Mgw shifter issue
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 1,160
Likes: 113
From: Vancouver Island
Mgw shifter issue
Finally got my Vette out of winter storage the other day, so I went for a quick shake down run (replaced both belts and the ac idler and tension pulleys during the off season) and I noticed that its really hard to get her into 5th gear. I don't have a lot of miles on my shifter so it's pretty tight, but 1st through 4th is real nice, then shift to 5th and its a real bear. Kinda tweaked my shoulder having to push it so hard. This can't be normal? Once in 5th, 6th is not bad, it's just getting it into 5th first that sucks. Am I missing something? Is it my shifter, or trans? Linkage? Anyone else notice this with their MGW shifter?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,724
Likes: 2
From: Holland Landing Ontario
Most after market shifters notorious for this. My MGW was like that too. I was consistently missing the 5th gear shift and pulled away in 3rd when I thought I was in 1st.
The fix is the anti-venom mod. Do a search for member "Toque's" how to on this. Costs about $1 and totally solves the problem. Note that you don't have to find the specific washers that Toque recommends. I just went into a local parts store and asked for 3/4" i.d. aluminum or brass washers normally used as gaskets for your oil drain plug. He sold me 2 for $1.
The fix is the anti-venom mod. Do a search for member "Toque's" how to on this. Costs about $1 and totally solves the problem. Note that you don't have to find the specific washers that Toque recommends. I just went into a local parts store and asked for 3/4" i.d. aluminum or brass washers normally used as gaskets for your oil drain plug. He sold me 2 for $1.
Last edited by 4 KRUSIN; May 6, 2013 at 08:26 AM.
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 4,541
Likes: 385
From: Fort Worth Texas
I would say that is pretty normal with most short throw shifters. I find you have to shift out of fourth, then use a lil force over, and up into 5th. I drove a stock 2002 coupe the other day with the stock shifter, and it practically falls into 5th from 4th.
Pro
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 707
Likes: 0
From: Murrysville PA
I just recently shifted (no pun intended) to a C6 snap short shifter ( a modified 2012 gm C6 shifter) sold by race specialty designs ,RSD, (not very good follow up service; never answered my e-mails) and like it considerably more than the MGW even with the anti venom mod.
Shifting is easier and just as positive; also no modification is need to your C5 boot. It fits perfectly.
The anti venom mod should help your situation; try it.
Shifting is easier and just as positive; also no modification is need to your C5 boot. It fits perfectly.
The anti venom mod should help your situation; try it.
Last edited by bontrager; May 6, 2013 at 06:29 PM. Reason: more verbage
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 1,872
Likes: 333
From: Olmsted Falls Ohio
St. Jude Donor '12 thru '24
I just helped a forum member (CPaxson) install one of these on his C5. There were some intermittent issues of going into the reverse gate. When he took the console back out again, he found that the torx screw on the collar that clamps down on the shift rod was not torqued adequately, causing the shift rod to rotate in the collar. The fix was to loosen this bolt, put the shifter handle vertical, and tighten this bolt - I believe the service manual specified 22 lb/ft. His worked fine after that. BTW, he has the anti-venom mod installed.
Premium Supporting Vendor
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 36,838
Likes: 438
From: Manassas Park VA
St. Jude Donor '07-'08,-'13-'14, '16-'17
Also see this when the shifter was not "pinned" correctly when it was
installed.
Re-installing it with the front pin down and in neutral may fix the problem
(pull up when done)
Peace
Chip
installed.
Re-installing it with the front pin down and in neutral may fix the problem
(pull up when done)
Peace
Chip
__________________
..................Click for
..................Click for
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 1,160
Likes: 113
From: Vancouver Island
Most after market shifters notorious for this. My MGW was like that too. I was consistently missing the 5th gear shift and pulled away in 3rd when I thought I was in 1st.
The fix is the anti-venom mod. Do a search for member "Toque's" how to on this. Costs about $1 and totally solves the problem. Note that you don't have to find the specific washers that Toque recommends. I just went into a local parts store and asked for 3/4" i.d. aluminum or brass washers normally used as gaskets for your oil drain plug. He sold me 2 for $1.
The fix is the anti-venom mod. Do a search for member "Toque's" how to on this. Costs about $1 and totally solves the problem. Note that you don't have to find the specific washers that Toque recommends. I just went into a local parts store and asked for 3/4" i.d. aluminum or brass washers normally used as gaskets for your oil drain plug. He sold me 2 for $1.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 1,160
Likes: 113
From: Vancouver Island
I just helped a forum member (CPaxson) install one of these on his C5. There were some intermittent issues of going into the reverse gate. When he took the console back out again, he found that the torx screw on the collar that clamps down on the shift rod was not torqued adequately, causing the shift rod to rotate in the collar. The fix was to loosen this bolt, put the shifter handle vertical, and tighten this bolt - I believe the service manual specified 22 lb/ft. His worked fine after that. BTW, he has the anti-venom mod installed.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 1,160
Likes: 113
From: Vancouver Island
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 866
Likes: 4
From: Bucks County PA
I bought a new MGW back in 2009 and installed it (w/ anti-venom mod). I had the same exact problem. Getting into 5th gear was really difficult and annoying. I sold that after a few months of struggling and went to a 2009 C6 shifter, which was perfect for me.
Back in the beginning of March I started considering an MGW again since there is a new design. I contacted George at MGW and told him my issues with the previous design. Here's his response:
"i would opt to wait a bit longer for our shifter / box combo. it will make the shift effort "almost" stock levels. and with a 33 percent reduction in throw. but our shifter alone is also a little easier to shift but the box really makes the best impact."
