Shift knob rant. Easy? Nope....
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 764
Likes: 19
From: odessa FL
Shift **** rant. Easy? Nope....
Is there a department at GM that purposefully designs corvettes to be difficult to work on? I have been tinkering with cars > 35 years, Worked as an RV service tech, have a well equipped shop, the outrageouly expensive 3-phone -book-size manual set, and this is without a doubt, the most difficult to work on car I've ever encountered. Previous Vettes [73, 95] were not even close. Seems like every time I go to do anything, I get frustrated, cuss a lot and have a strong urge to drink heavily.
Todays latest fiasco was changing the shift **** out. Had touble with the pin, searched the forum for all tips... tried everything short of a C4 shaped charge...and nothing worked. Ended up drilling around it and busting it off with a pair of gianormous Chanellocks. Brutal but effective.
Love the old school Hurst ****, so it was worth it.
Thankfully not that much goes wrong with it, but when it does...
I have had to farm out a number of things on this car, and I never do that. Between the technology and poor servicability? AAAAHHH!
I feel better now. Am I alone on this one?
Todays latest fiasco was changing the shift **** out. Had touble with the pin, searched the forum for all tips... tried everything short of a C4 shaped charge...and nothing worked. Ended up drilling around it and busting it off with a pair of gianormous Chanellocks. Brutal but effective.
Love the old school Hurst ****, so it was worth it.
Thankfully not that much goes wrong with it, but when it does...
I have had to farm out a number of things on this car, and I never do that. Between the technology and poor servicability? AAAAHHH!
I feel better now. Am I alone on this one?
Last edited by StatmanRN; Nov 10, 2011 at 02:50 PM. Reason: spelling while drinking
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 2,237
Likes: 9
From: Springhill FL
Lol, its called the demon key for a reason. I never put it back on. 
This car has a few of those kinds of things.
The worst for me was seperating the clutch slave and master. That "quick release" is anything but.
Another fun one is trying to bleed the clutch without a remote bleeder. Everytime you do that job you swear next time you'll buy the remote bleeder. I did it like half a dozen times the hard way without one, then finally bought one on the last job before trading in the car.
This car has a few of those kinds of things.The worst for me was seperating the clutch slave and master. That "quick release" is anything but.
Another fun one is trying to bleed the clutch without a remote bleeder. Everytime you do that job you swear next time you'll buy the remote bleeder. I did it like half a dozen times the hard way without one, then finally bought one on the last job before trading in the car.
Safety Car
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 4,812
Likes: 46
From: Taylorsville North Carolina
Seems like I feel that way about everything I do on the car except maybe the brakes. Maybe it is because I do them a lot, but they are a no brainer for switching pads and rotors. I am on like my 5th shifter so I have that part down. But in the end, like your shifter, it is usually worth the effort.
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,510
Likes: 15
From: Ga
Is there a department at GM that purposefully designs corvettes to be difficult to work on? I have been tinkering with cars > 35 years, Worked as an RV service tech, have a well equipped shop, the outrageouly expensive 3-phone -book-size manual set, and this is without a doubt, the most difficult to work on car I've ever encountered. Previous Vettes [73, 95] were not even close. Seems like every time I go to do anything, I get frustrated, cuss a lot and have a strong urge to drink heavily.
Todays latest fiasco was changing the shift **** out. Had touble with the pin, searched the forum for all tips... tried everything short of a C4 shaped charge...and nothing worked. Ended up drilling around it and busting it off with a pair of gianormous Chanellocks. Brutal but effective.
Love the old school Hurst ****, so it was worth it.
Thankfully not that much goes wrong with it, but when it does...
I have had to farm out a number of things on this car, and I never do that. Between the technology and poor servicability? AAAAHHH!
I feel better now. Am I alone on this one?
Todays latest fiasco was changing the shift **** out. Had touble with the pin, searched the forum for all tips... tried everything short of a C4 shaped charge...and nothing worked. Ended up drilling around it and busting it off with a pair of gianormous Chanellocks. Brutal but effective.
Love the old school Hurst ****, so it was worth it.
Thankfully not that much goes wrong with it, but when it does...
I have had to farm out a number of things on this car, and I never do that. Between the technology and poor servicability? AAAAHHH!
I feel better now. Am I alone on this one?
