I'm thinking of installing a short throw shifter in my C5 coupe. I'm not after all-out performance, ... don't race the car or really even drive it that hard. Would just like a little less travel on the shifter. So what's the 'best' for decent performance and all-around compfort?

 

I have a B&M Ripper in my 2K. It's a bit stiff and took some getting used too. I think I have an earlier model and they have since improved it, but can't say for sure.

 

I have the B&M ripper and love it. It is stiff so you may have to get use to it

 

Here's a vote for the Hurst shifter. Nice feel - not too stiff.

 

I have the newest ripper, which is modeled after the stock shifter...shifter is not solid, has a rubber insert to cushion the shifts...shifts effortlessly compared to the hurst i use to have...i would say hurst, and old ripper for drag(very precise,no miss shifts, but hard to shift especially 6th & R with the hurst)...newest ripper for axing and street(much softer engagement, much easier to shift, not as but still precise) ....
My Vote!

 

When I bought my car it had a B&M Ripper installed and it was too stiff for my liking. I purchased a Callaway shifter and for me it was a huge improvement, the throws are very short and precise and it's not too bad getting it in too reverse.
l8r
Jim

 

I put a C6 Z06 shifter in my 02 C5 and don't really notice much difference. A little shorter throw and as quiet as the original shifter.

 

My new modeled B&M precision shifter is on the way.

 

I just installed my version of the Chuckster mod stock shifter. It's 1/2 " shorter than the Mallett shifter I had in the car and I like it just as much and the throws are even shorter. No issues with vibration or difficulty shifting. It is 1" shorter than stock and does not have the sloppy feel of the stock shifter. It took some time, but cost almost nothing to do. When it's done, it looks like the stock shifter, just shorter. It is a big improvement over stock.
The shifter handle was cut 1 1/8"
The rubber insert in the first picture has been eliminated. I slide a screwdriver down between the rubber piece and the handle and sprayed some silicone lube in the gap to help pop it out.
The tip of the shifter base was turned down, using a bench sander, until it would fit into the narrow part of the handle. You can check your progress by trying to insert it in the threaded end of the handle.
The vibration dampener on the base was also sanded down until it was a slip fit into the handle.
I then roughed up the inside of the handle using a Dremel tool with a sanding roll, cleaned everything and epoxied it together.
If your worried about the epoxy coming loose, you can drill and pin it.
If you don't like it,(and I doubt that will be the case), all it cost you was some time.

 

As you probably realize, shifters are VERY subjective things. What one person LOVES, another HATES. Having said this, I LOVE my Kirban!

The way I see it, here's the low down on the Kirban shifter vs. Stock: I will begin with what I see as positives and then highlight some minor negatives (caveat, I do not have any first hand knowledge of other shifters)

1. Stock shifter is NOT horrible. I drove the car quite happily for over 2 years and 15,000 miles with the stock shifter. Were the throws on the longish side? Yes. Was I ever TOTALLY pleased with the 4-5 up-shift or the 6-5 down-shift? No. (Something about 5th never felt as "solid" as the rest of the gears, I don't know if this is true of all M12 transmissions, or just mine, but mine felt somewhat sloppy or vague). But again, I enjoyed driving the car VERY much.

2. The throws of the Kirban shifter are MUCH shorter then stock.

3. My 5th gear "vagueness" is GONE. The 4-5 shift is a much more positive and rewarding feeling.

4. The 1-2-3 up-shifts are like working the pump action on an Ithica shotgun both in feeling AND in sound. The Kirban's shifts are louder then stock. Too loud? No. But again, this is subjective. I like it, and I'm not a noise junkie at all. For example, I'm not one of those guys looking for a louder exhaust or ANYTHING like that.

5. The down-shift from 5-4 was never bad, but now, it's awesome. Noticable improvement.

Now for what I consider some downsides:

1. There is some noise from the shifter at idle. Is it bad? If I could snap my fingers, sure, I'd make it disappear. Am I over it? TOTALLY. Do I hear ANYTHING once it's in gear and I engage the clutch and drive? NO. Nothing. As soon as I drive even 2 feet, literally, it is GONE. Kirban does now include a "silencing" ring, made of aluminum I think, which I believe that my mechanic installed, but maybe he forgot. I do wonder. Do I care? No.

2. Your girlfriend WILL NOT BE DRIVING YOUR VETTE. The shifter is now sufficently stiffer (both north and south, as well as east to west) from stock, that I really doubt many women would feel comfortable driving it. I'm not trying to be sexist, I'm just telling you chances are good that a woman will no longer find the shifter "easy" to manipulate. You have to shift this thing with intent.

Let me know if you have any other questions.

I think trying to pick a shifter is a leap of faith unless you can actually drive a vehicle so equipped. I took a leap of faith based off my mechanic's recommendation. I'm very glad I did, my car is better for it.

- Max

 

I have the Kirban and love it also. I agree with the above, except mine makes no noise at idle, but does rattle about 4k+ RPM at WOT. Also, my GF has driven it a few times with no problem, and she's little. If you think the Kirban is stiff, stay away from the others. I've tried the Hurst in my dad's DRM C500RSR, and the throws are shorter but MUCH stiffer.

 

 

With my flame suit on......I decided to just shorten the stock unit and forgo the added effort and noise. I cut about an inch off and the results are astounding.

 

Ditto here. I cut an inch out, just below the threads, welded it back together (even angled it a little, so it points towards the driver, more ergonomic that way), a little grinding, black paint, and you can barely tell. Of course, the shift boot covers is up anyway. It did make the top of the boot a little tight though. It took longer to get to the shifter than it did to to the mod.

 

Very slick modification. It looks like you could also cut the threads off about an inch so that the **** threads on all the way down to the change in diameter of the shaft and shorten it even more. I may have to try this.

 

Flame suit on......after almost 2yrs, I took the B&M(gen 1) out , and went back to the stock shifter. Longer throws? maybe, but smoother shfits, definetly. I road race, not drag race, so smoother shifts are way more important then faster shifts.

 

MTI 6-shooter with anti-venom, I couldn't be happier...

 

I just bought my first vette. And my first manual car. In fact it is this one http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1553499
On the drive home I loved the car hated the shifter. I bought a hurst before I read all the negative posts. Well I decided to put it in anyway. I used all the tricks to keep the noise down. Installed the pvc plug, put four 1/2oz wheel weights on the stick, taped the **** threads, and used the heavy ****. Just installed it today. Talked my wife into going to the movie tonight. It is a 60 mile drive. We took the vette. All I can say is we both LOVE the Hurst. Absolutely no noise. Although revearse takes a firm push. I have not done the anti-venom mod yet but plan to. I couldnt be happier with the hurst. I am soooo glad I decide to try the hurst, before selling it to get the B&M or the C6. Dont let the negative post about the hurst scare you. Plus there are a few good deals out there. I bought it from another forum member for $100.00.

 

You can do that, but the shorter you make it, the greater the effort to to shift through the gears. For me, it's just about right where it is.

I'm eventually going to tap the the inside of the handle and insert a threaded rod that fits the Mallett shift ****. I prefer the shape of the Mallett shifter **** over the stock ****.

 

Interesting approach. I just won a used C5 shifter on Ebay for $12 so will give this a try. Thanks for the pics.