I missed a downshift the other day, slammed into 1st instead of 3rd. Really over reved, scared the crap out of me!

Luckly no apparent damage. But here is the thing. Many times I have trouble getting it into reverse without bumping it forward first. Also the shift feels sloppy and rough. Practicing in the driveway it seems awfull easy to miss 3rd and hit 1st. Question, is new shifter smoother, easier to get into reverse, and how about accurate shifting ie: 3rd to 1st?

It is a 03 AE and I am no stranger to shifting, but never had anything but a stock shifter. I DO NOT want to blow the engine because of a cheap shifter!

 

be really careful there... I have heard that the rev-limiter does not do anything when you miss a shift!

I think that you would probably benefit by getting a shifter with a shorter throw. My car had one already when I got it, so I really cant tell you what difference it makes. But I can tell you that I have not had any problems and I have raced mine too and this is my first manual transmission.

oh, and the C6 has a short throw shifter from the factory. I havent driven one, but I am sure people that have will chime in on the difference between them and a C5 stock shifter.

 

I've done the same thing, seeing the tach go up to 7k is a scary event; I wans't fast enough with the clutch re-engamement to keep it from way over reving. I am lucky I didn't spin a bearing or something similar. That was about 8k miles ago now, and I still dont' burn oil or have any issues. I was really lucky, I hope you are as lucky in this regard as I. The next day I replaced the stock shifter with a Hurst and have it set with the default springs, set a bit firmer than default via the adjustment. It was nice just driving up to Xtreme Motorsports (when I still lived in the Phoenix area), pick it up, spend 4 hours messing with the demon key (didn't have the proper tools); had I replaced the shift-**** at the same time, it would have taken me all of about an hour start to finish to put in the Hurst. It takes more effort to shift, but that is why I put a Momo Pistol-grip style **** on it a few months later (leverage).

Getting into reverse is easy if you put it in 3rd first. Go from 3rd to reverse and it'll go right in.

With a Hurst (I'm assuming all the other short-throw shifters as well), you'll get firm and precise shifts. I used the default springs in the Hurst (it has, IIRC, 3 sets of springs to choose from in the box) and adjusted them to be quite firm. If you slap the shifter from 2nd, it shoots over to the 3-4 position. Makes quick shifting a breeze. I haven't missed a shift yet since the install, knock wood. It pulls pretty hard to the center position, so you can tell exactly where it is and where it is going depending on which way the shifter pulls when you move it out of the gate.

In summary, I think the Hurst should have been factory eqiupment, especially on a FRC. I'm of the understanding that the Hurst can be almost as easy to shift as stock with the right springs and adjustments, but I like my shifting notchy so I know where it is. You'll probably like a short shifter, one of the best mods you can get for your MN6 Vette.



Sorny

 

Yes an aftermarket shifter can help, they generally have stiffer springs. The stiffer springs will move it into the 3/4 gate with a bit more force than the stock ones, but the trade off is usually harder to get into 5/6 and reverse (takes a bit more force to overcome the springs).

This is a common problem with these cars and the Camaro/Firebird (T/As) with the six speed and you are correct if you miss a shift the momentum of the car will spin the engine over the redline very easily (take a look at the F-body sites some time). The revlimiter can do nothing at this point, it can shut off fuel or spark, but it is the momentum of the vehicle (through the drivetrain) that is spinning the engine.

A simple thing to do is your hand position. for the 2-3 shift, just push forward with the palm of your hand. Many people grab the shifter like a pistol with their thumb up, and the natural motion will tend to pull the shifter toward you....

 

If I have damaged the engine, would it blow right there or can I have creeping issues later?

 

Most common problem is bent pushrods, symptoms, tapping, rough idle and throwing some codes..

probably better that the pushrods bend rather than having pistons and valves come together...

 

So Am I hearing that a new shifter would be money well spent to help avoid a missed shift? I don;t know if I want to spend the money right now if it doesn't actually help in that. I am not racing (yet) so faster shifts, shorter throws are not hugley important. But I don't want anyone to blow the engine!!

I let my son and daughter drive it.

