Shifter help
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 80
Likes: 0
From: White Lake Michigan
Shifter help
So I go to do the " cut down stock shifter mod" today with all tools in hand...die, nut, needle nose visegrips.. I got as far as removing the cap
I tried the secret key and WTF I can't budge it
What am I missing? It just pulls out, right? Ideas would be helpful so this 15 min mod does not turn into a 2 day cluster...
I tried the secret key and WTF I can't budge it What am I missing? It just pulls out, right? Ideas would be helpful so this 15 min mod does not turn into a 2 day cluster...
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 17,336
Likes: 8
From: Maker of Sharp Objects, AL - Roll Tide
St. Jude Donor '10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17
St. Jude Knife Maker
are you talking about the cap with the shift pattern? just stick something sharp don in between the cap and **** (carefully). it should come up pretty easily.
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 17,336
Likes: 8
From: Maker of Sharp Objects, AL - Roll Tide
St. Jude Donor '10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17
St. Jude Knife Maker
if you are talking about the key that locks the ****, grab it with the vise grips, pull up firmly and while doing so tap the body of the vise grips with a hammer or some other sturdy tool. just be careful that you don't fling the vise grips outa control when it releases.
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 140
Likes: 0
From: Upstate NY
It sounds like your talking about the "demon key". I just removed my **** yesterday for the first time to cut my stock shifter down and ran into the same problem at first. I tried vise grips, but it wouldn't budge. The way I got it was to use a flat head screwdriver and pry it up. Just put a piece of cloth on the leather **** so you don't wreck it.
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 140
Likes: 0
From: Upstate NY
How much do you plan on cutting off btw? I wanted to do over an inch but I don't think the stock shift boot will work if I do. The boot wont go very far down the fat part of the shifter shaft. Take pics!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 6,683
Likes: 144
From: Memphis Tennessee
After a lot of forum reading back in 2003, I did this and here are my TIPS:
(1) Take some "needle-nosed" ViseGrips and clamp tightly onto the deamon key. Then using a hammer, tap upwards on the ViseGrips until the key comes off. Usually it only takes ten or so strikes. I think that the shock does most of the work.
(2) Take your time and build a tent of sorts to collect any shavings you will make when cutting. I used my Dremmel Tool and with a good tent left no shavings anywhere. This will also help you with clean-up.
(3) I cut a little over an inch off of mine. You need to be careful that you leave enough threads to seat the ****. If I had it to do again, I would cut more off, use a die to cut new (more) threads and make the shifter even shorter.
BOTTOM LINE: the one-inch reduction I made was great. It really changed the shift throws and retain the quietness of the OEM unit. Some say it is notchy, I don't think so at all. I have driven cars with aftermarket shifters, and though some have shorter throws, I like the OE feel.
Good Luck
(1) Take some "needle-nosed" ViseGrips and clamp tightly onto the deamon key. Then using a hammer, tap upwards on the ViseGrips until the key comes off. Usually it only takes ten or so strikes. I think that the shock does most of the work.
(2) Take your time and build a tent of sorts to collect any shavings you will make when cutting. I used my Dremmel Tool and with a good tent left no shavings anywhere. This will also help you with clean-up.
(3) I cut a little over an inch off of mine. You need to be careful that you leave enough threads to seat the ****. If I had it to do again, I would cut more off, use a die to cut new (more) threads and make the shifter even shorter.
BOTTOM LINE: the one-inch reduction I made was great. It really changed the shift throws and retain the quietness of the OEM unit. Some say it is notchy, I don't think so at all. I have driven cars with aftermarket shifters, and though some have shorter throws, I like the OE feel.
Good Luck
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 2,246
Likes: 66
From: Middletown CT
I have two shortened stock shifters or sale if your interested.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-p...-shifters.html
I used the needlenose vise grips to grab the key and then clamped a second set of visegrips clamped on the jaws of the needlenose vise grips, to ensure that they didn't twist. A sharp tap upwards should dislodge the key. A second set of hands on the visegrips while you tap would be good insurance against damaging anything when the key pops loose.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-p...-shifters.html
I used the needlenose vise grips to grab the key and then clamped a second set of visegrips clamped on the jaws of the needlenose vise grips, to ensure that they didn't twist. A sharp tap upwards should dislodge the key. A second set of hands on the visegrips while you tap would be good insurance against damaging anything when the key pops loose.
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 140
Likes: 0
From: Upstate NY
After a lot of forum reading back in 2003, I did this and here are my TIPS:
(1) Take some "needle-nosed" ViseGrips and clamp tightly onto the deamon key. Then using a hammer, tap upwards on the ViseGrips until the key comes off. Usually it only takes ten or so strikes. I think that the shock does most of the work.
(2) Take your time and build a tent of sorts to collect any shavings you will make when cutting. I used my Dremmel Tool and with a good tent left no shavings anywhere. This will also help you with clean-up.
(3) I cut a little over an inch off of mine. You need to be careful that you leave enough threads to seat the ****. If I had it to do again, I would cut more off, use a die to cut new (more) threads and make the shifter even shorter.
BOTTOM LINE: the one-inch reduction I made was great. It really changed the shift throws and retain the quietness of the OEM unit. Some say it is notchy, I don't think so at all. I have driven cars with aftermarket shifters, and though some have shorter throws, I like the OE feel.
Good Luck
(1) Take some "needle-nosed" ViseGrips and clamp tightly onto the deamon key. Then using a hammer, tap upwards on the ViseGrips until the key comes off. Usually it only takes ten or so strikes. I think that the shock does most of the work.
(2) Take your time and build a tent of sorts to collect any shavings you will make when cutting. I used my Dremmel Tool and with a good tent left no shavings anywhere. This will also help you with clean-up.
(3) I cut a little over an inch off of mine. You need to be careful that you leave enough threads to seat the ****. If I had it to do again, I would cut more off, use a die to cut new (more) threads and make the shifter even shorter.
BOTTOM LINE: the one-inch reduction I made was great. It really changed the shift throws and retain the quietness of the OEM unit. Some say it is notchy, I don't think so at all. I have driven cars with aftermarket shifters, and though some have shorter throws, I like the OE feel.
Good Luck
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Racer
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 369
Likes: 1
From: Calgary AB
It sounds like your talking about the "demon key". I just removed my **** yesterday for the first time to cut my stock shifter down and ran into the same problem at first. I tried vise grips, but it wouldn't budge. The way I got it was to use a flat head screwdriver and pry it up. Just put a piece of cloth on the leather **** so you don't wreck it.
Done this many times and the screw driver pry method was the best....
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 80
Likes: 0
From: White Lake Michigan
Well, today I had a few minutes and with all of your help.....bang out
"demon" key, spin on die, whack 3/4 inch off with cordless sawzall, re-install ****, pound in key....whamo,blamo....shifter heaven
Thanks again for all your help
"demon" key, spin on die, whack 3/4 inch off with cordless sawzall, re-install ****, pound in key....whamo,blamo....shifter heaven
Thanks again for all your help