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I am in the final stretch of buttoning up all the upgrades on my 2002 Z06.
Watching the video on the MGW Shifter install, it shows I should be able to move the Linkage Rod back and forth into gear to check for clearance. Mine will not move.
I did put it into neutral before starting the process, not sure if that matters. I also used the alignment tool and and Super Lube as per the instructions. Everything looks correct to me, but this is my first shifter install.
Any ideas on if this is normal and I should continue the installation, or should I pull it apart and check anything else for clearance? The notched tab lined up with the first hex bolt as per instructions....
I just did my install this last winter.
Yes, should be in neutral before starting.
Yours appears to be in 4th because of the location of the alignment hole.
Thanks for the reply. I just double checked, and it is still in neutral, it will roll with the E-Brake off.
The linkage rod is centered in the box, the angle may not be great on my picture. I suppose it could be possible the linkage going to the rod got moved around somehow, but all three holes lined up pretty well with the hex screws.
I do have the battery disconnected because I am also changing out the stereo while I have everything apart if that matters.
Thanks for the reply. I just double checked, and it is still in neutral, it will roll with the E-Brake off.
The linkage rod is centered in the box, the angle may not be great on my picture. I suppose it could be possible the linkage going to the rod got moved around somehow, but all three holes lined up pretty well with the hex screws.
I do have the battery disconnected because I am also changing out the stereo while I have everything apart if that matters.
With the battery disconnected, it will not go in reverse but with do 1-6
Was it easy to line up the shifter shaft? I know I watched the videos to do my install but got the lower box installed upside down and it put a bind on the shifter shaft when trying to install it in the car. Pulled it out and flipped the lower box and it was easier to install. The shifter is amazing once it was installed.
Was it easy to line up the shifter shaft? I know I watched the videos to do my install but got the lower box installed upside down and it put a bind on the shifter shaft when trying to install it in the car. Pulled it out and flipped the lower box and it was easier to install. The shifter is amazing once it was installed.
Thanks. It went in fairly smoothly, and with a flashlight I was able to line up the notch, so I never put it in upside down. I have done a lot of work, including changing out the e-brake boot and moving around the back part of the console a lot for various reasons, maybe something got down there and bound the shifter shaft. If I don't get any better ideas I will take it all out and check that too. I just don't want to keep taking it apart and putting it back together until I hopefully have an idea what may have messed up. The car only has 12K miles on it and shifted perfectly fine with the Hurst Shifter I took out before I started.
I have a message into MGW and will probably hear from them tomorrow. I figured someone here may have run into this.
Whatever it ends up being I will post back for sure.
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (performance mods)
C5 of Year Winner (performance mods) 2019
are you using the shifter or your fingers to try to get it in and out of gear?... it might be a little tough with your fingers, I would put the shifter in place and finger tighten the shifter to box bolts and then try it... on a side note, if you have some old header bolts laying around you might consider swapping them in place of the 3 crappy torx bolts, especially the one holding the shift rod to the box... if you shift hard it can loosen up and make the shifter really sloppy and not want to go in gear... aside from the hex head they are 10.9 grade, I used a little blue loctite on mine and it has been great since
are you using the shifter or your fingers to try to get it in and out of gear?... it might be a little tough with your fingers, I would put the shifter in place and finger tighten the shifter to box bolts and then try it... on a side note, if you have some old header bolts laying around you might consider swapping them in place of the 3 crappy torx bolts, especially the one holding the shift rod to the box... if you shift hard it can loosen up and make the shifter really sloppy and not want to go in gear... aside from the hex head they are 10.9 grade, I used a little blue loctite on mine and it has been great since
Just my thumb... Following the MGW video. That's what I am wondering if it should just move as smooth as the video shows or if I should go forward and see if it shifts good with the shifter attached. I appreciate the response and may try this before I go backwards if MGW doesn't have any other ideas.
Mostly, I don't want to strip out anything I just cranked tight and add to the next couple days I should be back on the road unless I have to...
Just looking for some knowledge! This forum is tops for sure.
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (performance mods)
C5 of Year Winner (performance mods) 2019
I haven't looked at their video and I don't have their newer version (I have an older one with no lower box) but I'm wondering if they say it should be freely moving without the shift rod attached?... once the rod is attached it is not going to move freely on it's own and will take some force but if you disconnect the rod then yes it should easily slide forwards and backwards inside the box
So I let this sit a couple days and come to find out, I just wasn't using enough pressure to move it into 3rd and forth gear. I just went out there to get ready to finish this up this weekend, and got it to move in and out of gear and back to neutral.
I hope to be driving it by tomorrow! Thanks for the replies.
Keep us updated on how ya like the shifter.. it's definitely on my short-list of mods to get soon.. been really slacking on doing anything new to my poor c5 over the last 4-5 yrs lol.. gotta reignite the flame!
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (performance mods)
C5 of Year Winner (performance mods) 2019
glad you got it figured out and can move forward... I wish he offered the lower box separately for his older shifters... I like mine so much that I don't know if the newer one would be that much better and be worth the extra cost and time
MGW Lower Shift Box Install question - Please Help!
... I wish he offered the lower box separately for his older shifters... I like mine so much that I don't know if the newer one would be that much better and be worth the extra cost and time