My EP3 Civic Si is my benchmark for all previous and subsequent cars owned. Maybe not the best shifting car out there but for a cable shifter with only fluid change, short shifter, and heavier knob it was pretty good.
Initially with this car I did the short shifter and fluid change and it was better but not great. Tried a heavier knob but went too heavy and returned to stock. I was almost resigned that it was as good as it could get. Since then I've made a few changes and each seemed to make an incremental difference, most of them you guys are already doing but a couple probably not. Thought I'd share.
1) fluid change to Ravenol MTF-2. Initially tried Redline fluids and played around with the viscosity a bit. From that experience and finally changing to the 75W80 Ravenol I'm convinced this trans is designed for a 75W fluid, thicker is not better, but all 75W fluids are not equal either. The Ravenol works very well, may be fluids out there that work as well, but no suggestion from internet research that anything might work better.
2) short shifter. Don't think it makes much of a difference which brand or whether the change is made at selector shaft or shifter as either way it's simple geometry change. Not sure that doing both for even greater reduction is a good idea though as reduction is only fore and aft and this car already has pretty wide gates.
3) heavier/round knob. Ended up with a very slightly heavier than stock (7 grams) round knob and couldn't believe it made as much of a difference as it did. Had to swap back and forth with stock to convince myself. Still not sure if it is weight or shape but it made a noticeable difference.
4) fill the trans until it drips. This is one thing probably not many if any have done. My reasoning was that as this was how I had always filled the half dozen or so manual transmissions I had owned in the past that this was probably original design intent for this one as well before CAFE fuel standards complicated things. How much this contributed I can't say as it was done at same time as Ravenol change. I can say however that all mechanical shifting noises are gone with the dual mass clunk the only remaining artifact. And can also report no apparent leaks from "overfill" in 3k miles.
5) disassemble and re-lube shifter. Probably no one has done this. I only did it as I had my shifter apart to do my DIY mod. Factory lube is "white" grease. Anyone familiar with white soap based grease knows it has a tendency to dry out over time and it's not that great to begin with. While I had it apart fully cleaned and re-lubed all pins, bushings, and pivot points. Again noticeable difference. Anyone interested in doing this follow Bomba shifter install instructions for disassembly.
Verdict: aside from previously mentioned wide gates I'm pretty happy with how it shifts. Still miss my Civic, was slowly making it into a Type R until it got rear ended.
Initially with this car I did the short shifter and fluid change and it was better but not great. Tried a heavier knob but went too heavy and returned to stock. I was almost resigned that it was as good as it could get. Since then I've made a few changes and each seemed to make an incremental difference, most of them you guys are already doing but a couple probably not. Thought I'd share.
1) fluid change to Ravenol MTF-2. Initially tried Redline fluids and played around with the viscosity a bit. From that experience and finally changing to the 75W80 Ravenol I'm convinced this trans is designed for a 75W fluid, thicker is not better, but all 75W fluids are not equal either. The Ravenol works very well, may be fluids out there that work as well, but no suggestion from internet research that anything might work better.
2) short shifter. Don't think it makes much of a difference which brand or whether the change is made at selector shaft or shifter as either way it's simple geometry change. Not sure that doing both for even greater reduction is a good idea though as reduction is only fore and aft and this car already has pretty wide gates.
3) heavier/round knob. Ended up with a very slightly heavier than stock (7 grams) round knob and couldn't believe it made as much of a difference as it did. Had to swap back and forth with stock to convince myself. Still not sure if it is weight or shape but it made a noticeable difference.
4) fill the trans until it drips. This is one thing probably not many if any have done. My reasoning was that as this was how I had always filled the half dozen or so manual transmissions I had owned in the past that this was probably original design intent for this one as well before CAFE fuel standards complicated things. How much this contributed I can't say as it was done at same time as Ravenol change. I can say however that all mechanical shifting noises are gone with the dual mass clunk the only remaining artifact. And can also report no apparent leaks from "overfill" in 3k miles.
5) disassemble and re-lube shifter. Probably no one has done this. I only did it as I had my shifter apart to do my DIY mod. Factory lube is "white" grease. Anyone familiar with white soap based grease knows it has a tendency to dry out over time and it's not that great to begin with. While I had it apart fully cleaned and re-lubed all pins, bushings, and pivot points. Again noticeable difference. Anyone interested in doing this follow Bomba shifter install instructions for disassembly.
Verdict: aside from previously mentioned wide gates I'm pretty happy with how it shifts. Still miss my Civic, was slowly making it into a Type R until it got rear ended.