Shifter Bracket Differences - 350Z Tripod Assembly

[drifter92]

So I ran into this issue on the 2003 350Z I bought that had a million problems but the topic I want to cover is the different shifter brackets on 350Zs so hopefully I can help some people who run into this issue since I figured it out on my own. When I took the transmission out of my car for a clutch job, I noticed the lower 2 bolts were not installed on the shifter bracket, after some investigating I learned all this.

There are 3 different shifter brackets for a 350Z/G35:

2 of them are interchangeable but look different.
1 of them is unique but looks similar to the others.

What I think, and correct me if I'm wrong, is the shifter brackets changed over the years with the transmissions.

There appears to be early mid & late shifter brackets.

One of these is definitely a 2003
One of these is definitely from a CD009
One of these is unknown in between

https://i.imgur.com/rP4JE3b.jpg?1
https://i.imgur.com/fkp3PRC.jpg?1

Here is the problem I was having:
https://i.imgur.com/qg2V9ht.jpg?1
https://i.imgur.com/8bR3rMg.jpg?1


If you have a shifter bracket that is too short for those bottom bolts to go in, you need an 03 bracket that looks like this, with these small metal sleeves sticking out on the bottom of the upper mounting holes.
https://i.imgur.com/y6oLE5C.jpg?1
https://i.imgur.com/kqv3wUP.jpg?1

This photo shows a 2003 bracket placed in front of a newer one. The 2003 has solid mounting points. All of the newer ones have rubber bushings on all 4 mounting holes.
https://i.imgur.com/aUYZ59F.jpg?1


The difference in length from 2003 to the newer ones:
2003 is 3 7/8"
Newer ones are 4 1/2"
https://i.imgur.com/JRNh9zh.jpg?1
https://i.imgur.com/VwCbgna.jpg?1


Once you have the correct shifter bracket, you will need to tighten down the top 2 bolts so that it looks like this, bottomed out.
https://i.imgur.com/EYa266K.jpg?1

Then the bottom legs will bolt right on easily like this:
https://i.imgur.com/jIFAeat.jpg?1