Kirban owners chime in please!

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Jan 11, 2002 | 11:33 PM

viperZ06

Thread Starter

Le Mans Master

Joined: Feb 1999

Posts: 5,492

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From: Florida

Kirban owners chime in please!

I just had my Kirban Shifter and **** installed. Not a good fit with the stock seal but I made it work. I would be interested in any info on how you did the install to perserve the quietness of the stock shifter, Good detail would be appreciated as I might redo mine. Also I think I like it. Gives the car a whole new feel. Still kind of stiff. How long before that loosens up. So far so good but would love some input by those more experienced. :confused:

Jan 12, 2002 | 12:16 AM

TooManyIDs

Safety Car

Joined: Dec 1999

Posts: 4,202

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From: Plano TX

Re: Kirban owners chime in please! (kgrif)

There were posts long ago about this. Maybe you'll find something in the tech tips section.

I used the round rubber gasket from the stock unit & installed upside-down. It's been too long to give you more detail.

No problems with noise.

Jan 12, 2002 | 02:31 AM

mikecoffin1

Racer

Joined: Feb 2001

Posts: 324

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From: Troy NC

Re: Kirban owners chime in please! (kgrif)

Mine was installed the normal way with just the parts out of the Kirban box. No noise and only had slight stiffness, which was gone in a couple of weeks. It's one of the few items on my C5 that works right!!! :D

Jan 12, 2002 | 03:12 AM

CCrane65

Safety Car

Joined: Apr 2000

Posts: 3,802

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From: Wichita KS

Re: Kirban owners chime in please! (kgrif)

There is a rubber dust cover at the base of the stock shifter. Pry it off (you'll have to work at it some) and use it on the Kirban. At first, I had a lot of trouble with it sliding up and turning sideways (because of the rectangular stick) but I pushed it down as far as possible al the way around the edge and it has stayed for months now.

I never considered putting it on upside down but that sounds like it would work very well without have to re-seat it all the time like I did.

In any case, it blocks all the tranny noise that comes up through the hole around the stick.

cc

Jan 12, 2002 | 08:25 AM

ZimC6

Pro

Joined: Feb 2001

Posts: 539

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From: Far NW burbs of Chicago IL

Re: Kirban owners chime in please! (kgrif)

Hey there! I bought some foam "pipe insulation" from Home Depot . Cut it so it would slide down into the shifter hole, BUT NOT TOO FAR, you don't want it to grt in the way. Wrapped it around the shifter. Then I zip tied it around at the top, bottom and middle. Slid the boot back over, and has been great ever since. :chevy

Jan 12, 2002 | 08:53 AM

Smoke-N-Shot

Race Director

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From: Lynnfield MA

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Re: Kirban owners chime in please! (kgrif)

IMHO, because of the shorter throw you will find some stiffness no matter whose shifter you may use... You can quiet them doen somewhat by insulating the boot area with some dynamat...

Nick

Jan 12, 2002 | 12:03 PM

George Cooper

Burning Brakes

Joined: Oct 1999

Posts: 1,041

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From: Charleston SC

Re: Kirban owners chime in please! (Smoke-N-Shot)

1) Brian Marks (bmarks@verticalstores.com) at the Corvette Store on this forum is now selling the Kirban unit with a top plate that Kirban now includes to deal with the noise issue.

2) I used a generic CV boot in much the same way as the pipe stuff - it works.

3) Put Red-Line Synthetic D4 ATF Transmission Lubricant - 4 quarts - in your tranny. It helps.

Jan 12, 2002 | 01:04 PM

viperZ06

Thread Starter

Le Mans Master

Joined: Feb 1999

Posts: 5,492

Likes: 2

From: Florida

Re: Kirban owners chime in please! (kgrif)

Thanks to all. I got ahold of Kirban and they mailed me the new plate that goes on top of the shifter. Now I just have to take the whole damn thing apart again to put it on! :smash:

[Modified by kgrif, 11:07 AM 1/12/2002]