Will mid shift option work with Mk5?

[Ryans Rebel]

I just received a Mk5 roadster last week. I have a BP 347 with trans on order and I opted for a mid shift kit. Looking at the car in person, I see the tunnel slops down from the dash a bit. Will the mid-shift work out nicely with the Mk5? I'm not too worried if a cross bar is in the way - I can relocate that.

Ryan

[TrackDay17]

I just received a Mk5 roadster last week. I have a BP 347 with trans on order and I opted for a mid shift kit. Looking at the car in person, I see the tunnel slops down from the dash a bit. Will the mid-shift work out nicely with the Mk5? I'm not too worried if a cross bar is in the way - I can relocate that.

Ryan

I believe they redesigned the cross brace for this very reason so you wouldn't have to cut it out anymore.
I've got the same setup as you but I've not installed my engine yet.
I think others have so you might check their build threads.

Did you opt for the higher overdrive gear ?
I think it's an 0.68 as compared to 0.86, better for highway cruising in 5th gear and lower rpm.

Here's mine when I unwrapped it, can't wait to get to the point of installing it and getting it running!225637

[Ryans Rebel]

Thanks for the reply. I searched and could not find any specific mention of the mid-shift being used in the Mk5. The tunnel looks like it is the same elevation all the way up to the firewall on the Mk4, where as the tunnel on the Mk5 seems to slope back maybe minimizing any possible location for the mid-shift. We will see!

[TrackDay17]

If you search the FF MK5 build and discussion videos I believe they talked about these changes in one of them.

[rickster991]

I found a picture of my install. I used front of rear install. You can see the frame is not in the way for midshift. Not sure if you would need a special shifter.

225677 225678

[edwardb]

These are pictures of my Mk5 build. Granted it's an Aluminator (aka Coyote) so that needs to be taken into account. A Coyote block is around 1-1/2 inches (don't remember the exact dimension) shorter than a SBF. So the shifter by definition is further forward. But with this engine in a Mk5, a midshift on your engine is going to put the shifter not only close to the cross brace but very close to the transition between the upper and lower transmission covers. In my case, I'm using the front location in the rear shift location. IMO that would work well for you too. Midshift is going to get you up near the frame and close to the dash when shifting.

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=219900&d=1759893489

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=223724&d=1767924031

[Ryans Rebel]

Thanks for the replies guys. I have an email into FFR to try and get a definitive answer. I’ll report back my findings.

Just receiver the kit last week and I’m anxious to get started.... after I get this sorted.

[edwardb]

I guess the two sets of pictures aren't definitive? ^^^^^ Not sure what else you expect them to say.

[Ryans Rebel]

I guess the two sets of pictures aren't definitive? ^^^^^ Not sure what else you expect them to say.

With all due respect - I don't know what I'm looking at. I'm a newbie. Clearly your set-up works. I am not educated enough between engine/trans and shifter locations to know the difference. Blueprint is supposed to be the go to source for "drop in" engine/tans. I told BP had a Mk5 and wanted a mid-shift and they sold it to me. Maybe they don't know either?

As of now you say it will not work. My eyes tell me it will be close (but I don't know better). Hopefully FFR or others will confirm what you are telling me. If indeed it won't work - I'll need to call BP and change my order; at a cost I'm sure :(

[rich grsc]

Well maybe you should re-read what has been posted? It shows a mid-shift in a Mk5, everyone is saying IT WILL FIT. DID YOU EVEN LOOK AT THE PICTURE PAUL POSTED.

[edwardb]

With all due respect - I don't know what I'm looking at. I'm a newbie. Clearly your set-up works. I am not educated enough between engine/trans and shifter locations to know the difference. Blueprint is supposed to be the go to source for "drop in" engine/tans. I told BP had a Mk5 and wanted a mid-shift and they sold it to me. Maybe they don't know either?

As of now you say it will not work. My eyes tell me it will be close (but I don't know better). Hopefully FFR or others will confirm what you are telling me. If indeed it won't work - I'll need to call BP and change my order; at a cost I'm sure :(

Well, seems you took offense at my post. Maybe I wasn't the most diplomatic (sorry) but struck me a little strange that you asked a question, you got answers with pictures, but said you would look elsewhere for a "definitive" answer. Your choice, of course, but leads me to ask why ask us in the first place? What else could we have said? (Side note: I see that happen sometimes. Guys come on here asking questions, and then argue with the responses making it seem their mind was already made in the first place up so why ask. Maybe I was feeling that a little.) You're new to this, like you said, and also don't have a lot of forum posts. But you'll find out there's lot of knowledge on here and frequently is faster and with more real world experience than some sources. But granted, not everything on the Internet is true (!!!) so you have to be the judge of course.

