My Pac-Pro joystick works really well with PacMan, Frogger, et al, but the throw length is too long compared to the original Midway Packman joystick. Are there any mods I can make to reduce the throw length? Maybe build a restrictor plate?
The Pac-Pro already has pretty short shaft, which of course, is necessary for a short throw. A top-mounted restrictor plate may be enough, but modifications of this nature do not exist in a "vacuum." All of the parts and the positions for those parts, are designed with all of the other parts in mind, to balance things out and make things work properly. You may find that adding a restrictor would not only require a different diameter shaft and/or adjustment of the switches, but may also require a different diameter actuator.
IOW, it can be done, but changing something could open a "can-of-worms" best left unopened.
It sounds like a Leaf-Pro stick with the 4-way restrictor might be more to your liking. However, this stick uses a different mounting pattern, so an adapter would be necessary to use the same mounting footprint as the Pac-Pro.