I'm looking for knowledgeable answers on this issue. I don't car about shifter XYZ. One of the previous owners cut down my C5 shifter. From what I've read this is a bubba way to achieve a shorter throw.

My question is if there would be any improvement to shifting if I went with the C6 shifter. My understanding the biggest gain is the shorter throw with the C6 shifter which apparently I gained when the previous owner cut down the stock shifter. Since they're similar designs am I really going to see any improvements?

 

I'm pretty sure with a cut shifter you will ruin your synchros faster but I'm curious to hear some knowledgeable answers on this question as well.

 

8VETTE7 how hard was the swap?

 

I've done C5 to C6 shifter swaps in four cars now, and I've gotten it down to about 15 minutes including removal and reinstallation of the C5 center console. It's very easy.

 

Last fall, I purchased a shortened C6 shifter and carbon fiber look C6 **** from a forum member. The difference between the stock C5 and the shortened C6 was remarkable to me. The shifter itself was tighter and smoother. Even though the two look the same, there is a difference for sure. The shortened height did in effect shorten the throw. Another benefit was with my arm on the console, still able to shift. Had to lift entire arm to shift before.
I realize that there are "better" aftermarket options available which are even shorter and tighter. However this comes at the tradeoff of more required effort from the driver to shift and the shifter is much stiffer in feel. For the way I drive the '04, this upgrade was just about perfect. I do not race, just have fun on the open road. Recently went to San Diego. On return trip, left I8 and drove up to Julian, an old silver mining town in the mountains. Road was full of curves and twisties. Shifting was fun and effortless.
Add in the total cost of $45.00 shipped, yea, I got a good deal, in my opinion could not have done better.
Also if you have not done so, the anti-venom mod to the detent on the trans also is a benefit. I did do this before switching shifters. This entails placing a thin copper washer on the fitting to decrease the pressure the detent ball places on the mechanism.
Chas

 

Ive had a 98 Coupe Base car, an 02 ZO6, a C6 06 Z51 Coupe and a 2011 Grand Sport Vert.

I HATED the 98 coupe stock shifter. It was LONG, and had very poor return to neutral gate spring assist. (The return to center gate is actually accomplished inside the tranny) and it was sloppy (IMHO)

That said, as soon as I could I purchased a KIRBAN shifter for the ZO6. MAN,,,,,,,,,, What an amazing difference.

So,,, when we purchased the 06 Coupe, one of my very first mods was going to be installing an aftermarket shifter.

After driving the 06, I found the C6 shifter more than adequate and it actually felt like a Stock performance shifter should.

I have also retained the OEM C6 shifter in the 11 Grand sport.

MUCH IMPROVED over the stock C5 POS. The ergonomics and the better feel of the shift **** makes it a keeper. Very happy with the Improved C6 shifter.

Bill

 

Sorry... how? If you shift properly the length should be irrelevant.
I shortened mine by about 1 1/4", then installed a **** from TwistedShifterz with deep threads. Works great. My factory shifter is tight.

 

I vote for the C6... it's a GREAT upgrade to the crappiest shifter ever in history... I drove 50 model 2 ton hay trucks that shifted better than the C5 OEM... If you do the anti-venom mod, Amsoil Torque Drive Trans Fluid, Modified Ranger Method, and Lucas Synthetic DOT IV, and make sure you install is correct you will be a happy camper... Like driving a different car. The biggest improvement we have had though is getting the throttle lag tuned out by Chuck CoW... WOW! After getting those two annoying things fixed it is soooo much more enjoyable to drive...

 

I've played with standard C5 (original), shortened C6 and shortened C5.

First of all, the only "feel" difference between the two shortened shifters is that the C6 lever has a bend in it, so the **** is moved rearward compared to the C5. I have had them both apart - same innards. A new C6 unit may feel better as it is new and tighter. I rebuilt my C5 unit, and got rid of the slight "slop" due to wear. I took the top half of the unit fully apart (drilled out the rivets) and got rid of the slack in the ball and socket using emory and a flat surface, and taking a little metal off the riveted down plate. Rebuilt with 3/16 bolts, locknuts and threadlocker and then some "make a gasket" goo between the two parts of top mechanism. Result? Nice tight shifter assembly, just like new.

Cutting down the lever is easy - use a die to take the thread down to the top of the vibration insulator, then hacksaw through the lever at about where the bottom of the original thread was. This suited my Hurst cue ball shifter perfectly - the shifter boot is hard up against the insulator and the **** is hard up against the top of the boot.

I've settled on the cut down C5, mainly because I like where the **** ends up - it just feels right to me, given my seat position, etc. Like I said - apart from that, no difference at all.

Oh, yea, running plain old Valvoline Dex/Merc from Walmart in the box - it meets the old Dex III spec (required). And shifting is easy, without any other mods - just putting new lube in the box makes a world of difference to shift quality - it doesn't have to be the expensive stuff either.

So, some new bolts and nuts, a 9/16 die, a hacksaw and your choice of shift ****. Around $50 or so all up.

 

Anything is better than the POS c5 shifter. Fwiw when I first got my vette the previous owner cut the shifter it was super notchy. Whatever you get if its to notchy definetly do the anti-venom mod, made a big difference to me. Then upgraded to the mgw and love every bit of shifting compared to stock.