 

How high would the rpms have to have gotten and for how long in the wrong gear before there might be problems, be it idling, etc? I've missed a shift twice, but realized it a split second after doing it and then threw it in the right gear. Mine happened trying to go from 5th to 6th, but went to 4th instead. I don't believe the rpms even got close to the red line before I noticed/heard the problem. Thanks. Dan

 

Why can't GM make a 6 speed shifter that is as smooth as the old 4 speed shifters? When you had the old 4 speed shifter rods adjusted correctly and the shifter was greased well, it was very smooth and fast.

 

I would sure appreciate one of you guys with lots of "shift time" behind you with the C5 6 speed weighing in on my questions in the post above. There must be some leeway for inadvertent goof ups! Certainly, everyone must have missed a gear at some point. Or is it just idiots like me? Dan

 

If that is true Dan then I'm and idiot too :o

 

 

3rd and 4th gear should be easy as the shifter automatically returns to the middle of the pattern. If you miss 3rd and hit 1st, you are actually pulling towards yourself. Relax, no effort other than push or pull for 3rd or 4th.

Just my 2 cents

 

The most common is on the 3-4 gear change (grab 2 instead of 4). Usually done while racing, and usually not caught... engine usually goes 7000+,.... even for a few seconds can result in bent push rods...

Haven't seen that many posts on here, but there are usually a few on the F-body boards...

The stock shifter is pretty smooth, the problem is the gates on the six speed are fairly close togther... and the springs are fairly light (never know who will be driving).. So it is very easy to get the wrong gear.

As I mentioned in my first post, a lot off people always grab the shifter with their thumb up.... the natural motion of you arm is toward your....

One reason I prefer just a round ball shift ****.. (although I did love a T-handle on the hurst shifter on my old Muncie transmission)

For 2-3, just use your palm... for 3-4, thumb down and straight back (worst case with this is you would grab 6th)

 

John Wiz: So, if racing (and I don't know squat about racing), would that presume your rpm's are way up near red line anyway when the goof is made from 3 to 2 instead of 3 to 4? Dan

 

Depending where you shift, you could be very near readline... If you grab a lower gear (2nd instead of 4th) and release the clutch... The momentum of the car (through the wheels and transmission) will turn the engine faster than redline (think of trying to go 90 in 2nd gear instead of 4th....) when this happens, the revlimiter has no effect...

Fortunately I have not done this.. but there have been a few on here and a lot on the F-body boards that have done it..

Do a search on bent pushrods... there may be some still in archieves...

info

 

John Wiz: Thanks for the info. A couple more questions...how would one know if one bent a pushrod? Or, if one did some other type damage? Does something on the dash light up or what? Finally, am I correct to assume that if one is not "blasting" or if one has not run the rpm's way up prior to a shift that an inadvertent shift from 3 to 2 instead of to 4 or 5 to 4 instead of 6 is not likely to do any pushrod or other type damage? Sorry about the need for crayons! Dan

 

A missed shift under normal driving will generally not cause a problem.

Symptoms (genereally speaking).. rough idle, possibly a tapping noise (not to be confused with the piston slap at cold startup on some C5s), check engine light. There are a few other threads on pulling the covers and removing the pushrods to check if they are bent (rolling them over a flat surface, a glass plate works well)....

I have done this on some older cars, but not on the LS1...

 

I am going to jump in here a bit too

If you bent a push rod you would know it..your engine will run rough and you will most likely throw a code.

I am really glad to see the posts about the rev limiter not having affect on mis-shifts..I thought it did...in fact I have missed a shift or 2 before and it bounced off the limiter..maybe I did not have the clutch released all the way and thought I did.

 

There has been quite a bit of discussion on the rev-limiter not working in this situation... but in reality it only works by cutting spark... and prevents you from over revving the engine by the throttle, there is nothing a rev-limiter can do when you miss a shift... you have a 3,000 lb car going at 90MPH driving the engine throgh the drivetrain... shutting off fuel and/or spark has no effect, the engine will try to turn at what ever speed the gears are trying to turn it at.....