Best shifter fo C5?
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 25
Likes: 6
Best shifter fo C5?
Wanted to get some opinions before I buy a new shifter for my C5 M6.
I have a Hurst in my 2010 Camaro and am not thrilled with it, it is notchy feeling and not very impressive. Want to be more careful before I buy one for this car.
Any input is appreciated.
I have a Hurst in my 2010 Camaro and am not thrilled with it, it is notchy feeling and not very impressive. Want to be more careful before I buy one for this car.
Any input is appreciated.
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 3,905
Likes: 250
From: Orlando FL
I have the new style B&M Ripper and love it. However, shifter feel is very subjective. Ask 5 people, you will get 5 answers. Try to find some members in your area that have different ones and see if you can get the "feel" of different brands. Where are you?
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 22,025
Likes: 192
From: At the beach in little Rhody
I can only relay my experience. I installed the Hurst several years ago and found it notchy and noisy. I removed it after two weeks. I then installed the C6 shifter (not the Z06 version) and love it. It is shorter, quiet and smooth.
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Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 32,910
Likes: 2,402
From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
There are several things that people do not understand anout C5 and C6 Shifters.
1. There are absoluty NO, NADA, ZERO, NILCH gates inside any of the Corvette (C5/C6) Shifters. All the shift gates happen inside the transmission!
2 There are TWO types of shifters:
-The OEM type that does not have any shift handle centering springs
-Shifters with centering springs in the shifter body that returns the shift handle to the nuteral/3rd/4th position.
The KIRBAN shifter is the type with centering springs in the shifter body.
I too have a KIRBAN and really like it.
Kirban vs OEM
OEM and the shift box:
When I purchased my 06 coupe, one of my first mods was going to be install a KIRBAN Shifter. After driving the C6, I found that I really liked the feel and performance of the C6 Shifter and never changed it.
NOTE! The C6 transmission has a STRONGER shift handle return spring and better defined shift gates (inside the tranny).
Some of the early C5s had **** poor shifter return springs and getting a shifter that has additional centering springs can make the shifting expierence a lot more pleasurable (IMHO)
1. There are absoluty NO, NADA, ZERO, NILCH gates inside any of the Corvette (C5/C6) Shifters. All the shift gates happen inside the transmission!
2 There are TWO types of shifters:
-The OEM type that does not have any shift handle centering springs
-Shifters with centering springs in the shifter body that returns the shift handle to the nuteral/3rd/4th position.
The KIRBAN shifter is the type with centering springs in the shifter body.
I too have a KIRBAN and really like it.
Kirban vs OEM
OEM and the shift box:
When I purchased my 06 coupe, one of my first mods was going to be install a KIRBAN Shifter. After driving the C6, I found that I really liked the feel and performance of the C6 Shifter and never changed it.
NOTE! The C6 transmission has a STRONGER shift handle return spring and better defined shift gates (inside the tranny).
Some of the early C5s had **** poor shifter return springs and getting a shifter that has additional centering springs can make the shifting expierence a lot more pleasurable (IMHO)
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From: SacCityCorvette.com in Sacramento Ca Join us on Facebook!
St. Jude Donor '12,'13,'15,'16,'17
MGW and did the AntiVenom mod. Shifts awesome!
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Last edited by SacCityCorvette; May 18, 2012 at 04:40 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 2,300
Likes: 115
From: Odessa FL
St. Jude Donor '10-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17
There are several things that people do not understand anout C5 and C6 Shifters.
1. There are absoluty NO, NADA, ZERO, NILCH gates inside any of the Corvette (C5/C6) Shifters. All the shift gates happen inside the transmission!
2 There are TWO types of shifters:
-The OEM type that does not have any shift handle centering springs
-Shifters with centering springs in the shifter body that returns the shift handle to the nuteral/3rd/4th position.
The KIRBAN shifter is the type with centering springs in the shifter body.
I too have a KIRBAN and really like it.
NOTE! The C6 transmission has a STRONGER shift handle return spring and better defined shift gates (inside the tranny). Some of the early C5s had **** poor shifter return springs and getting a shifter that has additional centering springs can make the shifting expierence a lot more pleasurable (IMHO)
1. There are absoluty NO, NADA, ZERO, NILCH gates inside any of the Corvette (C5/C6) Shifters. All the shift gates happen inside the transmission!
2 There are TWO types of shifters:
-The OEM type that does not have any shift handle centering springs
-Shifters with centering springs in the shifter body that returns the shift handle to the nuteral/3rd/4th position.
The KIRBAN shifter is the type with centering springs in the shifter body.
I too have a KIRBAN and really like it.
NOTE! The C6 transmission has a STRONGER shift handle return spring and better defined shift gates (inside the tranny).
Some of the early C5s had **** poor shifter return springs and getting a shifter that has additional centering springs can make the shifting expierence a lot more pleasurable (IMHO)
Pro
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 573
Likes: 7
From: Greensboro NC
Mgw
Recommend find someone who has an MGW and try it before purchasing your shifter. I've had two MGW shifters so far, one on a C6 and one on my current C5. the MGW mated with my RPS twin disk is about as smooth as they come.
Intermediate
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 49
Likes: 0
From: Orange County California
+1 for MTI.
I tried out 4 shifters (C5Z06, MGW, C6 and MTI) over 2 years.
C5Z06 - long stroke and sloppy - worst of all 4
MGW - Super precise but the shifting effort was simply too great - need a strong arm
C6 - Not as precise as MGW but much better shifting effort - my 2nd choice
MTI - a nice combination of C6 and MGW - precise and just the right effort = perfect
After spending time and $$$, MTI is the one I kept.
I tried out 4 shifters (C5Z06, MGW, C6 and MTI) over 2 years.
C5Z06 - long stroke and sloppy - worst of all 4
MGW - Super precise but the shifting effort was simply too great - need a strong arm
C6 - Not as precise as MGW but much better shifting effort - my 2nd choice
MTI - a nice combination of C6 and MGW - precise and just the right effort = perfect
After spending time and $$$, MTI is the one I kept.
