Shifters & Stops
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 194
Likes: 2
From: Morgantown WV
Shifters & Stops
After several hours of research about transmission problems, shift forks, short shifters, stops, etc.. I am still very confused since there seems to be some conflicting information. Here is my understanding, someone straighten me out. I have a 2002 Z06.
1. The T56 transmission has internal stops. However, it seems they don't work well and you can still overshift gears.
2. Some short shifters have adjustable stops and everyone says they aren't necessary, despite #1.
3. The 01-02s have aluminum shift forks that can bend, especially 3/4.
After reading 100's of posts this weekend, it seems to make sense that the shift forks bending/breaking can be the result of the internal stops not quite doing their job. You can overshift 4th, for example, which damages the relatively fragile shift fork.
I am looking at a tranny rebuild very soon, as discussed here:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1801859
I need to get this issue straight before I put the car back on the road so I dont tear it up again. Some people say "bah.. you don't need those shifter stops" and at the same time you read "the internal stops don't do their job".
So is it safe to say, for peace of mind, that you should get a shifter with adjustable stops? If so, which is the best on the market? I don't care as much about short throws as I do protecting my tranny.
1. The T56 transmission has internal stops. However, it seems they don't work well and you can still overshift gears.
2. Some short shifters have adjustable stops and everyone says they aren't necessary, despite #1.
3. The 01-02s have aluminum shift forks that can bend, especially 3/4.
After reading 100's of posts this weekend, it seems to make sense that the shift forks bending/breaking can be the result of the internal stops not quite doing their job. You can overshift 4th, for example, which damages the relatively fragile shift fork.
I am looking at a tranny rebuild very soon, as discussed here:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1801859
I need to get this issue straight before I put the car back on the road so I dont tear it up again. Some people say "bah.. you don't need those shifter stops" and at the same time you read "the internal stops don't do their job".
So is it safe to say, for peace of mind, that you should get a shifter with adjustable stops? If so, which is the best on the market? I don't care as much about short throws as I do protecting my tranny.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 43,084
Likes: 33
From: Raleigh / Rolesville NC
T56 transmission are not designed for power shifting. PPL who jam the gears break things.
Most after market shifters are just the the handle and leaver
The transmission shifting mechanisms are relatively easy to fix. The earlier manuals had some aluminum shifting forks and guys who power shifted tend to bend these forks.
The 03 and 04 manuals IIRC were brass forks
Most after market shifters are just the the handle and leaver
The transmission shifting mechanisms are relatively easy to fix. The earlier manuals had some aluminum shifting forks and guys who power shifted tend to bend these forks.
The 03 and 04 manuals IIRC were brass forks
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 194
Likes: 2
From: Morgantown WV
I'm not a powershifter but I do shift pretty hard (full-lifting). So is the consensus that once you replace the aluminum shift forks with steel ones, this issue is resolved (go ahead and pound away)?
It still blows my mind that a $51,000 supposed "race car" cannot be shifted like that from the factory. I have friends with 03/04 Cobras & 01 Camaros, also with the T56, that shift the hell out of their cars with no problems.
It still blows my mind that a $51,000 supposed "race car" cannot be shifted like that from the factory. I have friends with 03/04 Cobras & 01 Camaros, also with the T56, that shift the hell out of their cars with no problems.
Last edited by saw22; Sep 4, 2007 at 07:18 AM.
Safety Car
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 3,799
Likes: 1
From: Northern Virginia
St. Jude Donor '08
Get yourself a 07 C6 Z06 shifter and do the anti-venom mod. You will be glad you did. The anti-venom mod will make the shifter easier by reducing the pressure ofthe detente bolt in the shifter rod attached to the transmission on the passenger side of the car.
There are lots of posts on the forum about both of these mods and how much they improved the shifting. Should have come from the factory this way.
Also, you don't need to pound gears and use a lot of force to shift fast.
There are lots of posts on the forum about both of these mods and how much they improved the shifting. Should have come from the factory this way.
Also, you don't need to pound gears and use a lot of force to shift fast.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 194
Likes: 2
From: Morgantown WV
Already got a C6 Z06 shifter, which I like a lot for sure. I read some about the anti-venom mod, too. Yeah, I guess any force exterted more than getting it in the next gear is unnecessary. You know how it is when you're racing, though.. bangin' gears. Something to practice for sure.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 8,847
Likes: 795
From: Longview Texas
I have the Hurst shifter and it also has stops.
You don't want the stops adjusted so tight on the shaft that you do not get full gear engagement.
I made sure I got full engagement, then adjusted the stops so that I could still slide a piece of paper and see light between the shifter shaft and the stop when I pulled back on it. I figure with the pressure of shifting will cause the shaft will flex enough to engage the stop, but not before the transmission is fully in gear.
I think I paid only about $150 for the Hurst.
You don't want the stops adjusted so tight on the shaft that you do not get full gear engagement.
I made sure I got full engagement, then adjusted the stops so that I could still slide a piece of paper and see light between the shifter shaft and the stop when I pulled back on it. I figure with the pressure of shifting will cause the shaft will flex enough to engage the stop, but not before the transmission is fully in gear.
I think I paid only about $150 for the Hurst.
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Hopefully Ill have it in the car and adjusted before the weekend. 
Tech Contributor
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 41,044
Likes: 9,808
From: Charlotte, NC (formerly Endicott, NY)
I'm not a powershifter but I do shift pretty hard (full-lifting). So is the consensus that once you replace the aluminum shift forks with steel ones, this issue is resolved (go ahead and pound away)?
It still blows my mind that a $51,000 supposed "race car" cannot be shifted like that from the factory. I have friends with 03/04 Cobras & 01 Camaros, also with the T56, that shift the hell out of their cars with no problems.
It still blows my mind that a $51,000 supposed "race car" cannot be shifted like that from the factory. I have friends with 03/04 Cobras & 01 Camaros, also with the T56, that shift the hell out of their cars with no problems.
Bill
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 194
Likes: 2
From: Morgantown WV
I agree that jamming gears is the wrong answer and is something to work on. However, I have been in the business of jamming gears for ten years or so. Been to the track numerous times and done my fair share of spirited driving on the street, in about 6 different cars. When I've never had another transmission failure, including my $12000 ZX2 with 115k miles that I jam gears in everyday, and a $51000 car can be broken my second hard shift to 4th gear, I think something is terribly wrong.
I admit that I can't attest to how the car was driven & shifted for the first 22000 miles of its life, so maybe it was just its time to go, though people breaking shift forks almost straight off the lot in the 01's and 02's sure doesn't support the "time to go" theory.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 194
Likes: 2
From: Morgantown WV
Bah! I messed up and got the wrong shifter. I need one with stops. Anyone want a brand new B&M shifter? Just bought it brand new ($190) less than 24 hours ago.. it's not even here yet, but was shipped yesterday from 200 miles away from me. 
Here was the auction:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...m=140152523633
Ill list this in the For Sale forum soon if no interest here. $175 shipped, Paypal. My loss is your gain. I don't want to pay them a $38 restocking fee.
Bought a Kirban for a C6 today, so I can still reuse the stock C6 **** I have.
Here was the auction:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...m=140152523633
Ill list this in the For Sale forum soon if no interest here. $175 shipped, Paypal. My loss is your gain. I don't want to pay them a $38 restocking fee.
Bought a Kirban for a C6 today, so I can still reuse the stock C6 **** I have.
Last edited by saw22; Sep 5, 2007 at 02:19 PM. Reason: Added Kirban purchase.