As a final wrap-up to this thread, I thought I'd answer the last couple questions pending.

As far as the leather color of the ****, it's just a half-shade different than my stock leather but I'd expect that since they're not matched hides. My Hurst **** is futher off my stock leather and it's not at all noticeable in the context of the interior due to how dark it normally is in the cockpit. It takes the camera flash to be able to see the mismatch. Here's the C6 **** next to my steering wheel. The **** is slightly lighter than my wheel leather and has a hint of brown in it when viewed closely in natural light.


Here's the C6 **** laying on my Vette Essentials short boot which matches my interior very closely.


And, here it is compared to my Hurst ****. Notice how similar they are. I modified and installed this **** long before the C6 was released and knew I had the right-feeling **** for me the day I installed it. I was pleasantly surprised when I first saw the C6 **** since it was so similar to my preference. This test confirmed I like this shape best.


Finally, I thought a shot of all three, the Hurst, The C6 and the stock C5 shifters side-by-side would be interesting. I measured the C6 shaft and it is ~.575" in diameter while the C5 shifter is a 9/16"-18 thread, which is slightly smaller (.5625" nominal). The C6 **** bore is ~.610" in diameter. The C6 shifter is 1.00" shorter than the stock C5 shifter.


Once again, thanks to Ralph for having this shifter sent to me to test. Ralph, the C6 shifter is repacked and ready to ship on Monday. You should receive it this week. I'm sending the modified rubber plug just in case you need it. Enjoy!

 

picked one up from his ebay store already. thanks for the tip though.

 

Could you post the name of his e-bay store or a link? I tried to e-mail him, but the addy @ aol bounces. Thanks.

 

Patches,

Great instructions and easy to follow pictures.

Thanks a lot - looking forward to the 'drive test'

 

just put in "c6 ****" in the search window and it should come up. right now my dsl is down and dial up doesn't like ebay too much

 

Not that I ever considered switching, but I love my Hurst and glad I'm not missing out on something better.

Excellent comparison write-up!

 

Timing is a freaky thing. My baby's in the shop getting the 3rd gear synchro replaced as I type. The C5 shifter is highly clunky. I shifted a C6 and fell in love.

I called the dealer Friday and ordered them to install a C6 shifter and I'll pay the difference.

I've used the Hurst but didn't like the spring tension. If I can get close to C6 movement I'll be happy.

I'm e-mailing this to the service manager now

Thanx Patches!

Michael

 

It's a big improvement over stock. Fits much better into the hand and a substantially shorter throw over a non cut stocker...

Peace
Willfulone

 

I've gotten a few emails asking if we are going to have a boot and **** for the C6 shifter in a C5. Yes We have cores and can wrap the C6 **** in any color combo you like. The boot isn't firm yet as I haven't put my hands on this setup yet. I'd expect us to have the boot in a couple of weeks.


Ken

VetteEssentials.com

 

Searching on e-bay is a weird thing sometimes. I used this term, along with several others yesterday and nothing. Try it again this morning, and there it is. Oh well.

For anyone who is interested, the guy's e-mail is gst20psi@aol.com, and here's a link to his e-bay store:

http://stores.ebay.com/Gst20psi

 

Ken, how much would we be looking at to have a core we send in modified in two-tone (black/red, for instance)? I'd have to send you mine, as I purchased a pre-modified **** that will screw on to a C5 shifter stalk. Thanks!

 

The boot made to fit this combo or any other should be straight forward and the price will be the same as our other 4 manual shift boots $55.00. The C6 **** is $125.00
Call me and I'll fix you up.

248-852-9030
www.VetteEssentials.com

Ken

 

B-E-A-utiful post, well done, cant wait to here how she drives.

 

wow excellent write up!!

 

Ken, please check your pm's. I want to go ahead and move on getting my C6 **** red/black 'two-toned'!!! Thanks!!

 

[QUOTE=Patches]Luckily, I had a spare 2" plug left over from my Hurst install so I cut a 1-3/8" diameter hole in it and popped it onto the isolater and over the shaft.


Patches, my install did not require the use of the 2 inch plug. Do you think that your stock seal was stretch due to the 2 inch plug and a new factory seal would of worked with out the plug? Nice write up.

 

As a new member I read your installation tread prior to installing my hurst shifter..but could not find any info on the rubber donut you installed. Could you explain what it is, where it can be purchased and how effective it was in dampering the vibs..thank Bill in Texas

 

Brent, with the metal reinforcement in the neck of the isolator, I seriously doubt it could have stretched appreciably when I reversed it during the original Hurst installation. Mine didn't require the use of the plug either - I use it to quiet the drivetrain noise and vibration that comes through the opening created by reversing the boot for the Hurst install. In fact, I only used the 2" plug for the C6 shifter because the 1.5" one I normally use wouldn't fit over the larger C6 shaft and I didn't want to ruin my original 1.5" plug by cutting it more to clear the C6 shaft. I put my 1.5" plug in when I put my Hurst back in. Notice the smaller plug in my original installation that goes in, rather than over the isolator neck.

Hurst shifter with 1.5" plug.


WildBill_64, the isolator plug I used can be bought in the plumbing section at Lowes. It's a Fernco 1.5" rubber pipe plug. It was originally posted here by another member as a solution to help quell noise and vibration inherent in aftermarket shifters like the Hurst. Below is a pic of the 2" plug although the 1.5" works a bit better.

 

Now I am confused. If going from the C5 to the C6 shifter, won't the existing rubber isolator fit them both?

 

I just did the conversion this weekend. Following Patches tutorial and it was a breeze. I did not have to use the rubber cup from Lowe's. I think you have to get that if you have cut yours somewhere in the past, like for a Hurst install.

It took me 2 hours to do. Half of that time was to remove the old shifter. Looked like someone had tried to remove it before and messed it up a bit and I couldn't get hold of it because the top was all broken. Had to drill it out. Would have easily taken an hour if the key on the old shifter would have been in good shape.