i know this has probably been asked before, but whats a good short shifter to get for a '97 civic HX? are the ones they sell on ebay any good? are there certain things or brands that i should look out for when shopping for one? thanks for your help.

 

A B&M shifter can be had for $40-50, and B&M is a reputable company. The generic $25-40 shifters will generally work fine with a set of good urethane bushings, but for a little more you can have a B&M unit.

 

are there any other brands that are good also?

 

Solo, Skunk, Neuspeed, they're pretty much all the same. Just get one from a reputable company and you'll be alright. Get whichever one that costs the least. As long as it's not from some third rate knockoff company, you shouldn't have anything to worry about. Actually, as I said, most of the generic ones will work just fine, but you get a little piece of mind buying one from a reputable company. Whatever shifter you get, make sure you run a good set of urethane shifter bushings. A lot of companies make them - Energy Suspension, Prothane, Neuspeed, etc.

 

do i have to buy those seperately even with the good shifters?

 

You can get the Energy Suspension shift bushins from Rons 11 bucks.

 

Some sifters, like the Neuspeed ones, come with bushings. Otherwise, they're like $11-15 max.

 

Just grip the shifter lower.

 

I heard the cheaper no name aluminum short shifters actually BREAK. That's a risk I'm not willing to take. I am going to try to get the B&M setup very soon.

 

Bushing Kit: http://www.nopionline.com/index.cfm?...%20Shift%20Kit