Short Shifter
Elite Torch Red Member
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 57,805
Likes: 23
From: Exit 89 GSP,Lakewood,NJ The Land Of Mojo
Cental/South NJ Events Coordinator
CI 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12 Vet
CI-II Burnout & Drag Champ
St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05-'06-'07
Short shifters ain't all that great, proper eye/hand/foot coordination is the key.
But to answer your question, I believe you have two choices of which only one I would do.
You have the B&M Ripper shifter which is clunky and stiff, and you have the Hurst Billet Plus which is nice and smooth.
They range anywhere from $125-$200 depending on where you shop.
Some forum vendors have them, you can also get them from Jegs or Summit.
If you didn't notice, I prefer the Hurst and that's my next purchase. I don't need the short throw(the Hurst is only 30% shorter), I need the smoothness. The stock shifter works just great, it's just a little sloppy.
You will get folks here that will tell you the B&M is the best one and that is their opinion. I don;t agree since I have driven vehicles equipped with both and I don't like the B&M at all.
In either case, neither will help you shift quicker, that's just a myth, you need to work on your footwork to get a nice powershift.
No matter how short the throw is on top of the pivot, it still has to move the same amount as stock under the pivot point.
But to answer your question, I believe you have two choices of which only one I would do.
You have the B&M Ripper shifter which is clunky and stiff, and you have the Hurst Billet Plus which is nice and smooth.
They range anywhere from $125-$200 depending on where you shop.
Some forum vendors have them, you can also get them from Jegs or Summit.
If you didn't notice, I prefer the Hurst and that's my next purchase. I don't need the short throw(the Hurst is only 30% shorter), I need the smoothness. The stock shifter works just great, it's just a little sloppy.
You will get folks here that will tell you the B&M is the best one and that is their opinion. I don;t agree since I have driven vehicles equipped with both and I don't like the B&M at all.
In either case, neither will help you shift quicker, that's just a myth, you need to work on your footwork to get a nice powershift.
No matter how short the throw is on top of the pivot, it still has to move the same amount as stock under the pivot point.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
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From: I'm the walkin dude I can see all of the world...
St. Jude Donor '03
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 22,209
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From: OBAMA IS HITLER
I can't vouch for the B&M, but I can on the Hurst Billet Plus. More positive, short shift, feels MUCH better than stock. Plus you can actually see the face on your stereo. Go to VictorRussel92's link to Ebay vendor - that's what I paid as well, the best deal I've seen 
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 13,793
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From: St. Peters MO Sometimes you have to prove yourself by doing alot of killing or alot of dying...
I got a B&M from a forum member and love it... although it is clunky. You really get an arm workout from shifting her now. You can check E-bay as well. There is a reputable guy that sells the Hurst for $100 everyday. I'll forewarn you... Installation is a bi-atch!!! I won't do it again.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 2,898
Likes: 0
From: Oklahoma City Oklahoma
I appreciate all the responses. Gives me something to think about
One thing I am DEFINITELY going to do is switch to synthetic oil in the tranny, and rearend. Probably Royal Purple, unless somebody has a better brand in mind. Thanks again!
One thing I am DEFINITELY going to do is switch to synthetic oil in the tranny, and rearend. Probably Royal Purple, unless somebody has a better brand in mind. Thanks again!
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Race Director
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 12,772
Likes: 17
From: Indianapolis IN
Originally Posted by bradvette
I can't vouch for the B&M, but I can on the Hurst Billet Plus. More positive, short shift, feels MUCH better than stock. Plus you can actually see the face on your stereo. Go to VictorRussel92's link to Ebay vendor - that's what I paid as well, the best deal I've seen
with Brad, very solid shifter
Race Director
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 14,165
Likes: 9
It's a love / hate thing really. You love one, you hate the other. Personally I love the B&M. The "clunk" that everybody talks about refers to the fact that this shifter does away with all the flexible components of the stock setup and shortens the throw dramatically.
Very simple physics tells us that the shorter lever arm means less mechanical advantage, thus it is "harder" to shift than the others. It feels "clunky" because there is nothing to dampen the shifter from the trans. The end result is a very positive engagement. You know if it's in gear or not because it slams home with a very satisfying clank.
