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I have the ripper and love it but I also road race and its extremely precise for not missing shifts. I didn't install it because you have to drop the exhaust and the shifter has to be shimmed.
Bottom line. Hurst is great for street. If you do any drags or road racing I'd choose the B&M.
From: Ontario. 85, 523cid BBC ,C4-ZR2,Z51, DRippie's actual '87 SCCA Fox RShox, ZF6, HoosierR6, Plated.
Short Shifter Anyone?
One of the main differences between the B&M and the Hurst is that the B&M replaces the "Swing Plate" in addition to the shift lever itself.
The "Swing Plate" is the source of the pivoting action ( both fore and aft, as well as left and right) in the mechanisim and has altered folcrum points compared to the stock unit which is retained with the Hurst. Remember, the Hurst only gives you a new lever.
So, the B&M has a different geometry than the stock and that's why I chose it.
The feel of the B&M is rather like a well worn lever action Winchester rifle , it has a very direct and satisfiing mechanical action that is solid and positive. I can see why some might find it a bit raw, but I like it and it works extremely well.
Okay. Finally installed the HURST shifter in my '94 ZR1. Shifter did not include the bearings but was able to take the bearings out of the old shifter without damaging them and reinstall in the HURST. Have Corsa Exhaust and was best to remove it all in one piece while on the lift. This made for much more room under the car. Complete job took about four hours, just taking my time and reading the instructions carefully. (Instructions were well defined for this job.) Can do it again much faster if had to. REALLY like the way it shifts with the short stick and shorter throw. With the stock **** on it, it still looks normal to the untrained eye. Look forward to going thru the gears once again. (No paddle shift automatic for this boy!)
I had an appointment with my Corvette guy today, to install my Hurst shifter. He thought it would be about a 2 hour job. I left the car, and about an hour later he called and said it was more work then he thought, and didn't have time to do it today. He said the exhaust has to be dropped, and a couple other minor things removed..and it looked like a real P.I.T.A. I said...ok...no problem..and called another Corvette shop, who said they could do it in a couple of hours...for $180. My original guy was talking $600 if I brought it back...which was his way of saying..."take it somewhere else" So..lets see if the second shop knows what they are talking about...
If you have a vette shop offerring to do the job for $180....go for it! Our time consuming process was dropping the exhaust. It was helpful to have two people doing the job and a lift. Soon as I read the instructions about getting under the car I knew this job wouldn't be performed at home. Drove the ZR1 to Santa Monica yesterday and really enjoyed the new shifter. Good luck with it. twobluevettes@yahoo.com
it's been @ 3 weeks now since i installed my hurst shifter, what a diff over stock. i should have done it a loooong time ago. and the install was not that hard at all, just time consuming.
I installed the B&M in my 92, greatest change I have made! You can find a new one on Ebay for about 200 bucks. You have to go under the car and drop the exhaust system to install it. The shifts are firm and positive and I like the "keep the drink in the holder" feature!
Just to throw anther option out there late in the thread... I have the shortened stock unit by ZFDoc. Works great, retains the lockout ring etc. He installed & shimmed for me with my rebuild so it is prob. as close to perfect as you can get.
Can you take a pic of the zfdoc shifter? Is it difficult to install? Thanks.
93cruiser