has anyone put a shifter like B&M or Hurst into their car? I know we can just put it in D and go.. (really go..) but I am looking for something different .. and it is fun to grab second slowley sometimes

If anyone has.. what mods where needed to the console. I like the looks of the B&M hammer and star shifters but I would try and get them to sit lower in the console.

Thanks..

 

I'm very interested in this topic also.

 

I'm going to try and contact B & M later this month so I will post my answers when I get in touch with them. B & M does sell one (Star shifter) for the late model camaro's and firebirds that fit real nice in there consoles but I saw nothing for the Vette.

Someone out there has to have installed something in a C4 Vette. Hopefully we get a responce..

Happy New Year

 

I'm very interested too
-Beppe-

 

 

If I remember right Sky_dw_it made this conversion using a B&M megashifter or a B&M Hammer or something other I remember a nice installation. I have in my mind 2 pics of this installation but I'm not able to search it on the archive (I tried B&M, megashifetr, with no luck).
-Beppe-

 

There is what this guy did.
http://www.geocities.com/jgkov/ShiftGate.html
Always wanted to try it.

 

I may be talking out of my pooper but couldn't you just take the guts out of a megashifter or starshifter and install it under the console? If my memory serves me the guts of my megashifter were pretty dam slender. It would be the first thing I would try to do if I had an auto, there's nothing like like a good ratchet shifter coupled to a tire barking tranny.

 

This doesn't look that complecated. Know I just have to find a spare shifter I can cut up

If anyone finds anymore info keep us posted..

 

Found!
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...ht=megashifter

 

This was a big help.. At least I know it can be done now. I also sdaw on the post that you can use a Mega shifter for an 83 camaro and it will sit right in there.. just have to support from the bottom somehow which shouldn't be to hard.

I am hopeing to do this project in the spring so I'll post when I get it completed.

thanks everyone.. and Happy New Year

 

Yeah that was me that put the B&M in. I love it. Can't imagine going back to the old rinky-dink stocker. It was fine for stock use, but for racing I love this one. Still had it bump through 2Xs this year, but I really RAPPED it, and I think the momentum underneath on the shifting lever is what carried it into the next gear. :o

The installation, I wanted to do a more detailed illustration of the install, but time was tight when I did it. I was sorta trying to fit it all in around the motor and other projects etc at the time and I was just happy to get it done.

It wasn't all that bad and I tried to do it the least destructive way possible. I did have to cut the original console up, which it was cracked in a few spots anyways, so I was going to replace it anyways. Instead, I did the necessary cutting, fixed the small cracks,sanded it and painted it. Turned out nice as new. And cut to fit the new shifter.

I then used the case that came with the B&M shfiter as the shifter itself would never fit down the recess that the cars had. So I had to live with it. Turned out what I thought really nice and works much better for shifting. Looks a little more aggressive than the stock old big flat console that I never liked anyways. This gives it a little more of a curved look and breaks up the blandness of it.

Some might like it, some might hate it. I like it and its more functional too.

Get the shifter. Take apart the console and you will see what you need to do. Its an evenings worth of work. Its dirty cutting the plastic, but not too bad really overall.

 

am using a hurst quarter stick shifter, all i had to do is drill new holes to bolt on the shifter bracket. am not using any of the other cables that bolt on the stock shifter like the neutral safety switch or the break cable so the car would go in gear with out paddling the breaks.i post some pics sunday night it looks bada*s

 

I can't believe no one makes a direct fit ratchet shifter for these cars.

I would have thought that most anyone who has an auto corvette would (want to) quickly switch to a ratchet. How can you possibly shift effectively with the stock shifter? When I had my Megashifter; in the heat of battle I used to slam that thing so hard the handle would come loose at the end of my runs.

 

I'm probably going to put this one off till spring but untill then I am going to call B & M and Hurst to see whats up. I also volunteered my car to B & M for a test shifter if they want it thru there web site so we'll see what happens there. (probably nothing) Red L98, got any picks of the Hust Shifter? I'd like to see what it looks like compared to the B & M in Ski's..

Thanks everyone..

 

thats the link for the shifter pics.

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/showthread.php?t=985183

just copy and paste it should take you to the post

 

the newest edition of vette magazine just came and there is a slick red 85 coupe all modded and the answer to the shifter question is in this car. he has a b&m megashifter mounted entirely below his console and the boot fills the gap around the shifter opening. no description how he did it but we now know it can be done and i will surely be doin this mod myself. nice tight clean install just what i was lookin for. i didnt want to hack up my carbon fiber kit.

 

when i changed to the turbo 350 trans i retained the stock shifter. I had to cut and grind the pattern as shown above. I'm not exactly what the shifter is made out of, but it's hard metal. I ended up with a ratchet shifter, once in 1st just slam the shifter forward and it hits a dead stop for second, then hold the button down and slam forward and your in third then once again just push forward and your in neutral, which is what ALL cars should do at the end of the track. The hardest part on the motor is just letting off at the finish line and having the motor trying to pull the tops of the pistons off and the rods apart.

Mike

 

I want to try and avoid and mods to my console if possible. Keep me posted on the shifter mod if you do it. When I get mine done I'll post some picks.

 

I just bought a B&M quicksilver to try and mod to the console. Im going to use a old shifter plate just to be safe at first. Will let you know how it turns out.