power shifting
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 4,933
Likes: 30
From: San Rafael CA
Your shifter is basically a metal stick in a mounting .... it has no clue what you are doing ... and if it had a clue ... couldn't do anything about it.
Maybe if you gave a description of what you mean by "power shifting" and what is happening to prevent you from doing a "power shift" someone can help you ....
It ain't your B&M ....
Maybe if you gave a description of what you mean by "power shifting" and what is happening to prevent you from doing a "power shift" someone can help you ....
It ain't your B&M ....
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,819
Likes: 5
From: Annapolis Md.
Your shifter is basically a metal stick in a mounting .... it has no clue what you are doing ... and if it had a clue ... couldn't do anything about it.
Maybe if you gave a description of what you mean by "power shifting" and what is happening to prevent you from doing a "power shift" someone can help you ....
It ain't your B&M ....
Maybe if you gave a description of what you mean by "power shifting" and what is happening to prevent you from doing a "power shift" someone can help you ....
It ain't your B&M ....
Stephen, I just want to keep the gas pedal to the metal at all times and POWER SHIFT into 2nd 3rd and 4th. Heck in the 60's on your Muncies and Ford top loaders u could buy a good competition plus,vertical gate or other similar shifters and power shift very easily. I'd like to find a shifter that could do that. B&M sucks. The stock c5 shifter is capable of power shifts, but getting that rubber shifter into the right gear like 3rd.can be a b!tch. Can anyone on this forum POWER SHIFT with confidence?? and what are they using?? btw I still have the skill needed they say '' a poor carpenter is one who blames his tools '' I am not a poor carpenter, just need a quality shifter
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 5,393
Likes: 17
From: Belleville Mich.
When I bought my Z new, and had it's required breake in period out of the way, I had a problem power shifting from 2nd to 3rd. Switched out to a Hurst and no problems since. According to posts by RANGER however reccommends a series of defined practice sessions, to get acclemated to your clutch and shifter, hand machanicss.(all done w/out motor running.) Good luck.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 7,083
Likes: 1,829
From: Metro Detroit Michigan
A shifter with a 5-6 lockout would be handy. I fabricated one for a 5 speed once because I was having the same problem.
Otherwise, practicing with the engine off is good advice. I never powershift without some anxiety though!
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 4,933
Likes: 30
From: San Rafael CA
Stephen, I just want to keep the gas pedal to the metal at all times and POWER SHIFT into 2nd 3rd and 4th. Heck in the 60's on your Muncies and Ford top loaders u could buy a good competition plus,vertical gate or other similar shifters and power shift very easily. I'd like to find a shifter that could do that. B&M sucks. The stock c5 shifter is capable of power shifts, but getting that rubber shifter into the right gear like 3rd.can be a b!tch. Can anyone on this forum POWER SHIFT with confidence?? and what are they using?? btw I still have the skill needed they say '' a poor carpenter is one who blames his tools '' I am not a poor carpenter, just need a quality shifter I haven't tried power shifting with it, but I have a Hurst shifter and have always been pleased with the "accuracy" I have in shifting it. Possibly someone in your area has a Hurst installed and will let you try it.
The Hurst has two advantages ...
1) It comes with springs that can be changed to alter the "centering force" that is applied when you are in the "neutral" position.
2) If you're a car guy from the 60's or 70's .... what's cooler than having a Hurst shifter in the car ???
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 4,933
Likes: 30
From: San Rafael CA
Not difficult at all. The most time consuming part is removing the trim panels ... especially if it is the first time you have done it. You have to remove the console (that compartment under your right arm when you're in the drivers seat) and the trim panel around the shifter (which you'll see goes up and around your radio and A/C controls). Not hard ... just take your time.
Swapping the shifter is literally a 2 minute job .... unbolt old shifter .... bolt in new shifter (you have to transfer a plastic part from old to new .... 5 seconds ....) it is the "a caveman could do it" part of the whole operation.
Then you reinstall the trim panels and
Once you are done with the test drive (which may take several hours because you will LOVE the feel of your new shifter) ....
Go home and
Swapping the shifter is literally a 2 minute job .... unbolt old shifter .... bolt in new shifter (you have to transfer a plastic part from old to new .... 5 seconds ....) it is the "a caveman could do it" part of the whole operation.
Then you reinstall the trim panels and
Once you are done with the test drive (which may take several hours because you will LOVE the feel of your new shifter) ....
Go home and
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every Model vs Closest Competitor
Joe Kucinski
10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!
