shifter changing out the weak stock bracket is an inexpensive and easy place to start along with a fluid change.

JHR

http://www.hecticparts.com/products/JHR-HARDCORE-BILLET-SHIFTER-MOUNT-FOR-2011-MUSTANG-WITH-6-SPD-TRANS.html

Steeda

http://www.steeda.com/store/mustang-shifter-base-bushing.html

Barton bracket and video

http://www.bartonindustries.com/2011-MUSTANG.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1hjZkbK3vls&feature=related

P1020943.jpg
 
Didn't go with the harder one because of NVH?

My friend runs a Joe Heck derlin shifter bushing on his Mustang, the harder one, but his car is basically a track car that sees a little street duty. He said to get the softer one if you are going to drive it a lot, but the harder one is a pretty noticeable difference. Probably going to go with the JH but not sure which bushing. The radio on these cars is so bad that a little more mechanical noise might actually make it sound better.
 
CaliMR said:
Didn't go with the harder one because of NVH?

My friend runs a Joe Heck derlin shifter bushing on his Mustang, the harder one, but his car is basically a track car that sees a little street duty. He said to get the softer one if you are going to drive it a lot, but the harder one is a pretty noticeable difference. Probably going to go with the JH but not sure which bushing. The radio on these cars is so bad that a little more mechanical noise might actually make it sound better.
Yes I'm running the softer one because of NVH.

A nice inexpensive upgrade for the stereo is to install a pair of Pioneer TS-D6802R speakers in the front doors. They sell for less than $100. You'll also need these adapters for the wiring.

http://www.sonicelectronix.com/item_12716_Metra-72-5600.html

http://www.sonicelectronix.com/item_11270_Pioneer-TS-D6802R.html
 
Can you add bluetooth to the stock stereo? And a USB input?

I am taking it by my bro's stereo guy to see what he thinks, will ask him about those speakers.
 

TMSBOSS

Spending my pension on car parts and track fees.
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5 DOT 0 said:
CaliMR said:
A nice inexpensive upgrade for the stereo is to install a pair of Pioneer TS-D6802R speakers in the front doors. They sell for less than $100. You'll also need these adapters for the wiring.

http://www.sonicelectronix.com/item_12716_Metra-72-5600.html

http://www.sonicelectronix.com/item_11270_Pioneer-TS-D6802R.html

I purchased two sets of pioneer speakers for the doors in my boss and my daughters V6 with shaker 500. Daughter said she did not want the pioneers. I installed the pioneer speakers front and back in the Boss. Took the daughter for a ride in the Boss and guess what??? Yep, we ordered two sets of pioneers for her V6.

Totally agree, the pioneers along with the wiring adapters mentioned do make a nice difference at a reasonalbe cost.
 
+1 on the Pioneers. I picked them up for $75 from a buddy that pulled them from the rear when he did the roll bar. Best bang for the buck mod I've done. I wasn't that hung up on the stereo since I bought the car for the track performance, but since it's almost a DD in the spring/summer/fall and I do like my tunes, it needed some help.
 

ArizonaBOSS

Because racecar.
Moderator
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Just ordered the Steeda one.

The Barton design is way too complicated for such a simple part, and the JHR's bushing has the chamfer to aid installation, but ultimately less surface contact area than the Steeda. Didn't like the idea of the two-piece bushing in the JHR either.
 
I agree on the Barton. The Steeda hard bushing (the black one) has a slit in it to aid in installation. I think the bracket will help under high torque, high load situations like what you're experiencing. If not it didin't break the bank. The stock bracket is very wimpy and loose fitting so it's hard to imagine there's no benefit from the aftermarket bracket.
 

drano38

Wayne
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I know the above posts say the Barton may not be the best choice, but its currently on sale at AM for $69.95. If that hits your price point, and you feel its worth it, here ya go. Wow, what a URL.
http://www.americanmuscle.com/barton-shifter-bracket-2011.html?gen=2011-2012&utm_source=bronto&utm_medium=email&utm_term=Barton+Industries+Shifter+Bracket+-+MT-82+%2811-12+GT%2C+V6%29&utm_content=wkelm%40itctel.com&utm_campaign=2012-01-24+Jan+Sales+Reminder+%2811-12%29+Save&_bta_tid=3.LYg.BXn1NQ.D06m.X76o..ppro.s.KRc.s.pj8.b.TyB7YA.TyB7YA.GBi1XQ&_bta_c=ka2d2dbqgvi80ogw14ormd4j3wp4w
 
I have the Barton bracket, used 1 track day, am ordering mgw shifter. Will sell the Barton bracket for $55.00 shipped.
 

Justin

Save the dawn for your dishes!!!
I ordered a MGW shifter on March 14th. Called them and they said I should be in the next batch that is shipping the second week of april. I would give MGW a call and ask them when they are expecting to ship yours 706-793-1770
 
drano38 said:
I know the above posts say the Barton may not be the best choice,


I finally got around to installing the Barton shift bracket I bought a year ago. It produces way to much NHV for street driving. It will be coming back out as soon as I get a chance to jack the car back up.
 
BossJockey said:
drano38 said:
I know the above posts say the Barton may not be the best choice,


I finally got around to installing the Barton shift bracket I bought a year ago. It produces way to much NHV for street driving. It will be coming back out as soon as I get a chance to jack the car back up.
Good feedback Jeff. As with all mods, you have to take into account how you'll use the car. That's my biggest concern with tearing into the suspension. At this point, I still really enjoy driving the Boss on the street and know streetability is going to suffer once I start down that path.
 
boss2511 said:
I ordered a MGW shifter on March 14th. Called them and they said I should be in the next batch that is shipping the second week of april. I would give MGW a call and ask them when they are expecting to ship yours 706-793-1770
I ordered mine around the same date they told me the same thing I figure we should be seeing an tracking number soon ???
 

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