When I installed my Hurst shifter in my '02 C5 in March of 2002, I did a how-to on the installation on, what was back then, Corvette Forum member pages (no longer a feature here althoug I have them saved on my home computer). When I wrote up that how-to, I coined the phrase "Demon Key" for the metal keeper key that holds the manual shift **** onto the stock shifter shaft because it was such a beotch for most people to remove. The two I've removed have actually come out easily but that keeper already had a reputation for being difficult to remove. Some here resorted to drills, grinders and even cutting the **** off in pieces.

Well, the Demon Key name stuck and a lot of members here continued to refer to that keeper as such to the point where others not familiar with my how-to picked up on it as well.

I recently bought a couple of the latest MGW shifters to install in my C5 and C7. To prepare for the installations, I watched the three videos that George of MGW posted of himself removing the console and installing the shifter (great videos, btw, just like his shifters). In the shifter installation video, George caught me by surprise when he casually referred to the C5 **** keeper as the Demon Key! After a brief delay, I as I hadn't thought about that for some time. Funny, the stuff that you run across sometimes.

 

Oh yeah? Well, I invented the term "It's not you, it's me"
(you have to be a Seinfeld fan to appreciate this joke)

 

I was fortunate enough to already have an aftermarket shifter in my car upon purchase, so I never got the honor of messing with the "demon key" but I've cursed many other parts of my car if it counts

Also, my MGW shifter with a C6 handle is absolutely perfect in my car, nice choice you made!

 

When I had my '00, a six speed car, I removed that key a few times - never had any problems but I know many others have probably come up with some new cuss words trying to get it out.

 

It was a bitch on my 98 for sure, then when it did come out ... well I found it a couple days later

 

I initially tried a pair of needle nose pliers, but quickly realized I'd have to pull out the heavy duty vice grips to get the job done. I'm surprised there was anything left of the "demon key" after I was finished.

 

"Demon key" stuck because it fits the aggravation that many have with it.

I have pulled it out on a few cars (C4's and C5's) and have said a few different choice words to convey my pleasure with it.

Each time I was able to get it out without any additional damage, but it is a pain. Currently I have one that I have been hesitating to push (pound) it back in again since it will be hard to pull out again. I have been thinking about making it easier to remove by either filling it down some, or hand making one out of plastic (one forum thread recommended that) or something.

 

Mine came out relatively easy with a pair of flathead screwdrivers. When I put it back in, I purposefully didn't pound it back in--just tapped it a bit.

 

Mine dissolved when I installed my Hurst about a week ago while using a vice grip and then a needle nose vice grip so i had to drill it out haha

 

I never realized that name came from you Ed. I used a small vise grip when I removed my "Demon Key".

 

It was such a despised component at the time that I felt compelled to attribute some sort of evil moniker to it.