Cutting the shifter won't make it a short shifter. What makes a short shifter is the design and the linkage. I wouldn't advise cutting it.

 

Go for it, I have done it on all of my previous vehicles and it works out great. As far as the comment about making it shorter; it does(sort of), true that the actual SS usues a different linkage to gain the shorter throw but the reason that linkage works the way it does is because of leverage. Now leverage can be achieved with the shifter in a few ways, the use of extra hardware(true reduction) and lowering the shifter(perception of reduction). Now lowering the shifter will not give you an actual shorter throw but it does give the perception of a shorter throw(and a nice look) by moving the leverage point(it also gives you a more "mechanical" feel). Now this is not an actual replacement for the SS but it does great for a while until you are ready to purchase the SS.

- Phil Rogers

 

The only problem I see it the washer that is welded to the shifter to keep the boot up. You would either have to weld it back, or find another way for the boot to stay up tight to the knob.

And there is a MOD somewhere that is said to shorten the throws on the stock shifter.

 

Actually cutting the stock shifter does lessen the throw. The further out you go from a pivot point the more you will have to move it to go from stop to stop. The only problem with shortening the stock stick is that you increase the effort needed to move it, possibly hurting your shifts. In regards to keeping the boot up (after removing the metal disk) just mark on the stick where you want the boot while the console piece and boot are on the on the car, take those parts off, and then wrap the stick in your favorite tape at the point where you want to hold the boot up. Its Red Green quality work for sure, but it works and you won't notice the tape when everything is put together. But on the 3 is fucked up. Lower the stock shifter and so g-bye to your cup holder. Its a pain now to shift quickly with a drink in. This will only make it worse, and I won't even mention the center console problem (my wrist doesn't twist that way)