I'm not a big fan of mods, but in this case, I had to try something. At the track I found the stock shifter too vague for comfort. So, I bought a B&M Ripper and installed it. The instalation is easy, took an hour and a quarter. Most difficult task was getting the key out of the shift ****...

The result? The shift action is very short and allows one to actually feel the trans gates clearly, which is exactly what I wanted. The effort to shift is also quite a bit higher, and a lot notchier, but not severe. From a precision point of view, the shifter is a BIG improvement over stock. The 2-3 shift is quick and easy now. Downshifting from 4th to 3rd in improved and less vague. Shifting down from 3rd to 2nd is a little notchy, but sill better than stock. 4th to 5th requires a little effort, but, again, isn't severe. Thanks to reverse lockout, one just shoves it over and up, no problem. Overall, for what I wanted in track use feel and more precision, this is a good addition.

However. All is not perfect. As with any mod, there are trade offs. The stock shifter has a rubber damped shaft, which elliminates trans noise from being telegraphed up the shifter shaft. The Ripper is much noisier thatn stock. You can hear gear whine through it in first. In third under acceleration it makes a little growling/rattle noise. Downshifts return gear whine noises as well. In other words, you gain an immediate understanding why the stock shifter has that big rubber damper in it! For track uses, this is not a problem. In some ways it's kind of cool, as it makes the shifter sound just like the old days of Hurst floor shifters, which seems to match this cars personality just fine.

In the end, I recommend this mod to anyone who runs the car hard and feel the stock shifter is too vague and mushy under hard use. Drag racers are going to love it, as the upshifts are ultimately better. Downshifts are improved to a lesser egree, but definitely improved.

However, if I were only driving the car on the street, and not drag racing it or tracking it... I would leave the stock shifter in the car. It is quieter, smoother, and easier to get into 5th and 6th for freeway driving and passing. If you want to improve shifter feel, simply remove the ****, use a 9/16" tap and thread the shaft further down, cut the top off about 1" and re-install the ****. Very easy to do. This way you keep the quiet shaft, but gain shorter shift strokes. Anyone who is irritated by little whines and rattles in their cars are likely to find the Ripper an annoyance.

I'm happy with the improved shifter action, not thrilled with the extra noise, but will accept it in the balance, to keep the more precise feeling. Overall I would rate this mod high in performance, and medium in compromises. :cheers:

Update:

The stock **** is a large part of the noise problem. First of all, the little cap on top acts like a speaker, telegraphing and amplifying noises from the shifter itself. I packed the back of it with some rubber poster mounting stuff, which helped. This left me with an annoying rattle under full throttle, mostly second and third. I found that the **** was ever so slightly loose, the key was not pounded in far enough. This aggrevates the noise problem. Make sure whatever **** is used is as tight as it can get! :smash:

After a hard days driving I found the stock **** is just not right, it's too small and not configured right. My hand seems to want more of a pistol grip position, where the stock **** is best for palm-on-top (missionary?). The shifter aggrevates this with the heavier centering springs, which asks for a little left-side pressure between first and second gears to make the shift smoother. I've decided to buy the Delrin Hard Bar shift **** from LAPD. This should resolve the position issue, give me more area to get a hand on, as well as provide a little heavier **** - which may reduce the rattle even more. We'll see....

As was suggested, the shifter does improve as you use it. After 300 miles it's already feeling smoother. 2nd gear feels the worst. The gate going into second doesn't feel quite as nice as the others. seems to like a quick motion from 1st, over a more slow and deliberate pace.

Like Rosanne Rosanna Dana once said "It's always something!"

Now for a set of front tires (3,000 miles and 3 1/2 hours of Willow is about all they could take) and off to another 2-day track event this weekend! :) :D :cheers:


[Modified by kwillmorth, 9:00 PM 5/6/2002]

 

The Ripper will get a little easier to shift as it breaks in. Try some Redline synthetic transmission fluid, that will help too. :cheers:

 

The noise thing is kinda a problem. Mine isn't too bad. The shifter ain't no grannyu shifter and I love the performance. Nate from Xtreme (my old boss) found a way to put lead tape weights on the shaft. YOu can get them froma tire place. They help out tremendously!!! Happy gear grabbing!!!

 

I've had my Ripper in for about five months now. My impressions are very similar to yours, except that I get virtually no additional noise through mine. Very occasionally, I get a slight noise during some shifts, but not often and not objectionable. I get no extra noise while cruising.

 

Moved my B&M Ripper from my 99 to my new Z06 within 1st week! Couldn't stand that rubbery vague feeling any longer!! :)

Interestingly, my 99 was pretty quiet, but actually shifted notchier with the B&M than my new Z does. But Z is buzzing and rattling more with B&M! :confused:

I may go back in there and try to retighten, look things over, etc.

Still a wonderful change to the car! MUST DO ON A Z06 in my opinion.

 

If you cut the bottom half of the rubber ring on the stock rubber sound dappening gasket it becomes pliable enough to push it down over the Ripper flange and secure in place with the stock four studs/nuts. Makes a HUGE difference not just in noise, but in heat as well as hot air come off the exhaust and really heats the whole tunnel without that flange in place.

 

Thanks for the review -- btw, :cool: sig!!

 

Thanks for the review. I find my stock shifter hard to get into third when shifting fast at redline. Every time I do it I pray that I get third. I can't see myself ever powershifting third with this stock shifter.


[Modified by rbartick, 1:03 PM 5/6/2002]

 

Kwill -- the Hardbar **** is the ticket, especially if you tend to want to use a pistol grip with the shifter. Obviously, the Hardbar **** requires a pistol grip, and I'm sure you're find that it's very comfortable.

Just a tip before you install the Hardbar ****: Take a dremel and grind away the first inch or so of threads from the inside of the ****. Grind them off completely (so that it's smooth just from the inside of the **** up at least an inch). This will allow you to screw the **** down onto the Ripper ALL THE WAY. If you don't do this, you'll be left with the knbo sitting an inch or so too high, as the **** doesn't want to screw down over the fatter, unthreaded part of the Ripper's shaft. Grinding away the threads allows for perfect mounting of the ****. This makes the Ripper/Hardbar combo even more precise and effective. (I went for 4 months before taking a dremel to it, so it DID still work fine. It's just that it's that much better when it sit further down the shaft.)

-Kirk

 

Kwillmorth:

Thanks for indicating the pros and cons, especially for street use. Had you considered other makes such as Hurst and your opinions would be appreciated