Sorry for your battle.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 764
Likes: 19
From: odessa FL
Won't even get into the clutch job. I was ready to stomp bunnies. And I mean CUTE bunnies.And then, the crank seal leaked and ruined the Z06 clutch. I farmed that out w a spec2 unit, and it still chatters and rattles. Decided I can live with it rather than tackle THAT again.
Some Moroon hammered the 'Demon key' in with a punch. Natuerally the inevitable better idea occured afterward: drill and tap for a grade 8 screw and slide hammer. i just got medieval on it.
Some Moroon hammered the 'Demon key' in with a punch. Natuerally the inevitable better idea occured afterward: drill and tap for a grade 8 screw and slide hammer. i just got medieval on it.
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Pro
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 586
Likes: 0
From: Glendale CA
I had BIG frustration when trying to pry that sucker of a pin outta the stocker too 
....but everything else was cake
Ended up using BIG pliers, a flat-head screw driver, and alot of F wording for a good half hour but I got 'er loose alrighty
I recently replaced mine with a C6 Z06 short shifter and Hurst ****, and the struggle was worth it
....but everything else was cake Ended up using BIG pliers, a flat-head screw driver, and alot of F wording for a good half hour
but I got 'er loose alrighty I recently replaced mine with a C6 Z06 short shifter and Hurst ****, and the struggle was worth it
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 5,393
Likes: 17
From: Belleville Mich.
OK, it just may be me but....
I find with doing the research here on the forum & along with the GM manuals working on my Z has been a pleasure through out the years.
After owning my car a few months I switched out the stock shifter for a Hurst, did the vararam, long tube headers, x pipe & skip shift eliminator.
Really, what is great about changing the shifter out in these cars is that you don't even have to get under the car to do it .
Another benifit is , you seldom have to deal with rusty parts.
By doing the research first & using the manuals, I knew what to expect with each mod.
Good luck with your next mod
I find with doing the research here on the forum & along with the GM manuals working on my Z has been a pleasure through out the years.
After owning my car a few months I switched out the stock shifter for a Hurst, did the vararam, long tube headers, x pipe & skip shift eliminator.
Really, what is great about changing the shifter out in these cars is that you don't even have to get under the car to do it .
Another benifit is , you seldom have to deal with rusty parts.
By doing the research first & using the manuals, I knew what to expect with each mod.
Good luck with your next mod
Racer
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 345
Likes: 5
From: Miami Florida
I too battled the demon key for at least two hours with pliers, a screwdriver and a hammer.
Nothing, did not budge.
5 minutes with vise grip pliers and some wiggling back and forth did the trick.
With the right tools and technique, the task becomes a lot easier.
Nothing, did not budge.
5 minutes with vise grip pliers and some wiggling back and forth did the trick.
With the right tools and technique, the task becomes a lot easier.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 18,643
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From: Norman Oklahoma - The Only State in the Union with no Blue Counties!
Isn't that always the case!
Tech Contributor
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From: Should this thoughtful, valuable contribution meet with no acknowledgement or 'thanks' this post----
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Last edited by $$$frumnuttin'; Nov 11, 2011 at 08:02 PM. Reason: op failed to mention it was a 6 speed!!!
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 13,421
Likes: 8
From: Lake Mary Florida
When I changed mine stock shifter for the C6 Z shifter, the pin was a little difficult. I used a large flat blade screw driver along with needle nose vice grips. Using the screw driver laid flat to protect the leather shifter ****, I secured the pin with the vice grips and popped the pin out prying against the screw driver.
You can also try a minute spray of PowerBlaster penetrating oil. Let it set for fifteen minutes then try to remove it.
You can also try a minute spray of PowerBlaster penetrating oil. Let it set for fifteen minutes then try to remove it.
Administrator
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Somtimes that demon key is just that - a real PITA.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 5,393
Likes: 17
From: Belleville Mich.
of an (automatic's ****), but they sure won't do didly in removing the "demon key" on a manual ****.
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,977
Likes: 9
From: Houston, TX www.djmotorsportaccessories.com Specializing in C5 & C6 Accessories. DJ Motorsport Accessories.
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
I have done a lot of these at our shop changing out shift boots. It takes a minute using 2 vise grips and a small hammer and leaves no damage. First vise vertical directly on demon key, second vise horizontal locked on the 1st vise grip. Then lightly tap the horizontal one with the hammer and it comes right out.
Pretty sure if you search demon/manual shift **** here you will find same instructions in less time than it took for me to write this.
David
Pretty sure if you search demon/manual shift **** here you will find same instructions in less time than it took for me to write this.
David