Joe Kucinski
5 MOST and 5 LEAST Popular Corvette Model Years in History!
Joe Kucinski
2027 Corvette Buyer's Guide: Everything You Need to Know!
Joe Kucinski
10 Things C8 Corvette Owners Hate (But Won't Tell You)
Joe Kucinski
10 Best Corvettes Coming to Barrett-Jackson Palm Beach 2026!
Brett Foote
Every Corvette Grand Sport Explained! (C2, C4, C6, C7, & C8)
Joe Kucinski
Grand Sport & Grand Sport X Launch Alongside All-New 535hp LS6 V8!
Michael S. Palmer
5 Reasons Bad Drivers Crash & 5 Ways to Avoid a Costly Mistake!
Joe Kucinski
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 8,308
Likes: 157
From: NJ
The best way to practice is to drive on the street at very low rpm and don't lift on the gas and after a while you'll be conditioned to not lifting.
Powershifting can help ET but may also hurt et if traction is not available. Alot will depend on tires and track conditions. Even on slicks you can get overspin on the shifts hurting et. Plus you need to time it just right so as not to hit the liiter and get off the clutch fast. It takes time to get it right and the penalty of a trans damage isn't always worth it. You will likely pick up a mph or 2 however.
Last edited by robz; Jun 10, 2008 at 11:16 AM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 5,130
Likes: 3
From: Winter Park FL
Practice and timing. You can do it with any shifter. I had the Hurst and was getting close to having it all figured out. If you can do it smooth I'm not convinced it's any worse on the car than lifting. I'm switching to the c6z shifter before the fall season cause I wanted a smoother shift. We will see if that makes it any easier.
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 1,702
Likes: 1
Practice and timing. You can do it with any shifter. I had the Hurst and was getting close to having it all figured out. If you can do it smooth I'm not convinced it's any worse on the car than lifting. I'm switching to the c6z shifter before the fall season cause I wanted a smoother shift. We will see if that makes it any easier.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 5,130
Likes: 3
From: Winter Park FL
However, I saved up more than a couple nickels in the emergency transmission fund......built or stock, power or speed shifting, you still never know when it's going to give out on you.
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 1,702
Likes: 1
I've seen people that never miss a shift powershift hundreds of 10 sec passes on stock transmission without problems and then there are the people that can't drive that blow up built transmissions once a year. I think if you shift it good you will be in good shape.
However, I saved up more than a couple nickels in the emergency transmission fund......built or stock, power or speed shifting, you still never know when it's going to give out on you.
However, I saved up more than a couple nickels in the emergency transmission fund......built or stock, power or speed shifting, you still never know when it's going to give out on you.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 5,130
Likes: 3
From: Winter Park FL
Yea they powershift every gear. Now if you lift on the 1-2 it will be easier on the trans but then it is just that much harder on your rear, right?
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 27,897
Likes: 9
From: I have no tolerence for liberals and fools, but sometimes i repeat myself
CI 3-5-7-8-9 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '08
i have a B and M and can powershift just fine. For the record hurst and B/M are the same company now
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 1,147
Likes: 1
From: Mohegan Lake New York
When at the dragstrip I speed shift, if I hit the limiter the E.T. suffers considerlby,since you want to get every last ounce of power you rev it to the limiter trying not to hit it,when power shifting the engine flairs during shifts ,how do you avoid hitting the limiter,or do you hit the limiter so momentarily that when the motor hits the next gear its out of the limiter ,or do you anticipate hitting it & shift early, whats the procedure the better power shifters use?
Tech Contributor
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 2,843
Likes: 16
From: Howell Michigan
St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11
What are the primary advantages in the Hurst shifter over the stock shifter? Is it just looks or are there major mechanical differences?
After reading some of the postings, I am curious what benefit I get for the $200+ for a Hurst shifter over the stock unit.
Thanks,
Eric D
After reading some of the postings, I am curious what benefit I get for the $200+ for a Hurst shifter over the stock unit.
Thanks,
Eric D
Racer
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 402
Likes: 7
From: Illinois
at locals letting you power shift their vettesI haven't tried power shifting with it, but I have a Hurst shifter and have always been pleased with the "accuracy" I have in shifting it. Possibly someone in your area has a Hurst installed and will let you try it.
The Hurst has two advantages ...
1) It comes with springs that can be changed to alter the "centering force" that is applied when you are in the "neutral" position.
2) If you're a car guy from the 60's or 70's .... what's cooler than having a Hurst shifter in the car ???
The Hurst has two advantages ...
1) It comes with springs that can be changed to alter the "centering force" that is applied when you are in the "neutral" position.
2) If you're a car guy from the 60's or 70's .... what's cooler than having a Hurst shifter in the car ???