When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Hello all, I wanted to replace the factory shifter in my 81 4 speed to a Hurst shifter. In trying to locate a Hurst shifter I could not find any vendors that had one for 80 and 81. It seemed as though they were available up to 1979 and not there after. I am replacing the clutch in my 81 as we speak and it seems as though a Hearst shifter would mount on the side of my T- 10 and go right up to the original shifter boot. Does anybody have any experience with trying to install a Hurst 4 speed shifter to replace the factory clunker in a 1981??
I have not. I try to use the factory ones if at all possible even If I have to get them tighter due to age. I can get a factory shifter to be like it was when new if not better on about 99% of the ones I have worked on. The reasons I prefer to not use a Hurst shifters are not important...just like why you want a Hurst shifter is entirely up to you.
Hello all, I wanted to replace the factory shifter in my 81 4 speed to a Hurst shifter. In trying to locate a Hurst shifter I could not find any vendors that had one for 80 and 81. It seemed as though they were available up to 1979 and not there after. I am replacing the clutch in my 81 as we speak and it seems as though a Hearst shifter would mount on the side of my T- 10 and go right up to the original shifter boot. Does anybody have any experience with trying to install a Hurst 4 speed shifter to replace the factory clunker in a 1981??
Frank, be careful about referring to the factory shifter as a clunker, you will be sure to offend. There are many respected folks here that do love their factory shifters.
Having said that, my only real experience since the 60's has been with the Competition Plus. I have them in my '63 and '73 Corvettes and had one in my Mustang for over 15 years. Speed shifting, at least for a novice (which I certainly was back then) was much easier (and safer) with the Competition Plus. In 1984 when the C4 was introduced, the first thing I noticed was that GM had replicated the Competition Plus (minus the shorter throws) in the 4+3 manual. It does work exceptionally well ...for me.
To answer your original question, I see that Hurst does offer the shifter and kit for the Corvette up to 1979. Hurst Shifters® Part #:3917992. They do even add this note..
Fits 1968 to 1979 Chevrolet Corvette with 451, 452, or 453 Muncie manual transmissions, also fits 454 Muncie and Borg Warner manual transmissions
I don't know of a reason why it wouldn't work with an '81, but you might want to contact their tech line to see what they say. TEL: 707-544-4761; Hours of Operation:
Monday-Friday: 7:30AM – 5:00PM, Saturday and Sunday: Closed
My money is on Hurst not having updated their literature since 1979.
The only real difference is the rear axle so I don’t know what would prevent it from fitting?
Have you considered a Long's shifter for the T-10 instead of the Hurst? I changed my 5 speed to a similar unit and there was no comparison in shift quality. It's quite a bit more expensive, which may not be in your budget, but just thought I would mention this option if you hadn't heard of them. The 5 speed version went right thru the factory location on my 76 with no modifications.
I have used Hurst comp plus for 40 years now and really like them, but the last one I bought was about 10 years ago and it was not as tight in the gates when compared to the 1981 Hurst I have in my 69. I sent it back once to Summit, came back the same, then to Hurst directly in Carson NV. They had it over a month and when it came back it was the same thing. Clearly not the same as my older one. I finally took it apart myself and tightened it up. It worked great after that. So are the new ones better today? You have to buy the shifter and mounting kit separately and I think the last cost was about $400. The Long Shifter I believe is a better made shifter but I haven't used one. All the factory shifters I had were sloppy and had longer throws. Jegs or Summit should have them, there are still a lot of c2-c3 4 speeds out there.
I have a Hurst Competition Plus in my 80, installed by a PO. Even after changing all of the bushings I could get to, spraying the hell out of it with brake cleaner, and making sure all of the linkages were adjusted correctly, the shifting is still clunky, but my transmission needs a rebuild. No problems with the 2-3 shift, though, which is the strong point of this shifter (don't want to screw that up).
My understanding is the the competition plus shifter itself is the same across C3s (and many other cars), but the linkages are special. Hurst no longer makes the install kit for the 80-81 cars (no manuals in 82).
Here is the "last one" available new from Hurst. https://www.hurstshiftersonline.com/...r-T10-p522.htm
Text from the site (assuming it's legit) "ONLY 1 AVAILABLE....LAST ONE! Free Brushed aluminum T handle. HURST 4 Speed Kit for 1980 and 1981 Corvette with Factory BW Super T10 HURST Comp Plus Shifter Kit for 1980 and 1981 Only Corvette with Factory installed Borg Warner Super T10 4 Speed Includes Shifter 3910028 and Install Kit 3738621"
So the install kit, 3738621, is the difficult part to find. I saw one on the forum recently. Or you could try eBay, or buy the "last one" from Hurst.
Last edited by Bikespace; Jun 25, 2018 at 08:35 AM.
Hurst shifter
