Shifters, down to two choices...Help
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,092
Likes: 0
From: Deerfield VA
St. Jude Donor '07
Shifters, down to two choices...Help
I'm new to the Corvette, and the shifter product choices. Let me describe what I want, and pehaps of the two choices which will fit the bill. Okay, I want the shifter short and precise and I want SLIGHT effort
1-2 and 5-6. I find the stocker long and difficult to pull into 6th speed, I've got to keep an uncomfortable amount of pressure to the right not to screw up sixth and go into 4th.
I'm thinking of the B&M Ripper, #45044, or the Breathless performance unit.
I'm probably going to use a classic Hurst **** 1 3/4" in black. (I also like the new c-6 Z06 ****, but it's pricey) Any advice,
John
1-2 and 5-6. I find the stocker long and difficult to pull into 6th speed, I've got to keep an uncomfortable amount of pressure to the right not to screw up sixth and go into 4th.
I'm thinking of the B&M Ripper, #45044, or the Breathless performance unit.
I'm probably going to use a classic Hurst **** 1 3/4" in black. (I also like the new c-6 Z06 ****, but it's pricey) Any advice,
John
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 3,515
Likes: 17
From: Keller, TX
St. Jude Donor '07
Looks like you have already eliminated the Hurst... if not, you need to. I like mine a lot, but it is the opposite of 'light effort'. I think you'll find most of the after market shifters have a pretty firm feel (high effort) because of the leverage you lose with the shorter 'lever'. I've tried an older model of the B&M and it had an easier throw than my Hurst, but was still pretty firm.
A lot of people have reported very good results with the C6Z shifter. You might search for some posts on it. I believe it's a shorter throw, but still pretty light. Many good reports on the Breathless unit as well...
A lot of people have reported very good results with the C6Z shifter. You might search for some posts on it. I believe it's a shorter throw, but still pretty light. Many good reports on the Breathless unit as well...
Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 46
Likes: 0
From: Oak Creek WI
I don't think you'll find an aftermarket short throw shifter that requires less effort than the stock unit. I went with the c6z shifter for the shorter height and much improved ****. Shifting effort is close to stock but feel and lever position is greatly improved. Good luck with your choice.
Pro
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 563
Likes: 1
From: Mission Viejo CA
I have a Breathless shifter if you want it I will sell it for $100. Just PM me. By the way if you want slight effort then stay with your stock unit. None of the aftermarket shifters are easier. They are shorter, stiffer and more precise.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 3,417
Likes: 2
From: Annapolis MD
I'm with TripleBlackxTwo. Yah, dat's right! I LOVE my Hurst, but it's a very RACY (read: so stiff it requires manly arms to shift) feel. I vote for the C6 shifter for shorter yet still girly man feel... 
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Tech Contributor
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 41,066
Likes: 9,829
From: Charlotte, NC (formerly Endicott, NY)
If you are having trouble getting from 5 to 6 it may be more a function of how you are holding the shifter than the shifter itself.
Bill
Racer
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 346
Likes: 146
From: FL
have been tinkering with my hurst for a few weeks now. finally think i found the best spring combo (just the single large stiff springs without the smaller secondary springs in the center, with the springs tightened down 3 full turns). this with my rod shortened about 1/2 inch.
i have the hurst black shift **** and the anti-venom mod and mobil 1 trans fluid. think i finnaly found a winning combo. its stiffer than stock but not too stiff and it still has a tight feel to it.
try messing around with settings on other shifters, you may find one is better than the other initially but it may not be as good after adjustment.
i have the hurst black shift **** and the anti-venom mod and mobil 1 trans fluid. think i finnaly found a winning combo. its stiffer than stock but not too stiff and it still has a tight feel to it.
try messing around with settings on other shifters, you may find one is better than the other initially but it may not be as good after adjustment.
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 3,905
Likes: 250
From: Orlando FL
I have had a Ripper in my car for a month or so. Throw is much shorter, however effort grows as the throw shortens. Very precise, just a click-click in your are in the next gear. At first, it kept feeling like it was not in gear as compared to the stocker I was accustomed to. Took a few weeks to get accustomed to the added effort. I even had thoughts of pulling it and trying something else. At this point I really like it and have gotten used to the higher effort required, really don't notice it anymore.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2003
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From: "It's 106 miles to Chicago, we've got a full tank of gas, half a pack of cigarettes, it's dark, and
St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-‘18-'19
NCM Sinkhole Donor
I have a B&M Ripper and I wouldn't have it any other way. It's very stiff, but very precise.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 3,024
Likes: 18
From: DFW Texas
Put my Hurst a year ago. I've tried many settings and I know what you are talking about from the 5-6 instead of 5-4. It's more of a technique that is learned that makes for a smooth seemless no brain 5-6. Still takes some outward pressure to assure 6th, but you can easily 'feel' if it isn't right ahead of time.
That said, I still LOVE the shorty over ANY stock (c5) shifter. Very precise, narrow gates and no problems on hard powershifts. Solid as a rock.
When I drive a a C5 (or Z06) stock shifter now, it feels more like a John Deere tractor. ANYthing would beat that after using a shorty.
Good luck in your decision.
That said, I still LOVE the shorty over ANY stock (c5) shifter. Very precise, narrow gates and no problems on hard powershifts. Solid as a rock.
When I drive a a C5 (or Z06) stock shifter now, it feels more like a John Deere tractor. ANYthing would beat that after using a shorty.
Good luck in your decision.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,094
Likes: 5
From: The 7th layer of hell - Western Washington
If you want to substiantially shorten throw, add precision, and add a little extra force perform the anti-venom mod and install your short shifter.
My final magical combination was: MTI 6-shooter, anti-venom, AmsOil ATF, dynomat all around and on the shifter, F-body shift ****, and many attempts at adjusting the shift box assembly.
Realistically it all comes down to each persons preference, but it feels perfect to me now - and my main complaint about the car was how it shifted...
My final magical combination was: MTI 6-shooter, anti-venom, AmsOil ATF, dynomat all around and on the shifter, F-body shift ****, and many attempts at adjusting the shift box assembly.
Realistically it all comes down to each persons preference, but it feels perfect to me now - and my main complaint about the car was how it shifted...
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,092
Likes: 0
From: Deerfield VA
St. Jude Donor '07
Thanks for the info, I've ordered a B&M ripper which I'll use with a stock C-6 ****. I'm no stranger to after-market shifters, as I have a Steeda Tri-ax in my Mustang. My wife and I both have GT's, she an '01 Bullitt, and I, a highly modified '04 GT. My wife's Bullitt is up for sale and is all stock. Just this week, she tried my GT, which she is taking over as her replacement. With it's short throw shifter, SHE WAS AMAZED at how easy it shifted, she raved about it. She noticed how vague the shifter in the 'vette is, and is reluctant to try the car until I get a short throw in. I can tell already the 'vette will take more effort to shift with it's bigger gears, would redline ATF in the box help? Despite the shift effort, I dislike the looseness and long handles of stock shifters, my fear with a stock Z06 shifter would be that it would be only mildly better than the stocker, so ripper, here I come.
Thanks for your help,
John
Thanks for your help,
John