pufferfish
Supporting Vendor
well, i had that very question. since i have spent a lot of time lately on shifters and whatnot, i know there are 3 main improvements made for the 2015 version. first, the box and mounting arm are 1 casted unit. this prevents the inconsistancies in the box "clocking" that caused pinched off 1-2 gates in some cars. second, the reverse lockout, lift up, instead of push down, is a better idea. third, and most important, is gate pitch. i have found that the tremec transmission shifting shafts require about the same angle to go from the 1-2 gate to the 3-4 gate, but in the cockpit, there is far less angle in the stick on the MT82 verses the tremecs. this makes the 2-3 transition more difficult (even with the blowfish shifter support). the 2015 version opens up the pitch to more closely match what you would find in a gt500, which is far easier to find 3rd gear in. in looking at both shifters, they are very similar, but would they be similar enough to swap to the better factory shifter? sort of. the 11-14 MT82 has a little wall just behind the shifter attachment boss that the 15 version doesn't have. this interferes with the 2015 shifter's arm. it could be cut off the trans or notch the arm. i chose to notch the arm. it now bolted up. next the rear body mount. no dice, but since i prefer the blowfish shifter support, i am back in the game. the 2015 kit bolts up perfectly. the shifter pokes up through the hole in the floorboard, but it doesn't sit right. the 2015 shifter has an oval ledge with foam to seal up against the floorboard, rather than the rubber bellows the 11-14 cars get. the center of the shifter pivot sits back and left of the center of the hole, so there is daylight showing near the front of the hole. i solved that problem by putting the bellows in. all sealed up and shifting well, i put the trim panel on and quickly realized the big diameter reverse lockout thingy wasn't going to go through the hole in my leather boot. boot off and trim panel back in, but the shifter was far left. too far for the shifter to get far enough left to get into reverse. so, the chrome trim ring had to be removed. its now functioning. time for a drive.
i tell you what, ford did a good job with this shifter. it feels much easier to manipulate. i really like the reverse lockout mechanism. the gate pitch is perfect. even the more left position works out. i had a cup in the cup holder and barely noticed it was there! i just need to figure out how to avoid the large viewing window to the shifter and i have a keeper.
to sweeten the pot, ford racing is releasing a short throw for the 2015. its expected to be available in may. i have one on order. no, it is not a rebranded barton unit like the 11-14 cars get. it is a factory style shifter with stiffer bushings and a 17% reduction in throw. should prove interesting!
i tell you what, ford did a good job with this shifter. it feels much easier to manipulate. i really like the reverse lockout mechanism. the gate pitch is perfect. even the more left position works out. i had a cup in the cup holder and barely noticed it was there! i just need to figure out how to avoid the large viewing window to the shifter and i have a keeper.
to sweeten the pot, ford racing is releasing a short throw for the 2015. its expected to be available in may. i have one on order. no, it is not a rebranded barton unit like the 11-14 cars get. it is a factory style shifter with stiffer bushings and a 17% reduction in throw. should prove interesting!