How long should it take a good shop to install the Hurst Short shifter in my C4? Or better yet what is a fair install price?

 

I would allow a shop around 3 hours to complete the installation. The job is not that difficult and can easily be done by yourself, but if you have a shop do it I'd find out their hourly rate and just multiply their rate by 3. Best of luck!!!

 

Should'nt take much more than an hour. Less, if the shop knows what they are doing. There's really nothing to it. Expect to spend between $60-$120.

 

I'd like to find a shop that would just charge 2 to 3 hours labor. The only shop around here I could find that would even do it was West Coast Corvettes and their quote was 7 hours at $70 an hour. Corvette Mike's didn't even respond.

Of course the 7 hour quote was to do install Corsa's also. I hope that didn't add much to the quote since the first part of the shifter install is drop the exhaust. :nopity

 

WOAH. :eek:

I payed $120 when I had my B&M installed (my FIRST shifter), and that included "tweaking" out the piece by adding washers, shaving brass, and driving it to make sure it worked perfectly.
I had another shop (RP Motorsport) in Atlanta charge $60 for the Hurst. Both shops take around an hour.

 

I just had a hurst shifter and Corsa installed. Together the cost was $200. All joints welded etc. etc. The shop shouldn't take more than 1.5 -2 hours for the shifter by itself.

 

365zum you went to a Hurst? I love mine. I was over at RP talking with Pat today. Old roomate used to work with him.

 

Yep,

The B&M performed perfectly around town. It was very solid, quiet, and had a firm shift to it. When shifting quickly though, there were some bad noises coming from the syncros that were enough to make me switch.

The Hurst might not be as fun to drive as the B&M, but it's an overall better shifter.

Pat's a great guy. Unfortuneately, they were the ones who broke me the news about my LT4 engine.



[Modified by 365ZUM, 7:50 AM 2/6/2002]

 

I've done two installs. 1 on a my '96 convert. Took about 5 hrs. I took pictures etc. and didn't remove the exhaust. Did a '92 coupe for a friend , removed exhaust no pictures and that took about 2.5 hrs. This was without the aid of a lift or air tools. Job should take a shop 1-2 hrs. max.

 

Scooby,
where did you have the Hurst and Corsa's done? For a $300 savings I will drive down to Palos Verdes/San Pedro.

Did they do a good job?

 

I've installed 5-6 units + my own about 5 times, and it takes me anywhere from 2-5 hours depending on trouble with stuff like exhaust and the rubber boot, etc. But I take my time and take a few breaks in that too. Also L98 vs. later cars the job is a little different exhaust-wise.

Chris

 

Shifter install not that difficult? Maybe if you have the right air tools. I went to install a B&M on mine, there is a small pin that has to be knocked out from the bottom. The directions said it just pushed out. This was not the case on mine. I hit the thing with a hammer for half an hour, came back the next day, hit ir for an hour, the following day I used an 8 lb sledgehammer to hit it and it never even budged. I said screw it and put my car back together and returned the shifter. I have been told by multiple people that this is not an uncommon problem and that an air hammer will quickly remove the pin. Since I did not have access to air tools at the time or a friendly corvette mechanic, I gave up. I am still using the stock shifter, sure it rattles and has a long throw, but it is in there. I have a friend who installed the Hurst and he said he needed a second person to help him position the shifter from above while he worked from the bottom.

Chris at Speed Demon quoted me $150 for the install if I wanted to have him do it. I would think that doing exhaust and shifter at the same time would be cheaper than doing them separately because you have to remove the exhaust for the shifter install.

 

I've had trouble removing the pin, but in every case I had quick success once I had the right tools. The key I've found is using a Craftsman 12" tapered drift punch and a 2-3 lb hammer. The right punch is about as important as the hammer. Occassionally a bigger hammer is needed, but a couple good direct hits will get it going. Also make enough room to properly use the hammer. In some cases this pin all but falls out, in others it's quite tough.

A second person definitely helps in getting the gearshift rod back on the shaft, but I've done it myself by inserting a small punch into the lower hole in the rod and guiding it onto the shaft.

This job clearly takes some skill, professional installation is definitely a consideration for many.

Chris

 

Tony.96LT4

I'm in PA also, and I just bought a Hurst Shifter. How much would you charge to install mine? I'm very leary about having some of the shops around here do it because none of them even knew Hurst mad a shifter for a Corvette!! :eek: I'm in Pittsburgh, what part of PA are you near?

 

Well it is in, it took a Corvette race mechanic a little over 2HRS. He was being extra careful and said he was a little rusty. He charged only $130. Made me a good deal because he also does some work on my Spec Miata. Professional install would be the way to go IMHO.
Now for the good part....... GM should be shot for not putting the HURST SHIFTER in as a stock item. It improves the driving experience a ton. The stock shifter felt like a Kenworth compared to the short shifter. With the boot and the stock shift **** back on it looks like what the stock shifter only shorter. (LIKE IT SHOULD HAVE COME FROM THE FACTORY) You buy a manuel shift CORVETTE because you want to shift it thru the gears. Multiply how much you like shifting a stock 6speed C4 by ten. FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN!
This should be everybodies first mod with a 6 speed C4. :cheers:

 

Since you're in So. Cal, you might want to give Ray's Corvette Service a try in North Hollywood. He was Doug Hooper's mechanic when Doug owned Doug's Corvette. Doug is retiring but still spends time with Guldstrand helping out with mechanics.

Doug was a Penske driver who drove the old Grand Sports.

Ray does pretty good work at a rate nobody can compete with. His shop number is 818-765-9117. I've used him since he was with Doug, and he's building an '85 racing vette with me right now. He's as honest as they come.

 

Can someone tell me how the Hurst shifter adapts to the reverse lockout feature on the stock unit? Does it eliminate the collar that you have to lift up when shifting to reverse? I'm seriously considering this modification (and having a pro install). Thanks!

 

Reverse lockout is eliminated entirely. You'll find it's not really necessary and the sideways reduction of the Hurst makes the shifter feel more like the '95-6 lockout design.

Chris

 

Chris, thanks! :cheers:

 

Put The Hurst in. I cannot believe that anybody doing mods would not do this first. It is a whole different car after you change the shifter.