OK so here's a little more of a response and I'll be quiet and go away. (1) Blueprint may/may not have Mk5 experience. It hasn't been out that long after a multi-year run with the previous versions. There are differences which they may not take into account. Or maybe they do know about this. I don't know I haven't dealt with them. But caution is in order IMO. (2) The Mk5 is definitely different in the transmission tunnel. On previous versions, the transmission tunnel was basically flat forward well under the dash. So you could put the shifter just about anywhere and when you search the forum, you do see midshift installations talked about a lot for Mk4 and before. The Mk5 transmission tunnel (like the Coupe as I mentioned) angles out well past the dash which could interfere IMO with a midshift. This picture is directly off Factory Five's website showing what I mean. I'm confident this picture is not with a midshift. https://www.factoryfive.com/wp-content/smush-webp/2025/02/mk5-roadster-24.jpg.webp. Move that forward several inches and now you understand what we meant. (3) I assume you know the midshift is an added cost for parts and labor. Not cheap BTW. The rear shifter, reversable as I showed, is standard and doesn't add cost. If you decide you don't want it and they want more money to delete a cost-added option, I would seriously question that. OK, I'm out and good luck.

[Ryans Rebel]

I'm sorry guys. I'm new here and I'm just trying to understand things, obviously I do not. I had no idea my replies would be deemed offensive to anyone. This is my first time trying to build one of these. There is no local cobra community for me to lean on so I thought I would try and get some help here in the forums......

Again, I'm sorry.

[CW_MI]

These are pictures of my Mk5 build. Granted it's an Aluminator (aka Coyote) so that needs to be taken into account. A Coyote block is around 1-1/2 inches (don't remember the exact dimension) shorter than a SBF. So the shifter by definition is further forward. But with this engine in a Mk5, a midshift on your engine is going to put the shifter not only close to the cross brace but very close to the transition between the upper and lower transmission covers. In my case, I'm using the front location in the rear shift location. IMO that would work well for you too. Midshift is going to get you up near the frame and close to the dash when shifting.

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=219900&d=1759893489

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=223724&d=1767924031

Paul,
In those pictures, it definitely looks like a mid shift would be too far forward. How much different is a G3 coupe chassis to the Mk5 ? I thought they were similar up to the rear of the cockpit ? Another member here, is finishing up his coupe, with a SBF and went with a mid shift kit, and it places the shifter perfectly, well to what him and I are comfortable with.

I to need to figure this out, as I will be ordering my SBF engine/trans package in the near future and after seeing how it was in the coupe, was just going to order the mid shift kit for my Mk5.

[Ryans Rebel]

Let me try this again - albeit in a different way. The picture below is from edwardb's post. I have drawn a red arrow onto a "plate". Is this the location of the shifter on a transmission that has the mid-shift option? I understand that edwardb does not have the SBF and has a coyote variant.


225740

[Jeff Kleiner]

Let me try this again - albeit in a different way. The picture below is from edwardb's post. I have drawn a red arrow onto a "plate". Is this the location of the shifter on a transmission that has the mid-shift option? I understand that edwardb does not have the SBF and has a coyote variant.


225740

Yes, that is where a true "mid shift" would be...although as Paul pointed out with a Windsor derived engine the trans is an inch or so farther rearward.

Jeff

[edwardb]

Paul,
In those pictures, it definitely looks like a mid shift would be too far forward. How much different is a G3 coupe chassis to the Mk5 ? I thought they were similar up to the rear of the cockpit ? Another member here, is finishing up his coupe, with a SBF and went with a mid shift kit, and it places the shifter perfectly, well to what him and I are comfortable with.

I to need to figure this out, as I will be ordering my SBF engine/trans package in the near future and after seeing how it was in the coupe, was just going to order the mid shift kit for my Mk5.

This is the best picture I can find during the G3 Coupe build of the shifter location in the forward orientation of the rear shifter location. Multiple caveats: This is with a Coyote, so shorter by an inch or so than a SBF as mentioned a couple times in this thread. This is also a T-56. A bit longer than a TKX. Per this comparison chart, the T-56 shifter location I'm using is about 3/4-inch further back than a TKX. But then the input shift on a TKX is shorter than a T-56 and I recall the bell housing on the T-56 was relatively shallow. https://tremec-blog.com/measurement-comparison-of-tremec-aftermarket-manual-transmissions/. So maybe they're not that different. Sorry I can't give a more definitive answer. Clearly the mid-shift location on my Coupe drivetrain combination wouldn't work as it's under the cross brace and where the tunnel angles up. I can say for driving purposes (5 seasons, 10K miles) this location is great. Falls perfectly in hand.

As for the G3 Coupe and the Mk5 being the same up to the rear of the cockpit, I can't give specific dimensions. While the frames between the two are a similar design. I can say they're not the same. I can specifically say the Mk5 has less room between the front of the engine and the frame cross member. What fit in there in the Coupe didn't fit the same in the Mk5. Both with Coyotes. I vaguely recall measuring it as a couple inches different. But don't quote me on that. The Coupe also has the extended nose with the radiator tunnel. And the radiator tips the opposite direction making it longer. The Coupe wheelbase is also longer. So that's in there somewhere.

