bought a zo6 with a bpp aftermarket shifter, not impressed what do you guys think?

 

I installed a BPP shifter on my 04 Z06 about two months ago and it is definitely superior to the stock unit in terms of shifting precision and shortened throw. The one drawback is the way it transfers noise into the cabin. This can be abated by installing some additional weight on to the shifter handle itself and by putting a heavier than stock shift **** on.

If you have the opportunity to do so, drive a Vette with the stock setup and compare it from there. I think you will see what I mean about the improved shifting. The BPP is also very adjustable. You can place the handle in about 16 different positions by moving it side to side and using the two bolt holes differently. There is a great article on this shifter on Z06vette.com. I encourage you to read that article.

If you are not able to make the BPP work for you, it is very easy to install a stock unit. Takes about an hour.

Hope this helps you! Good luck!

 

The shifts are much crisper and shorter. Only problem, as with all after market shifters is noise. I found that using Dynamax to insulate where the shifter is bolted togetehr with the wedge eliminates 99% of the noise. Just remember to use an oversized piece of dynamat.

 

I like mine!!

 

I had one in my Z for 3 days. Was an excellent shifter, loved it!! But, due to an old shoulder injury, I had to remove it. Was too stiff for my shoulder to take. If my shoulder would have been OK, I would have kept it. I went back to the factory shifter and have gotten very used to it and honestly, I like the factory shifter.

 

I've had mine for 8 months now and I like it, wouldn't go back. Be careful, however, of the 4-5 upshift. It's easy to go 4-3 in the heat of the moment and that is definitely exciting.

 

Put the BPP in last spring. Really like it, and would never go back to the stock one.

 

Why?

 

What were your expectations? What prompted you to want to go with an after market shifter? Had you tried any after market shifters prior to buying?

I have had the BPP shifter in my 01Z06 for about 4 years. I never really had a performance problem with the stock shifter. I changed mainly because it had a much longer front to back throw and side to side width. It was also looking for something that was a bit stiffer. Missing shifts with the stock shifter was not an issue for me either, I never had that problem. The only functional problem with the stock shifter was that was much more difficult to engage reverse as compared to the BPP shifter. The BPP shifter is the best when it comes to flexiblility in terms of shifter positioning. No other shifter even comes close to the numerous variations that the BPP offers.

Now I will give the stock shifter high marks in the noise department. GM did a very nice job in making it noise free. No after market shifter can claim that. They all make some noise when the RPM gets high, say in the 4500 and above.

I can honestly say that I have been pleased with the BPP shifter and I am not sorry that I installed one. However, I would not put an after market shifter mod on the top of my modification list. I believe there are several other modifications that provide more impact than the shifter.

Don

 

My comments are not as nice as Don's. I had no real yen to improve the shifting on my 97 or the Z but a friend was raving about the BPP on his Z so I finally took the plunge. I hate it. Sure the 1-2 and 2-3 shifts are crisp and short but the effort is greater. Then there is the problem of the narrow gates which is really apparent when I am pulling up to a traffic light and trying to take the shifter from 4th to 1st. It feels like 1st but is really 3rd unless I pull the shifter hard to the left and then push forward. It shouldn't be that hard. Shifting into 5th is much more difficult since I can't feel where it needs to go. I find my self pushing extremely hard to get 5th when on the highway. When I am at Watkins Glen I don't even try since I can't take a chance on getting 3rd instead. I have had this thing in the car for over a year and have played with the springs to get the stiffness out but it just doesn't cut it. Oh, by the way I find it hard to get into reverse also. So one of the things I am going to do when the ice relents a little and the garage warms up is go back to the stock shifter. Oh, did I tell you about the rattle it makes. In my track videotapes with both windows open and the exhaust roaring and the car going 120+ you can hear the damn thing rattling.

I never had any missed shifts with the stock shifter so it doesn't provide any real improvement.

Bill

 

Talk to Fitchner Chevy, they are a supporting vendor on this site.
You can buy the new C6 shifter which is a short throw and short stalk for $220.00 shipped. No noise, no fuss, no muss just remove your current shifter and bolt in the new one!
Mine will be here next week for my '04 Z06

Just another option to look at

 

I just bought one three weeks ago, and I want something more stock feeling.

I will trade it for a C6 and I will pay shipping!

PM if interested. Let's make a deal.

 

I love mine.. Maybe I'm just used to the extra effort but it seems smooth as silk to me.

 

I love my Hurst short shift!!!

 

A car I know, and had driven often had one. When I drove it/raced it here is what I noticed. The shifter was notchy and hard to shift.

The owner had the same issues and replaced it with a B&M which was a million times better. I have the BPP laying on the floor in the shop.

Honestly, I'm happy with the stock shifter...

 

Most on here have suggested using the softest springs that BPP provide if you were given them.. Still haven't fitted mine yet but it would be hard for it to be worse than the stock shifter.

 

is the thread pattern for the shift ***** the same on the c6 and c5? i really like my delrin hardbar and dont want to change it.

 

I didn't know the C6 shifter would fit the C5. Let me know what you think after the install. I remember sitting in a C6 and trying the shifter. It was much smoother and shorter than the C5.

Thanks,

Phil

 

I love mine and would never go back to the stock unit. Aftermarket exhaust seems to cover all the noise too.