I was thinking about buying one for my 1995 Corvette but i heard something about they are a pain to install. Is this true? What all do you have to do to install a new shifter? 6-speed. I am also new to this board so just wanted to say hi. I have a 1995 Yellow Corvette 6-speed.

 

Welcom to the Forum. :seeya

Yes, the Hurst is a pain to install, but well worth the effort.

 

Yup, it's a pain :yesnod:
1. Remove Console
2. Remove Shifter **** (and that *@$& key).
3. Remove boot and plate.
4. Get under the car and remove exhaust. Yes, just do it, believe me.
5. Cut a tie wrap and spend the next half hour holding the rubber boot back while trying to drive a pin out.
6. Pop shifter assembly out from top.
7. Dismantle shifter.
8. Reassemble with new shifter keeping some parts, replacing others.
Now the fun starts!
9. Drop shifter back in from top
10. Get back under car and get comfortable because you have to somehow hold that rubber boot back again and try to line up shifter linkage with transmission linkage.
11. Try to drive that pin back in.
12. Re-align the linkages.
13. Beat the hell out of that pin!
14. Get a beer, this will take longer than expected.
15. Re-re-align the linkages while seriously thinking of dropping the entire transmission.
16. Remember that pin? Yeah, no matter what you think, it has to go back in there!
17. Holy cow! It's going in! There is a God!
18. Have a beer, you've earned it!
19. Get back in the car and make sure there isn't any binding while cutting your hands on the shifter threads because you're too lazy to put the **** back on just to test it!
20. Get back under the car and (heaven help us) attempt to put a tie wrap on that rubber boot that you so loath now.
21. Bolt your exhaust back up. That should seem like childs play now!
22. Get back in the car and re-assemble the console.
23. Have another beer while swearing that as long as you live, you'll never have to do that again!

That's all there is to it. No, really. It should take a little less time than an entire engine rebuild to complete!
:lol: :lol: :lol: :lolg: :lolg: :lolg: :lolg:

Not that I've done this before mind you. You know, people talk, word gets around, ya hear things :crazy: :cheers: :cheers:

 

Welcome to the forum. I have the hurst and it was a pita to install but well worth it. Use the search function for many archived posts about hurst shifters... :cheers:

 

Great write-up ShawnZR-1, it brings back memories :banghead:


[Modified by STL94LT1, 4:45 AM 3/9/2003]

 

I just put mine in this afternoon. It is a pian, but seems like it will be worth it. The car has no exhaust (waiting for Corsa system to be delivered) so I can't drive it. On thing ShawnZR-1 forgot to stress was how hard it is to get the upper rubber boot back on. I know three of the sides are on good, but who knows about that fourth side. :crazy: Seems OK, but it's hard to tell if it is really on there.

 

Yea, I have the B&M ripper and it took me a 6 pack to get that mother in. But as kenny Chesney says...." BUT I DID IT".. If you cant get the pin out that hold the shifter **** in place. Just drill a hole in the center ,,,run a self threading screw down the middle...grab a hold with some plier under the head of the screw and use a hammer to tap it up and out. Otherwise you might knaw the thing to a nub trying to pull it out with pliers.

 

May I suggest doing the shifter swap during a clutch job? How many miles on the clutch disc? Obviously it will be cake if the tranny is out anyways.
Here is a peek at the topside of it. Ignore yellow circle, that was something I had in another thread.
And welcome to the forum tech section! You will get mod fever here! :yesnod: :thumbs:

 

If i may id like to reccomend the B&M ripper. I took the hurst off after a month and... much happier with the B&M. Id suggest to find someone that has them both, try them and then pick. everyone has different tastes.
:cheers:

 

:withstupid: Oh, jeeze, how could I have left that little gem out :rolleyes: :smash:

I forgot to mention, I did actually do this on my 1992 LT-1.....but as you can see, that's not a LT-1 in my sig, yup, I'm about to do it all again :banghead: but I'm doing it because I really feel it's worth it. :yesnod:

 

HUrst instructions are very very good. I have never seen instructions that detailed specifically for a car (it even distinguishes between early and late model ZF6 transmissions).

I found it hardest to reinstall/remove the snap ring that goes over the pin which links the shifter shaft to the shaft going into the ZF.

Also do not overtighten the 4 acorn nuts (11mm?) that hold the shifter plate to the rubber boot (you tighten these from inside the car). You will strip the threads if you do

 

Here is an idea that I used to convince myself to do it; contact the Mr. Gasket people and ask for a copy of the instructions to see if you want to do this project. They faxed me a copy right away. The hardest things have already been talked about, except installing the Hurst shifter to the "pivot" I needed 3 hands, but skill and cunning won out. You'll love it when you're done. Hey ShawnZR-1......great write up, It brought back so many memories. I had to replace the lower boot as mine was ripped to shreads by the previous shadetree mechcanic. :cuss (and he worked at the dealership!)
Look at it this way... you have a chance to BOND with your Vette :thumbs:
SEE YA and welcome aboard
Strick

 

well what is the difference in the shift rod pin that has to be driven out? i'm in the middle of an install of a ripper shifter and can't get teh d@%^ thing out. instructions say tap. it dont work. i''ve talked to prob 30 people about this. half say drop the tranny cause the pin is pressed in. the other half say, it was easy, just pushed the pin right out. this seems to me the hardest part. how bout you folks post if yours was easy or not and what year your car is. we need to figure out why some are so tough, cause this SUCKS! :cuss

 

My car is a low mileage (16k) 1994, and the pin just tapped out.

 

:iagree: 19,000 mile 94 here, just some gentle persuasion was all it took. :hurray:

 

I know it's hard to believe, but CorvetteZ51Racer (John) did mine and it only took him 30 minutes to put the thing back in. He is truly amazing. The biggest time constraint was with putting the cable tie around the shifter boot from the bottom. That took him about 10 minutes.

As for putting the rubber boot back on from the top, I strongly suggest you loosen the 2 screws on the center console (drivers side) which will allow you to pull the trim piece away from the boot. This will allow you to get to the 4th side...

Mike