Attention: TDR Forum Junkies 
Well, I was lucky enough to get one from the first batch that Tomey put together, so I wanted to post my opinions on it. Mine is coupled with the BD short shift kit so I don't know how it feels with the factory shifter lower section.
Just as most all of the beta testers said, Tomey really did his homework on this one! If you have ever taken your shifter off before, this is a 15-20 minute install. If you haven't ever taken your shifter off, probably about a 30-45 minute job. The hardest part of the install is getting the adapter indexed correctly. To be honest, mine is a couple of degrees off of where I actually would like to have it because I couldn't find a combination of shims to give me the exact position, but I am a little bit OCD about things like that too.
There are 2 configurations you can use when installing the shifter, we will call them A and B. The way it is assembled when you receive it, A, feels very good. I drove it like that for a few days and just for the heck of it, I reconfigured it to the second configuration, B, which moves the shifter about 1/2-1 inch closer to the driver. Configuration B barely clears the ashtray in first gear. I'm pretty sure it would hit the ashtray without the short shift kit. I like the way it feels a little bit better so I am staying with that one.
Tools needed for the install:
1. Small screwdriver or other item to pry the old shift pattern cap off
2. 15 mm deep socket and corresponding ratchet
3. 8 or 10 inch crescent wrench
4. 14mm open end wrench
5. 3/16 hex wrench for removing pac shifter mounted switch
Step 1 - Removal of old shifter:
Remove shift pattern insert using a small screwdriver or other instrument, taking care not to damage the shift knob. Using the 15mm deep socket remove the nut holding the shift knob on. Using the screwdriver or other small prying instrument, pry the shifter boot out of the console, taking care not to damage the shift boot. The boot snaps into place on the console. Remove shifter boot. Remove the factory shifter by placing the crescent wrench on the hex at the base of the shifter and turning counter clockwise.
Step 2 - Installation of SRT-10 shifter:
Remove the nuts holding the shifter and adapter together and separate the adapter from the shifter/damper. Have the indexing rings handy. Thread the adapter onto the lower shift shaft until it bottoms out and note the position. Remove the adapter and add indexing ring/s to get the adapter indexed so that the flat section of the adapter is pointing over towards the driver (depending upon the location of the adapter, you might have to do this several times). Using the crescent wrench, tighten the adapter. Decide which orientation you would like to use for the shifter, A or B. Configure the damper on the shifter for your preferred orientation. Place the damper/shifter assembly onto the adapter. Using the 15mm socket, attach the damper/shifter assembly with the nuts provided. Install the shifter boot. Thread the nut on the top of the shifter all the way down. Thread the new SRT-10 shift knob (or your knob of choice) onto the shifter until it bottoms out. Back off the shift knob until you get the desired orientation, then using the 14mm wrench, turn the nut counter clockwise to tighten it against the shift knob. Put tools away and admire your new shifter!
If anyone notices any errors in my instructions let me know so that I can correct them.
One challenge I ran into was mounting my exhaust brake switch. I have the pacbrake shifter mounted switch. The cylindrical portion of the shifter is much smaller diameter than the factory shifter, so to re-use the pac mounting bracket, I bought a rubber stopper that went from 5/8in to 3/4in and was like 1in long. I took a utility knife and worked my way around it to shave it down to 5/8in. all the way around. Then I drilled through the stopper working my way up through the drill bits starting with like 1/8in and stopping at 5/16 or so. I cut the stopper to the same height as the switch bracket, then cut it in half. I put each half of the stopper into each half of the bracket, and mounted it on the shifter. I wanted the switch to be tight on the shifter so I made sure not to drill the hole to large. It compresses out of the top and bottom of the switch bracket a bit, but it keeps it nice and tight on the shifter, and since it is rubber, it won't scar the shifter. See the pic in reader's rigs to see the switch mounted.
This shifter looks awesome! IMO it really makes the truck unique. I'm not a fan of a lot of 'bling' but this is one item that I definitely had to have and I am glad that I decided to get it. Pics are in my reader's rigs. I have quite a few pics of both orientations.
This kit gets nothing but thumbs up from me. Easy to install and a top quality kit. I can't say it enough, Tomey really gets an A+ for his efforts here!
Now you can't have a review without any negatives. My only complaint is about the shifter boot and that has nothing to do with the quality of Tomey's kit. As mentioned previously, apparently there are 2 different boots out there, one is a lot larger than the other. I wouldn't be opposed to purchasing the larger boot if the price wasn't outrageous. The other option is to stop by an auto upholstery shop and see what they'll charge to make another one for me. Seeing as my base ring is broken, I am considering trying to manufacture an aluminum trim ring to maybe make it look more like the SRT-10. Not sure yet. I'll probably wait until the boot wears through before I do anything.