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=81752&d=1519741069

[Jeff Kleiner]

Paul,
How much different is a G3 coupe chassis to the Mk5 ? I thought they were similar up to the rear of the cockpit ?



"Similar" being the key word here. I was at FFR looking at the tubing cut sheets in the R&D lab and the pieces that are the same between the Gen3 Coupe and Mk5 were highlighted...they are primarily those that interact with suspension and drivetrain mounting. The tunnel area is "similar" but not the same.

Jeff

[CW_MI]

Thanks Paul, and Jeff for the replies. Here is the best pic i can find of coupe with an SBF/TKX with the shifter in the mid shift location. As you can see it fits with no issues. I know you've mentioned the length difference with the Coyote, and the differences with the transmissions, but it looks like there is more than an inch and a half...although it's hard to tell by pictures.

Time to start pouring through the Mk5 build threads, and see if there are some pics. I know there are a few with SBF's.

[edwardb]

Thanks Paul, and Jeff for the replies. Here is the best pic i can find of coupe with an SBF/TKX with the shifter in the mid shift location. As you can see it fits with no issues. I know you've mentioned the length difference with the Coyote, and the differences with the transmissions, but it looks like there is more than an inch and a half...although it's hard to tell by pictures.

Time to start pouring through the Mk5 build threads, and see if there are some pics. I know there are a few with SBF's.

Interesting. Ends up being in nearly the same spot as my Coupe drivetrain combination in the rear shift location. :p May have to take back my responses regarding the Mk5. Interesting to see what you come up with. At least with the Mk5 it wouldn't hit a crossbar if further back. Like it would have in that pic. Nice change by FF to take that out of the equation.

[CW_MI]

Interesting. Ends up being in nearly the same spot as my Coupe drivetrain combination in the rear shift location. :p May have to take back my responses regarding the Mk5. Interesting to see what you come up with. At least with the Mk5 it wouldn't hit a crossbar if further back. Like it would have in that pic. Nice change by FF to take that out of the equation.

This is starting to make a little more sense.The shifter opening in the tunnel sheet metal supplied by FFR, lined up perfectly. So, maybe the shifter does end up in close to the same location.

[rickster991]

My picture is with a BP 347 and TKX. You can see it clears. I looked for another picture. Here you go.

225775

The red arrow is the midshift. The blue arrow is the front of the two selections for the rear shift position. The orange arrow is for the rear of the two selections. My shifter is in the front slot of the rear selection. Hope this helps.

I originally wanted mid shift, but it would have delayed my order so I opted to go with what’s shown. It really is the sweet spot with the supplied FFR shifter.

[jeffbob]

Mid-Shift set-up works just fine with MK5 + BP 347 Engine + TKX - alignment also works out well with this configuration after some adjustment to the mounts - let us know if any additional input needed ?

225778225779225780

[rich grsc]

So why are you calling that the mid shift ? That is the full forward position, mid-shift is in the middle

[rickster991]

So why are you calling that the mid shift ? That is the full forward position, mid-shift is in the middle

It’s strange, but they call the front position mid-shift. Not sure why…. Here’s a link that shows the position and name.

https://fortesparts.com/product/tremec-tkx-mid-shifter/

[Ryans Rebel]

Appreciate all of the replies. You guys have me satisfied that my current set-up (BP347/TKX & mid-shift option) will work just fine in the Mk5. Now onto completing my inventory and getting started on this roadster!

[Joel Hauser]

It’s strange, but they call the front position mid-shift. Not sure why…. Here’s a link that shows the position and name.

https://fortesparts.com/product/tremec-tkx-mid-shifter/

Thanks Rickster for this explanation of the term midshift and the link to forteparts. I've never understood what the heck a midshift mod was, but have still be following this thread. Silly me. I have a T45 transmission in my roadster. With the T45, I don't think midshift is an option, or necessary. But again, thanks for explaining this.

[JCB52]

So why are you calling that the mid shift ? That is the full forward position, mid-shift is in the middle

Yes, thank you , saved me from making a long *** post…

[rponfick]

Good discussion on shifter locations.
I have a Mk5, SBF BP and TKX, and just discovered I need to turn around my rear-most shifter location to the front location. The chrome trim plates for the shifter and brake will not clear each other in the rearmost position. Luckily turning around the fixture plate seems to be a simple operation with the internal mounting balls having two locations already.
Ralph

[TrackDay17]

Good discussion on shifter locations.
I have a Mk5, SBF BP and TKX, and just discovered I need to turn around my rear-most shifter location to the front location. The chrome trim plates for the shifter and brake will not clear each other in the rearmost position. Luckily turning around the fixture plate seems to be a simple operation with the internal mounting balls having two locations already.
Ralph

I haven't installed my engine yet with the mid shift but I ditched the pre cut FF cover for a blank SnakeBite one so I can drill my own hole in the exact spot I need it. I also ditched the parking brake handle altogether and popped for the electronic Wilwood kit to clean up my tunnel a bit too.