Well after installing the short shifter and putting in Redline gearbox fluid, I'm pretty happy with the gear shifting... I have the solid brass shift bushing that came with the car but never installed... Is it worth installing? I read some people had issues with grinding etc afterwards? 

Anyone have them and are you happy with it?

Yes. I'd rather the brass shift bushings on a standard shifter, than a short throw.

Cool gonna install this weekend and see if it improves shifting from 1st to 2nd

I just took my brass shifters out and replaced the with the Spherical bearings (You can get from CRW (http://twosrus.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=949 ) or there is an Australia company that also sells them.
 
Having now driven the car I don't get the grinding I used to. Its so much easier to get into 1st + 2nd.
 
You could get away with putting a brass bushing on the top lever, but definitely put a spherical or OEM rubber in the side lever as there is a reasonable amount of binding with this cable and thats what affects the 1st -> 2nd (up & down) gear changes.

So even with the brass bushing you still had issues with shifting from 1st to 2nd? So should I not bother with this brass bushing and just order the one you linkeD?

Do you have a link to the product from Australia so I know I'm buying the right one that will fit
 
If not I'll order it from twosrus. Just curious though the one advertised by twosrus, does it come as a pair?

Aussie company i bought from. http://www.deltav.com.au/index.php?option=com_virtuemart
 
Seems like it is not available anymore though. Maybe send them an email?

 
A solid brass bush should be fine for the top cable end, to take out some slack in the feel at the gear lever.
 
However because of the shift lever geometry at the transmission end, the lower cable is the one that does all the flexing (and is also the one that tends to break) so I believe the stock rubber bush is the best option there.
I would not recommend fitting spherical bearings.
 

thanks for the comment... so confused as to which way to go. people have different views on the best setup

petmr2
thanks for the comment... so confused as to which way to go. people have different views on the best setup

Maybe you could inspect your current rubber bushes and see what sort of condition they are in? If they are okay just leave it?