Anyone interested in this kit should just hold tight. It is definitely worth waiting for. IMO there is not a better looking shifter out there for these trucks.
Jeff
Just as most all of the beta testers said, Tomey really did his homework on this one! If you have ever taken your shifter off before, this is a 15-20 minute install. If you haven't ever taken your shifter off, probably about a 30-45 minute job. The hardest part of the install is getting the adapter indexed correctly. To be honest, mine is a couple of degrees off of where I actually would like to have it because I couldn't find a combination of shims to give me the exact position, but I am a little bit OCD about things like that too.
There are 2 configurations you can use when installing the shifter, we will call them A and B. The way it is assembled when you receive it, A, feels very good. I drove it like that for a few days and just for the heck of it, I reconfigured it to the second configuration, B, which moves the shifter about 1/2-1 inch closer to the driver. Configuration B barely clears the ashtray in first gear. I'm pretty sure it would hit the ashtray without the short shift kit. I like the way it feels a little bit better so I am staying with that one.
Tools needed for the install:
1. Small screwdriver or other item to pry the old shift pattern cap off
2. 15 mm deep socket and corresponding ratchet
3. 8 or 10 inch crescent wrench
4. 14mm open end wrench
5. 3/16 hex wrench for removing pac shifter mounted switch
Step 1 - Removal of old shifter:
Remove shift pattern insert using a small screwdriver or other instrument, taking care not to damage the shift knob. Using the 15mm deep socket remove the nut holding the shift knob on. Using the screwdriver or other small prying instrument, pry the shifter boot out of the console, taking care not to damage the shift boot. The boot snaps into place on the console. Remove shifter boot. Remove the factory shifter by placing the crescent wrench on the hex at the base of the shifter and turning counter clockwise.
Step 2 - Installation of SRT-10 shifter:
Remove the nuts holding the shifter and adapter together and separate the adapter from the shifter/damper. Have the indexing rings handy. Thread the adapter onto the lower shift shaft until it bottoms out and note the position. Remove the adapter and add indexing ring/s to get the adapter indexed so that the flat section of the adapter is pointing over towards the driver (depending upon the location of the adapter, you might have to do this several times). Using the crescent wrench, tighten the adapter. Decide which orientation you would like to use for the shifter, A or B. Configure the damper on the shifter for your preferred orientation. Place the damper/shifter assembly onto the adapter. Using the 15mm socket, attach the damper/shifter assembly with the nuts provided. Install the shifter boot. Thread the nut on the top of the shifter all the way down. Thread the new SRT-10 shift knob (or your knob of choice) onto the shifter until it bottoms out. Back off the shift knob until you get the desired orientation, then using the 14mm wrench, turn the nut counter clockwise to tighten it against the shift knob. Put tools away and admire your new shifter!
If anyone notices any errors in my instructions let me know so that I can correct them.
One challenge I ran into was mounting my exhaust brake switch. I have the pacbrake shifter mounted switch. The cylindrical portion of the shifter is much smaller diameter than the factory shifter, so to re-use the pac mounting bracket, I bought a rubber stopper that went from 5/8in to 3/4in and was like 1in long. I took a utility knife and worked my way around it to shave it down to 5/8in. all the way around. Then I drilled through the stopper working my way up through the drill bits starting with like 1/8in and stopping at 5/16 or so. I cut the stopper to the same height as the switch bracket, then cut it in half. I put each half of the stopper into each half of the bracket, and mounted it on the shifter. I wanted the switch to be tight on the shifter so I made sure not to drill the hole to large. It compresses out of the top and bottom of the switch bracket a bit, but it keeps it nice and tight on the shifter, and since it is rubber, it won't scar the shifter. See the pic in reader's rigs to see the switch mounted.
This shifter looks awesome! IMO it really makes the truck unique. I'm not a fan of a lot of 'bling' but this is one item that I definitely had to have and I am glad that I decided to get it. Pics are in my reader's rigs. I have quite a few pics of both orientations.
This kit gets nothing but thumbs up from me. Easy to install and a top quality kit. I can't say it enough, Tomey really gets an A+ for his efforts here!
Now you can't have a review without any negatives. My only complaint is about the shifter boot and that has nothing to do with the quality of Tomey's kit. As mentioned previously, apparently there are 2 different boots out there, one is a lot larger than the other. I wouldn't be opposed to purchasing the larger boot if the price wasn't outrageous. The other option is to stop by an auto upholstery shop and see what they'll charge to make another one for me. Seeing as my base ring is broken, I am considering trying to manufacture an aluminum trim ring to maybe make it look more like the SRT-10. Not sure yet. I'll probably wait until the boot wears through before I do anything.
Anyone interested in this kit should just hold tight. It is definitely worth waiting for. IMO there is not a better looking shifter out there for these trucks.
Jeff
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Oo.
