BanditDude

I learned to drive on farm equipment, then moved up to an '80 Bronco 4spd...the kind w/ a non-synchronized 1st gear. I have driven cars w/ better shifters, but it's all a matter of perspective.

Mike98SilVert

I agree, I enjoy rowing through the gears of my C5 6 spd with stock shifter. Shifts smooth and effortlessly.

SaberD

i dont have any problems with my 6-speed. i actually like how firm and notchy the shifting is kind of. it really lets you feel more whats going on in the geartrain. it is defninitely more interesting to drive than some other cars where u feel nothing when it shifts. As long as you are shifting properly at the correct rpms, it just falls into place. i NEVER try to shift into gear without being reasonably close to matched rpms anyways. im not really too knowledgeable about how well it performs when the rpms are not matched, but a manual shouldnt be driven like that anyways, so who cares. perhaps its just more difficult to drive than other cars. i am using the stock shifter, but i plan on switching to an aftermarket shifter eventually to see if i like it or not.

AU N EGL

If you like the Hurst, great. We have taken quite a few Hurst shifters out, and put them back to stock, with brass shifting forks, and smooth as silk.

I think the biggest problem may be the shifting forks get slightly mis aligned and the stock trans fluid has never been changed to synthetic.

jsdanehy

worked for me. Get rid of that rubbery feel caused by a rubber shock in the "stick"

LoneStarFRC

Brass shift forks? You mean brass (bronze) fork pads?

scruffy911

I am so glad to hear that, because I thought it was me.

Evil-Twin

when I opened this thread today, the dust bunnies where getting up my nose.

Budwise

Almost made it to a decade! But yea the T56, at least in my Z, is not exactly a buttery smooth experience. Having driven Mustangs, C6Z's, and Mazdaspeed's this thing is definitely the worst shifting of all of them. My car came with an MGW but it was stupid difficult to shift and would pop out of first gear often even after reinstalling it and readjusting everything. I replaced it with a C6 shifter and now its usable. Unless you rev match every shift it is notchy as hell though. That is after going to Amsoil Torque Drive and the Anti-Venom mod. Even though my car and my Dad's C6Z have the same shifter, the TR6060 shifts SO much better than the T56.

Beer:30

T-Mod lower box and shifter...look it up

jackthelad

The factory shifter when new, was nothing like the OP's description - I know, I've had mine from new in '97. The best thing about the C6 unit is a better looking ****. You will obviously feel a difference when replacing a well worn C5 shifter with the C6 part because it's new. The inner workings of the C6 shifters are no different to the C5 - I've had them both apart on the bench. I ran for a while with a C6 shifter, was not impressed as I did not like the rearward bend in the lever. So I rebuilt my OEM shifter, tightening everything up and then shortening the shaft by extending the threads and using a Hurst ****. It's just fine. The only "slop" in the system now is in the transmission itself, in the 1st-2nd plane, not in the shift mechanism. It pops into any gear easily and is perfectly fine.

"Old" fluid will leave you with balky shifts and the occasional grind, so changing fluid is a good idea, despite GM's lack of a schedule in the owner's manual. I changed mine at around 50k. I also took out rather less than the specified amount, but I have never had any oil leaks or drips, so who knows. I refilled with regular Dex III fluid. The shift is not at all heavy, so I have never seen the need for the anti-venom mod either to be honest.

Black_Z28

Haha, yeah not sure I would have brass shift forks.

grampi50

I driven like 6 C5s now and all of them had notchy shifters...

BlackHellcat

I wouldn't call the C5 the worst ever, but after owning several Miatas, every other shifter sucks to me. Stock or aftermarket.

jackthelad

Yep, Miatas, especially the early ones, got it just right.

leadfoot4

Mine shifts just fine...it's simply a matter of taking the time to align the "neutral gate" of the shifter. And, I also installed a Hurst shifter, back in 2002, when they first became available.

dood73

I have to say mine shifts pretty well and is totally stock. Definitely better than some other cars I've had, including my first car - a 1976 VW Beetle. It was fuel injected, so that was cool. But the 4 speed left something to be desired. That two-foot long shifter apparatus coming out of the floor.

ztheusa

Stock C5 shifter is one of the best ever made. When he had a c5, the best drag racer on this forum used a stock shifter.

90% of those who change from stock, complain about their new one too...............then switch that on...........instead of just learning to drive a manual transmission.

Mike98SilVert

My stock C5 shifter shifts great. Nearly 20 years of driving C5's with stock shifters without an issue.

Evil-Twin

Ive been driving three speeds ,Borg Warner... 4 speeds both Muncie M21 and M 22, The Rock Crusher had the most awesome sound bolted up to my 63 409 SS Impala.. , etc.. Ive been driving these for 55 years.. The factory C5 shifter was too sloppy, for my taste. I replaced it almost immediately with a B&M ripper, and never looked back.. that was 19 years ago. I still enjoy each shift, even after 100,000 miles. The few people who have driven my car made a point of telling me how much they like the shifter.

Just my experience
Bill aka ET