Short throw shifter question
Thread Starter
6th Gear
Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
From: Boston, MA
Short throw shifter question
Hi there,
Just got my first C5, in fact - first corvette ever and am very excited !!!
As far as aftermarket goes, The intake has been done as well as the exhaust.
I am thinking of putting in a short throw shifter.
Do you all recommend it in general? And are there any specific ones that you liked over others brands?
I have never driven a car with a short throw just understand the concept.
Any advice/recommendations really appreciated!
Thanks!
-Mike
Just got my first C5, in fact - first corvette ever and am very excited !!!
As far as aftermarket goes, The intake has been done as well as the exhaust.
I am thinking of putting in a short throw shifter.
Do you all recommend it in general? And are there any specific ones that you liked over others brands?
I have never driven a car with a short throw just understand the concept.
Any advice/recommendations really appreciated!
Thanks!
-Mike
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 800
Likes: 45
From: San Diego CA
There's a ton of threads on short throw shifters for C5s in this forum. I had a few short throws and didn't like them, too notchy. I went with a stock C6 shifter and it was worthwhile. Theres a guy in here that rebuilds the stock lower shift boxes which makes a big difference in the feel of the shifts. I think that build along with a stock C6 shifter must be money. Then again, you can do the hardcore stuff like MGW, Hinson and do the washer mod on the transmission that smoothes out the shifts.
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MGW is a very popular aftermarket shifter for the C5.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2000
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From: Taildragers rule! USA1
There are hundreds of posts over the years where owners have installed this kit or that, switched them out endlessly, and are still searching for their nervana.
But, instead, they should spend their money on driving lessons. The best drag racer, while he was a C5 driver, used the stock shifter.
But, instead, they should spend their money on driving lessons. The best drag racer, while he was a C5 driver, used the stock shifter.
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Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 4,346
Likes: 755
From: Greensboro Nc
I have the MGW shifter in my LS/t56 swapped rx7 and the B&M in the corvette. I personally much prefer the B&M shifter and will probably get rid of the MGW for something else soon.
Keep in mind thats not direct apples to apples comparison being a Camaro t56 vs a corvette t56 though
Keep in mind thats not direct apples to apples comparison being a Camaro t56 vs a corvette t56 though
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 7,782
Likes: 2,254
From: Brighton MI
I have not driven a C5 with a C6 shifter, but I have driven a number of manual C6's. Shifter is much better than stock C5...more precise and much smoother.
I put an MGW shifter in my C5 (stock lower box) and, with the anti-venom mod, can say it is awesome. Not as smooth as the C6, but even more precise. The more spirited you drive, the better the MGW is.
I put an MGW shifter in my C5 (stock lower box) and, with the anti-venom mod, can say it is awesome. Not as smooth as the C6, but even more precise. The more spirited you drive, the better the MGW is.
Racer
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 323
Likes: 57
There are hundreds of posts over the years where owners have installed this kit or that, switched them out endlessly, and are still searching for their nervana.
But, instead, they should spend their money on driving lessons. The best drag racer, while he was a C5 driver, used the stock shifter.
But, instead, they should spend their money on driving lessons. The best drag racer, while he was a C5 driver, used the stock shifter.
I did not buy my MGW for the drag racing experiance, rather I bought mine because I liked the feel for a lower shifter. Driving with the stocker in there made me feel like I was driving an old rig with my arm sitting way to high!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 5,386
Likes: 3,924
From: Cincinnati, OH
"C6 shifter" and "short throw" should NEVER be mentioned in the same sentence. A C6 shifter in my car measured 4.5" total throw from 1st-2nd. A used Kirban I just installed with a straight handle is 2.5"....THAT is a short throw shifter.
MGW seems to be the go-to shifter since it comes with a lower box. You don't need the fancy lower box, you really just need new/better bushings in the lower box. TMODCUSTOMS offers a lower box rebuild service. Add that with one of his shifters or a Hurst/B&M/MGW upper/Kirban etc etc and you should be set.
Shifter pivot point height(built into the shifter), overall handle height (combination of shifter handle length and **** design) and the spring rate of the centering springs (if equipped) all play into the feel of the shifter. Noise can also be a factor since the OEM stuff uses rubber bits to kick down vibration/noise.
Stock shifters have no centering springs and rely on the spring inside the trans. Almost all aftermarket shifters use some sort of centering springs of varying spring rate to give a different feel.
MGW seems to be the go-to shifter since it comes with a lower box. You don't need the fancy lower box, you really just need new/better bushings in the lower box. TMODCUSTOMS offers a lower box rebuild service. Add that with one of his shifters or a Hurst/B&M/MGW upper/Kirban etc etc and you should be set.
Shifter pivot point height(built into the shifter), overall handle height (combination of shifter handle length and **** design) and the spring rate of the centering springs (if equipped) all play into the feel of the shifter. Noise can also be a factor since the OEM stuff uses rubber bits to kick down vibration/noise.
Stock shifters have no centering springs and rely on the spring inside the trans. Almost all aftermarket shifters use some sort of centering springs of varying spring rate to give a different feel.
Last edited by smitty2919; Oct 23, 2018 at 12:58 PM.
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 4,346
Likes: 755
From: Greensboro Nc
Same here. The stock shifter was the only real negative factor when driving the car before. Put the B&M In and it’s great. Out of all the mods on all the cars I’ve ever owned it up there in my favorites
Advanced
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 58
Likes: 11
From: East TN
I just pulled the hurst shifter that came with my car for a mgw w/lower box and did the two washer anti venom mod. The stock lower box was a mess, there was black dust in there from deteriorated bushings, and even the nylon box mounting bushings weren’t holding up. I put those in only two years ago. My complaints from the hurst are probably mostly a result of the slop from the lower box. The mgw box is so totally superior to the stock box it’s a joke. There is no comparison. The stock box looks like a toy next to it.
The hurst shifter is a lot taller than the mgw, noticeably so. I don’t miss the centering springs, and I’m convinced the mgw pivot mechanism is much stronger and smoother seeing both units side by side. My car has something going on in the trans though, possibly some synchro wear, and I have some tough shifts into 1st, second, and between the two. The mgw handles this problem better than the hurst, but again getting the slop out of the lower box could account for that. Regardless, I much prefer the shorter and smoother mgw, and should’ve made that change years ago.
The hurst shifter is a lot taller than the mgw, noticeably so. I don’t miss the centering springs, and I’m convinced the mgw pivot mechanism is much stronger and smoother seeing both units side by side. My car has something going on in the trans though, possibly some synchro wear, and I have some tough shifts into 1st, second, and between the two. The mgw handles this problem better than the hurst, but again getting the slop out of the lower box could account for that. Regardless, I much prefer the shorter and smoother mgw, and should’ve made that change years ago.
Last edited by viffer; Oct 26, 2018 at 09:45 PM.