So, MGW is working on a new shifter box for their shifter. I was very tempted to wait for this however, I decided to go with an RSD snap shifter (comes with a new box). This is by far the best shifter I've put in my car.
Back in the beginning of March I started considering an MGW again since there is a new design. I contacted George at MGW and told him my issues with the previous design. Here's his response:
"i would opt to wait a bit longer for our shifter / box combo. it will make the shift effort "almost" stock levels. and with a 33 percent reduction in throw. but our shifter alone is also a little easier to shift but the box really makes the best impact."
So, MGW is working on a new shifter box for their shifter. I was very tempted to wait for this however, I decided to go with an RSD snap shifter (comes with a new box). This is by far the best shifter I've put in my car.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 1,160
Likes: 113
From: Vancouver Island
I bought a new MGW back in 2009 and installed it (w/ anti-venom mod). I had the same exact problem. Getting into 5th gear was really difficult and annoying. I sold that after a few months of struggling and went to a 2009 C6 shifter, which was perfect for me.
Back in the beginning of March I started considering an MGW again since there is a new design. I contacted George at MGW and told him my issues with the previous design. Here's his response:
"i would opt to wait a bit longer for our shifter / box combo. it will make the shift effort "almost" stock levels. and with a 33 percent reduction in throw. but our shifter alone is also a little easier to shift but the box really makes the best impact."
So, MGW is working on a new shifter box for their shifter. I was very tempted to wait for this however, I decided to go with an RSD snap shifter (comes with a new box). This is by far the best shifter I've put in my car.
Back in the beginning of March I started considering an MGW again since there is a new design. I contacted George at MGW and told him my issues with the previous design. Here's his response:
"i would opt to wait a bit longer for our shifter / box combo. it will make the shift effort "almost" stock levels. and with a 33 percent reduction in throw. but our shifter alone is also a little easier to shift but the box really makes the best impact."
So, MGW is working on a new shifter box for their shifter. I was very tempted to wait for this however, I decided to go with an RSD snap shifter (comes with a new box). This is by far the best shifter I've put in my car.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 866
Likes: 4
From: Bucks County PA
Definitely contact MGW to get their thoughts on the new shifter box.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 1,160
Likes: 113
From: Vancouver Island
The RSD snap shifter is a 2010+ C6 shifter (cutdown) w/OEM box. So, if you like the feel of stock then you'll love the snap shifter. There is no problem getting into 5th or reverse. I have a 2003 Z06 so the box alone made a big difference.
Definitely contact MGW to get their thoughts on the new shifter box.
Definitely contact MGW to get their thoughts on the new shifter box.
but good news is they will give me a credit toward the new one. so looks like i am gonna try the shifter adjustment before i do anything else, and see how that goes. if i still have problems will have to look at making some changes i guess. 
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 866
Likes: 4
From: Bucks County PA
that looks great, is that the factory shift boot? i heard from MGW, looks like the shifter i have will "not" fit the new shift box, bummer. so i will have to purchase a new shifter with the new box. but good news is they will give me a credit toward the new one. so looks like i am gonna try the shifter adjustment before i do anything else, and see how that goes. if i still have problems will have to look at making some changes i guess.
but good news is they will give me a credit toward the new one. so looks like i am gonna try the shifter adjustment before i do anything else, and see how that goes. if i still have problems will have to look at making some changes i guess. Another option is sell your MGW, they go pretty quickly here on the forum.
GL
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 1,160
Likes: 113
From: Vancouver Island
Update: well I had some spare time today so I took apart the console/dash and had a look at my shifter alignment. It appears as though the bolt holding the linkage to the shaft on the box had come loose. I do not think I torqued it down when I installed the shifter originally, oops. I followed the shifter/box alignment procedure to the letter (also using the bright flashlight to make sure the cutout in the shaft was properly lined up) torqued her all up and I must say shifting is a whole lot better! 1st through 4th is now awesome (always had some issue with shifting even with the stock piece) and now 5th is much much better almost no problem, and 6th is smooth. Yay! 
something I must mention though, while setting up the shifter is I noticed that there is some play in the stock housing bushings, the bushings that hold the shifter shaft, (I'm using a C5 Z06 shifter box) now I see why MGW recommends using a new factory box when you install the new shifter. That play definitely allows the shaft and linkage to slop around a tiny bit, I hope to one day soon get the MGW lower box upgrade, that should be real nice.
something I must mention though, while setting up the shifter is I noticed that there is some play in the stock housing bushings, the bushings that hold the shifter shaft, (I'm using a C5 Z06 shifter box) now I see why MGW recommends using a new factory box when you install the new shifter. That play definitely allows the shaft and linkage to slop around a tiny bit, I hope to one day soon get the MGW lower box upgrade, that should be real nice.
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 1,725
Likes: 237
From: marietta, GA
I also had problems getting my MGW shifter in 5th gear, it was either hit or miss. so I recently removed it and installed the C6 shifter that came with the C6 gear box that I used when I installed the MGW. All is better now. Will order a new shift boot that will fit on the C6 shift ****.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 1,160
Likes: 113
From: Vancouver Island
I also had problems getting my MGW shifter in 5th gear, it was either hit or miss. so I recently removed it and installed the C6 shifter that came with the C6 gear box that I used when I installed the MGW. All is better now. Will order a new shift boot that will fit on the C6 shift ****.
if I have any more trouble with this I may look at trying a modified stock type shifter like the Rsd snap shifter or something similar. but I would like to try the new MGW lower shift box before giving up on it all together.