ZF Doc short shifter
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2019
Posts: 48
Likes: 8
ZF Doc short shifter
Installed the short shifter I bought from Bill yesterday. As you know his shifter retains the lock out for reverse, which I wanted to keep. Took myself and my friend (an actual mechanic) about 3 1/2 hours. The only hang up was removing the shifter from the housing. I’m guessing but it had to be installed at the factory from the bottom up. When re installing it we used our own clips as the factory had “ears” making it impossible to get in the housing as well as we ground a touch off each end of the shifter shaft to get it in. The clip and the pin underneath was not as tuff as I thought it would be. So I boxed I’m mine and shipped it back. He can reshape it and send it out to another buyer.
Totally drives like a different car, amazing and I’m as pleased as punch. So, shout out to Bill, he makes a great piece, worth every dime!
Totally drives like a different car, amazing and I’m as pleased as punch. So, shout out to Bill, he makes a great piece, worth every dime!
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2019
Posts: 48
Likes: 8
I’m not sure what you mean about “ratio”? You mean the added resistance when shifting? The shifter rod is shortened along with other improvements by Bill. So naturally it will take more effort to shift it, but not unduly I think. The stock shifter I found “remote” like most factory shifters in all cars. They are trying to make it rattle and vibration free but shifting suffers with rubber bushings and the like.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 21,543
Likes: 3,216
From: Park City Utah
Yes, that's what I mean; Bill shortens the stick, and lengthens the shift lever shaft, below the pivot point. This change in ratio is what gives us a "short throw" shifter. It's also what increases shift resistance although I agree not by a lot on this transmission.
But I believe that Bill does other things too, to improve tightness, feel, precision. Right? So I'm wondering if he can do that part of the service, but keep the shifter length the same and the shift ratio the same, but improve feel/precision/tightness?
But I believe that Bill does other things too, to improve tightness, feel, precision. Right? So I'm wondering if he can do that part of the service, but keep the shifter length the same and the shift ratio the same, but improve feel/precision/tightness?
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 12,221
Likes: 446
From: Overland Park Kansas
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (appearance mods)
C4 of Year Winner (appearance mods) 2019
It was my impression the actual mechanism (in terms of any "isolation") remains the same. I thought the only change was the length of the shifter [rod] and the pivot point. Regardless, I've had one for 10 years and can't imagine wanting the original unit [back] in my car -- even if there was a minor change in isolation/slop. Bill's shifter is so damn good it's hard NOT to say it's at least tied with the best modification I've made to my car -- and that includes the installation of a 383.
The amount of movement required for each shift isn't worse, it's better. There's really zero extra effort...only better feel. Leverage doesn't make Bill's "harder". It makes it easier to shift! Driving a stock ZF C4 after my conversion made the OEM feel like shifting a truck. Of course, that's where the trans was sourced. But, I'm talking about the ridiculous height AND amount of "throw" required to operate an OEM manual ZF. People have posted this before but a short-throw shifter is how GM should have built our cars -- from the factory!
FYI...Not trying to argue the merits of Tom's query...rather posting counterpoint relevant to the shifter while adding to positive feedback on Bill's ZF shifters.
The amount of movement required for each shift isn't worse, it's better. There's really zero extra effort...only better feel. Leverage doesn't make Bill's "harder". It makes it easier to shift! Driving a stock ZF C4 after my conversion made the OEM feel like shifting a truck. Of course, that's where the trans was sourced. But, I'm talking about the ridiculous height AND amount of "throw" required to operate an OEM manual ZF. People have posted this before but a short-throw shifter is how GM should have built our cars -- from the factory!
FYI...Not trying to argue the merits of Tom's query...rather posting counterpoint relevant to the shifter while adding to positive feedback on Bill's ZF shifters.
Last edited by GREGGPENN; Oct 22, 2021 at 12:39 AM.
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Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2019
Posts: 48
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Another reason to use Bill’s shifter is he retains the reverse lockout. I believe the reason is the reverse gear is synchronized, which could make it possible to accidentally go into reverse from 5th gear. That would be disastrous for sure.
In my 90 convertible I do use 6th on occasion. At 3,000 RPM, in 5th gear I’m only going 56 MPH. One of the joys of this car is you are shifting a lot, really engaged with the car when driving.
I recently sold my 2014 Shelby GT500. Ford had engineered this car to go over 200 MPH. In order to do this the gears are long and heavy. Yes it was lightning fast but way over top, at least for me. The clutch was dual mass I believe, and it never felt comfortable.
I also bought a ball shifter for the corvette, much better then the stock ****.
In my 90 convertible I do use 6th on occasion. At 3,000 RPM, in 5th gear I’m only going 56 MPH. One of the joys of this car is you are shifting a lot, really engaged with the car when driving.
I recently sold my 2014 Shelby GT500. Ford had engineered this car to go over 200 MPH. In order to do this the gears are long and heavy. Yes it was lightning fast but way over top, at least for me. The clutch was dual mass I believe, and it never felt comfortable.
I also bought a ball shifter for the corvette, much better then the stock ****.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2019
Posts: 48
Likes: 8
Hi Don, Bill makes his shifter’s from our own original ones. The main difference between his shifter and Hurst (or the company that now makes them), is Bill’s retains the reverse lockout. Why you ask? Because in our ZF transmissions, the reverse gear is synchronized! Unusual but it is.
IF you accidentally shifted into reverse in error at speed……..well you get the picture.
So, if you promise to send your old shifter back when you put his in , he will wave the core charge.
It is an unbelievable difference in shifting and just driving the car. Then I bought a white shift **** with the correct shift pattern from”Twisted Shifter” for under $30.00
Excellent!
IF you accidentally shifted into reverse in error at speed……..well you get the picture.
So, if you promise to send your old shifter back when you put his in , he will wave the core charge.
It is an unbelievable difference in shifting and just driving the car. Then I bought a white shift **** with the correct shift pattern from”Twisted Shifter” for under $30.00
Excellent!
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 1,695
Likes: 728
From: Stay dangerous my friends
I have Bill's shifter, very happy with it, trans feels great, shifts great. Local to me so he removed the stock shifter for me, looked things over, and modified the shifter it later that week. I installed it myself with the transmission out. It's easier to put the ZF in with the shorter shifter, I'm sure. Also installed his reinforcements for the C Beam, he brought some insulation by for the C Beam as mine was missing, also re-shimmed I think it was the back of the input shaft to tighten it up to minimize rattle in neutral with the aluminum flywheel especially. Great guy, and all of his advice seemed to be spot on. He has a great inventory of new impossible to otherwise obtain ZF parts, a great blueprinting process, highly recommended.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 21,543
Likes: 3,216
From: Park City Utah
Cruising
Joined: Oct 2021
Posts: 13
Likes: 1
From: Greenfield, MA
Thanks Gunney and AZSP33D for your input. I have sent an email to Bill this morning requesting to purchase the short shifter. I have a 2007 Z06 which shifts a lot better than what I experienced in the 1996 corvette. But the shifting in my honda S2000 has been the best shifting in any vehicle I've driven.
Thanks for your help.
Thanks for your help.
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 1,695
Likes: 728
From: Stay dangerous my friends
Yes, the C-Beam has a little bit of a ring to it, and during cruise there may be certain pitch humming noise that it produces sort of like a musical instrument or a tuning fork. The insulation eliminates the noise produced. Not sure if the vibration/noise has any detrimental mechanical effects.
