C6 shifter install
Thread Starter
5th Gear
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
C6 shifter install
Thanks Gene for the prompt service and Patches for the install notes. Now since I drive better than I wrench, I peeled of some greenbacks to have my local guy bust the nuts on the 2003 Z.
Nice position for me and a shorter throw.
Problem is the installed shifter has no "springed center" in the neutral gate. The shifter is just floating rather than having that center feel at the 3-4 gate while in neutral. And it's a little hard to get into 1st gear. Anyone care to weigh in on this and tell me if something got missed or is there an adjustment? Thanks in advance and it's great to have some plastic back under my a** after a 10 year hiatis!
Nice position for me and a shorter throw.
Problem is the installed shifter has no "springed center" in the neutral gate. The shifter is just floating rather than having that center feel at the 3-4 gate while in neutral. And it's a little hard to get into 1st gear. Anyone care to weigh in on this and tell me if something got missed or is there an adjustment? Thanks in advance and it's great to have some plastic back under my a** after a 10 year hiatis!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 6,937
Likes: 21
From: Waldorf MD
This is a new one, I never heard this before. I think the spring centering is built into the transmission, hence people do the anti-venmon (sp?) mod. I hope your installer transfered the little plastic "button" from the bottom of the old shifter to the new one? Do you have the old shifter? Does it have the "button" on the bottom? I am assuming the new shifter comes without a "button", I am not sure, Gene would know.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 10,554
Likes: 33
From: Not on either liberal coast.
The oem shifters are encased in a rubber "bearing" rather than a nylon 'bearing" at the pivot point which the after market shifters use. I do not believe there is any spring(s) inside the oem shifter. That could account for the vague "neutral gate". Look at your oem shifter and you'll see what I'm referring to. The lever self centers by virtue of the rubber encasing the lever.
The "local guy" who installed your new shifter may not have used the oem alignment pin to maintain perfect neutral alignment during the installation procedure. That could account for the difficulty getting into first gear.
If that's the case, the radio/console surround trim would have to be removed again, and the four 1/4-20 fasteners loosened to allow the shifter mechanism to be adjusted once the alignment pin is inserted. Then the fasteners re-torqued to 8-10# torque.
The plastic "button" on the bottom spherical ball is critical. It is not only a bearing, but it reduces vibrations/noise since there is otherwise metal to metal contact. Since the C6/Z06 shifter from GM/Gene comes complete with the "box", I would imagine it comes with the plastic bearing.
The "local guy" who installed your new shifter may not have used the oem alignment pin to maintain perfect neutral alignment during the installation procedure. That could account for the difficulty getting into first gear.
If that's the case, the radio/console surround trim would have to be removed again, and the four 1/4-20 fasteners loosened to allow the shifter mechanism to be adjusted once the alignment pin is inserted. Then the fasteners re-torqued to 8-10# torque.
The plastic "button" on the bottom spherical ball is critical. It is not only a bearing, but it reduces vibrations/noise since there is otherwise metal to metal contact. Since the C6/Z06 shifter from GM/Gene comes complete with the "box", I would imagine it comes with the plastic bearing.
Last edited by hotwheels57; Nov 10, 2007 at 11:07 AM.
Thread Starter
5th Gear
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
The old shifter is an assembly with a "plunger" comng out the back. Presumably to connect to the trans. There is no spring loading on the old shifter that is sitting on the bench. I don't see any button either. Would it have been on the plunger or is it internal to the assembly?
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 10,554
Likes: 33
From: Not on either liberal coast.
This is an image of an after market B&M "Sport" shifter. The plastic "button" or bearing snaps into place on the bottom spherical end that goes into the transmission.
As I said, I'd imagine that if you bought the entire assembly as shown in the first image, then the plastic "button" should already be snapped into place. The GM C6/Z06 shifter is a very complete assembly.
I have no idea why your "local guy" would remove the "button" from your oem shifter.
From the second image, you can also see that this particular after market shifter has sufficient space above the mounting plate to enclose not only the nylon "bearing", but some shifters also have springs to center the shifter (KIRBAN, HURST, CALLAWAY). I've had my B&M "Sport" shifter apart and it only has the nylon "bearing", no springs.
It sounds like your "local guy" removed the entire oem assembly from your car and installed the entire GM assembly you purchased. That's how most people install this shifter since it's already factory assembled. I think an adjustment and alignment with the neutral pin should cure your problem of getting into first.
As I said, I'd imagine that if you bought the entire assembly as shown in the first image, then the plastic "button" should already be snapped into place. The GM C6/Z06 shifter is a very complete assembly.
I have no idea why your "local guy" would remove the "button" from your oem shifter.
From the second image, you can also see that this particular after market shifter has sufficient space above the mounting plate to enclose not only the nylon "bearing", but some shifters also have springs to center the shifter (KIRBAN, HURST, CALLAWAY). I've had my B&M "Sport" shifter apart and it only has the nylon "bearing", no springs.
It sounds like your "local guy" removed the entire oem assembly from your car and installed the entire GM assembly you purchased. That's how most people install this shifter since it's already factory assembled. I think an adjustment and alignment with the neutral pin should cure your problem of getting into first.
Last edited by hotwheels57; Nov 10, 2007 at 11:18 AM.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 6,937
Likes: 21
From: Waldorf MD
That the installer may not have used the neutral alignment pin and that could account for it being difficult to get into first.
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 3,904
Likes: 29
From: Vancouver Washington
What position was the old unit in when it was pulled and what position was the new unit in when installed??? Without knowing if both neutral pins were depressed you don't know how the linkage shaft was lined up. Even when both pins were depressed, you have to be careful to install the new unit so that you're dead center on the linkage shaft's detent (place where the bolt goes through) or you experience the hard into first or whatever gear syndrom. A good double check is to note the marks on the elongated bolt holes of the old unit and start with the new one oriented the same.
Thread Starter
5th Gear
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
Thanks guys. This is a big help. Pending anyone elses observatuons I'll get back in there with the neutral pin and allignment issue to address. Stay tuned next week and thanks again. This forum is awesome!
Instructor
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 108
Likes: 0
I know exactly what he is talking about. The shifter is the '08 Z06 shifter assembly, complete with **** and housing. It is very stiff out of the box, overly stiff to a fault, and will not return to neutral position by itself. It is solid mounted with no rubber bushings. I may go back to the C5 shifter myself unless this one loosens up a bit. Time will tell.
Instructor
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 108
Likes: 0
