So I've only had it a week, but I decided to shorten the shifter, since I'm too cheap to buy a short shifter kit, and having taken 2.25" off the lever, the shift is now plenty short enough. I followed the TWM install instructions, but since there was sufficient room to get the shifter assembly out without taking all the console apart, but on undoing the nuts, the screws dropped down through the base of the inner black plastic framework of the console. I fished them back out with cotton thread lassos and snipe nose pliers, and reinstalled everything but the nuts only tighten so far and then the bolts start to spin.
The console is bolted to some bracket at the back under the rear console, but I can't see how to get that out, there are no fasteners visible. Any suggestions?

 

I'd hoped that someone might have some useful information. Since I'm not getting any, I did find out how the rear console top comes off - I didn't want to be yanking on anything only to find out from a 'crack!' that there was an undiscovered retaining screw, giving me access to the bolts that hold the rear console to the bracket that it shares with the front half. That done, I could then get the front console inner structure unbolted, and detached from the dash under the center stack, but it won't come out from under the stack, nor pull up enough to get to the heads of the bolts, the framework has a flange that hangs down over the tunnel in the floor, obstructing access. You'd have thought that the folks designing this would have used captive screws, or threaded inserts for this, it looks to me like the console framework and shifter are preassembled and are fitted to the floor before the dash is dropped in on top of it.

 

Sorry I can't help. Thought for sure one would of spoken up by now. Come on guys lets help this new member out

 

Maybe no one else f*cked with the shifter. I'm real sorry you dropped parts down the hole. It sounds like time for you to get out a shop manual.

 

Speaking from experience(not on the shifter but alot of stuff like it), i would say go back and take apart the entire center console, its nice and new and about as willing to come apart as it will ever be. Cutting down the shifter really doesn't acheive anything as far as quicker shifts, if i remember corectly the J-body short shifters will work and they are a lot cheaper than the cobalt specific ones.

Here is the j-body one.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/00-05...spagenameZWDVW

Compared to the cobalt one
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/HURST...spagenameZWDVW

 

I've already shortened the shifter, and it does make the throw substantially shorter - including side-to side, unlike the short shifters that lengthen only the lower fore-aft section. There are replacement bell-cranks that the side movement pin fits into available for other makes that also shorten this. After all, it's a lever, the reduction in length on one side can be made to have the same effect as the lengthening of the other. I've been driving it around for a week now, it's reassembled, but the bolts aren't very tight and had loosened up a little by today. I got the console lifted as far as I can today after removing all the screws and nuts holding it in, but it's wedged under the dash, and will only lift enough for me to feel the heads of the bolts, I still can't get a socket or wrench on them.
The knob is now about level with the top of the seat bases, it's a little low, but not uncomfortable. Shift feel is about as good as it's going to get with a cable shift, driving my SS (with a B&M short shifter that engages directly into the shift rail) feels very direct and notchy by comparison. Sadly today it gets its dust cover put on, and won't be going anywhere till the salt's gone next year.

 

I did eventually manage to get the console out far enough to get to the heads of the bolts, and get everything tight. A few scars but well worthwhile for a basically free mod.