Some people will tell you that the shifter effort is excessive with this shifter. Although it is more than with the others, it is hardly excessive. I can hold the car in a straight line with the thumb and index finger of my right hand and effecitvely reach over and shift through 1-4 using just my finger tips.
My experience has been that you fall in love with whichever you drive first. I happened to drive the B&M first and I feel like the Hurst isn't enough different from stock to warrant the effort of installation. Most people who drove the Hurst first feel like the &&M is too clunky.
Drive them both and figure out what you like better.
Very simple physics tells us that the shorter lever arm means less mechanical advantage, thus it is "harder" to shift than the others. It feels "clunky" because there is nothing to dampen the shifter from the trans. The end result is a very positive engagement. You know if it's in gear or not because it slams home with a very satisfying clank.
Some people will tell you that the shifter effort is excessive with this shifter. Although it is more than with the others, it is hardly excessive. I can hold the car in a straight line with the thumb and index finger of my right hand and effecitvely reach over and shift through 1-4 using just my finger tips.
My experience has been that you fall in love with whichever you drive first. I happened to drive the B&M first and I feel like the Hurst isn't enough different from stock to warrant the effort of installation. Most people who drove the Hurst first feel like the &&M is too clunky.
Drive them both and figure out what you like better.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 13,793
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From: St. Peters MO Sometimes you have to prove yourself by doing alot of killing or alot of dying...
Originally Posted by Nathan Plemons
It's a love / hate thing really. You love one, you hate the other. Personally I love the B&M. The "clunk" that everybody talks about refers to the fact that this shifter does away with all the flexible components of the stock setup and shortens the throw dramatically.
Very simple physics tells us that the shorter lever arm means less mechanical advantage, thus it is "harder" to shift than the others. It feels "clunky" because there is nothing to dampen the shifter from the trans. The end result is a very positive engagement. You know if it's in gear or not because it slams home with a very satisfying clank.
Some people will tell you that the shifter effort is excessive with this shifter. Although it is more than with the others, it is hardly excessive. I can hold the car in a straight line with the thumb and index finger of my right hand and effecitvely reach over and shift through 1-4 using just my finger tips.
My experience has been that you fall in love with whichever you drive first. I happened to drive the B&M first and I feel like the Hurst isn't enough different from stock to warrant the effort of installation. Most people who drove the Hurst first feel like the &&M is too clunky.
Drive them both and figure out what you like better.
Very simple physics tells us that the shorter lever arm means less mechanical advantage, thus it is "harder" to shift than the others. It feels "clunky" because there is nothing to dampen the shifter from the trans. The end result is a very positive engagement. You know if it's in gear or not because it slams home with a very satisfying clank.
Some people will tell you that the shifter effort is excessive with this shifter. Although it is more than with the others, it is hardly excessive. I can hold the car in a straight line with the thumb and index finger of my right hand and effecitvely reach over and shift through 1-4 using just my finger tips.
My experience has been that you fall in love with whichever you drive first. I happened to drive the B&M first and I feel like the Hurst isn't enough different from stock to warrant the effort of installation. Most people who drove the Hurst first feel like the &&M is too clunky.
Drive them both and figure out what you like better.
The only way i could have said it any better is if I copy\pasted it and claimed it as my own. 
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 3,418
Likes: 1
From: NW Chicago Suburbs
Originally Posted by CMYC4GO
One thing I am DEFINITELY going to do is switch to synthetic oil in the tranny, and rearend. Probably Royal Purple, unless somebody has a better brand in mind.
Using non-approved/tested lube in a ZF can cause hard shifting (bad) or worst, require a $2,000 rebuild (really bad). FWIW, Castrol 10W60 synth (from the BMW dealer) and factory fill are the only two available lubes that are factory approved.
The good news is that the ZF6 is bullet-proof, taking care of it by bleeding the clutch's hydralic system and replacing the lube regularly will make it last forever.
Oh yea, Hurst.
Eric
