I just replaced my stock C5Z shifter with the MGW

I always had trouble shifting into reverse...most of the time double clutching or going to another gear and theninto reverse helped.

With the MGW it's the same (although I love the MGW) lined everything up...still not much better.


Jim

 

Yep sounds like you too may need a shifter alignment done! I think it should be labeled "shifter linkage alignment" though cause it doesn't matter what "top shaft or shifter box" your using. Could be MGW, Z06, B&M, Hurst, or stock.... It all has to do with how they are aligned up to the shifter rod and to the tunnel mount.

I'll post a movie soon as I get home on how mine now behaves.

 

I have a lot of notchiness in my shifter, I'd like to try to make the car shift easier if I can. I always wished it could! can someone post some pictures of this? or get really creative and video the procedure. is this something that someone who has never done anything with a shifter but shift it can do? I hate messing with these parts of the car, I don't want to screw anything up!

 

If you could clarify your "notchiness" this would help. All shifters will have a degree of "notchiness" to them. The aftermarket ones are worst then the stockers cause of the nature of the game. They because are short throw tend to show the harshness and make it more profound. If your referring to a little bump in going over the neutral point...it's going to be there...no matter how in sync your shifter is. If however your having difficulty from time to time finding a gear or your finding it hard to go into a gear...that, itself can be fixed upon with a proper re-alignment. Any person can do this, but like others have said...it will require patience and some trial and errors. I should of photographed and made a movie of mine when I did this. Now that I have gotten it all aligned up I would really hate to disrupt that. As mentioned I can put up a small movie of the end result but that's about it. Hopefully someone who wants to tackle this for themselves might be willing to photograph it or do a small movie for you. If you follow the procedure up at the top of this post, you can't go wrong. There is really nothing to "mess up" as you put it. Worst case scenario you align it up wrong and you can't get the car into say 1st or 4th or something. From here it is pretty easy to fix. It just means your one step closer and is all part of the trial and error process. At first you will lose 1st but have all the other gears line up. Then 1st will be there but 4th will feel weird or the return to neutral will be gone. You just have to keep making really small adjustments and re-tightening of the 3 bolts till everything aligns up perfect. It's almost like a Rubik's Cube (remember those!) There is only 1 way to get the whole side to align up and then you have to worry about the remaining sides. Once you master it thought, you'll get the whole thing to line up perfectly.

 

cool. I'm sure I'll give it a try eventually. it rarely won't shift but it does happen. almost always going into first gear sometimes the car just won't do it. I have to go to second then back to first. the worst notchiness feeling is moving into second, it feels like I'm pushing the shifter through sand or something. it really has a grinding sensation as you physically move it into the 2nd gate. the tranny isn't gringing or anything, its just the sensation the shifter give me when going into some gears, second in particular. my brother has a 99 Z28 and it shifts buttery smooth into each gear, no notchiness at all. that's what I'd really like mine to feel like. I doubt it will ever be quite that smooth, but its not normal for it to get stuck trying to go into first.

 

Great thread, I am definitely going to have to give this a try this weekend. I certainly have a bit of sticking from left to right and it seems to be a bit extra notchy going into gears. I also recently developed a small grind when shifting to 4th, it will give a small grind and then goes right in gear. It does it shifting fast, normal, or even just pressing in the clutch at a stop and putting it in gear. However if I am rolling in neutral and press in the clutch and stick it in gear it goers in fine, it also goes in fine when double clutching at any rpm. Any idea if this will help or fix this?

This is an 02 Z with 35k btw.

Thanks guys.

 

All this shows that if you are changing to an aftermarket shifter or C6 shifter, and you were not having any shifting problems before the change, do not remove or change the base. Just switch the upper part of the shifter.

 

mine springs back to N from the left and right but usually not if I'm all the way over below the reverse gate. does that mean there is room for improvement?

 

hmmmmm I don't think Iam following you on that...sorry I haven't had the chance to take the video...too much stuff keeps popping up! I'll try over the weekend though.

 

Hey guys the stock shifter WILL return to center BUT not from anything inside the shifter itself. The return to center force is actually generated in the Tranny...

I would suspect the member who has the shifter not returning to the center probably had a previous owner who installed the Anti Venom Mod, either DIY or the actualt "kit". The Anti Venom mod shims out the detent bolt that is applying the return to center force in the tranny. If you're using an aftermarket shifter with built in return to center springs then it's a good idea to shim out the Trannies detent bolt... No need to be fighting two seperate forces...

The allignement procedure Extreme posted up works very well...

 

I'll be doing it sunday, i'll let you guys know how it works out!

 

I'm having this problem installing the C6 z shifter and it's pissing me off. I've tried to align everything perfectly with no luck!!! I can't get the car in first gear at all. It feels like it going into first, but when I accelerate, it feels like I'm in 5th gear!! WTF????

 

possibly its 3rd? the shifter rod does swivel, i noticed that when i was examining mine, i took the two bolts out and the shifter will swivel completely from side to side with the shifter rod still bolted... maybe loosen the cinch bolt and try adjusting the shift rod counter-clockwise a little....?

 

What are you all using to torque the torx t-40 bolts to spec? Some kind of adapter for a torque wrench?

 

I have a mojo 1/2" and a smaller 3/8" Torque wrench but between you and me I just gorilled it with a little blue lactite! You should be able to borrow a 3/8" torque wrench from one of the larger auto parts stores...

I recommend loctite as these bolts have a curious and frustrating habit of loosening up on their own... I had mine prefect and over time it s l o w l y got worse until I finally notuced it and had to go back in.

Tim

 

The best I can offer is trial and error... it can be REALLY frustrating when it's off that much! I would get the shifter rod lined up perfectly to the shifter, then try swiveling the shifter one way or the other to see if it gets worse or better and then start playing with both from there...

Is the C6Z shifter new or used?

Tim

 

Thanks for the advice. I have no choice but to keep trying. The C6 Z shifter is new.

 

I got my t-40 3/8 socket from autozone...

 

Ok so I finally got around to taking the little movie...


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FVYpbZN0KLI

 

nice video! I definitely have to adjust mine bc it doesnt snap back from right to center...