Installed the MGW into my 04Z today. Followed MGW's EXCELLENT youTube videos, took about 2 hours, taking my time.

Initial impressions:

The shifter is amazingly positive and the throws are much shorter than stock (obviously). I may lengthen the overall length of the stick to reduce the effort somewhat, I'll give it a week to give myself a chance to get used to it. It feels a bit notchy, but I have a couple of the Dorman washers to do the Anti-venom mod, I'll start with one and go from there.

Reverse is still a PITA to get into, but I believe that is more idiosyncratic of the T56, than a shifter issue. I'll continue with my technique of rocking the car in first gear then shifting into reverse. First is not an issue, but it definitely feels more notchy going in than the other gears.

Running through the gears at 6500RPM is pure magic. It is almost impossible to miss a shift now. I expect this to improve with one washer and the anti-venom mod.

Overall...VERY pleased with the mod, should have done this months ago instead of suffering the terrible stock shifter for the last 5 months.

 

Did you go traditional or flat stick? I just got my flat stick and haven’t installed yet (doing clutch now).

And literally just heard about the anti venom mod yesterday so i am looking into that

 

I went traditional, with a Hurst cueball on the shifter shaft.

 

Any rattling from the Hurst cueball? I started to order one but heard they are bad to rattle. Installing my MGW in a couple days.

 

Nope. Threads on the stick, just like the old Hurst Competition Plus days, and locks on with a jam nut. I did notice that the ball is slightly larger than the vintage cue *****. I'm not really sure I know how a shift **** could rattle unless someone screwed it on too far and cracked it?

 

it will rattle if you tighten the **** on the stick without using the jamb nut !!!! the shifter will loosen up with miles !!!

 

The MGW shifter is one of the best mods I've done. Good thread !

 

The cueball **** I have a rattles because the brass insert with the threads has just a tiny bit of movement inside the ball and it’s enough to make it rattle like hell under acceleration

 

Did the Antivenom mod tonight, started with one washer, still felt a bit notchy, added the 2nd one, and now its perfect. A perfect "snick-snick" into the gears.

One issue, getting into reverse can still be problematic, maybe even a little worse than the stock shifter. I might call MGW to see if there is an adjustment needed. I did have the alignment tool when I installed the shifter, so nothing should be misaligned. Thoughts?

 

Possibly a new reverse lockout solenoid?

 

I always go to 4th before going into reverse, even had to do that with the stock shifter. It helps quiet a bit

 

Also where did you get the washers

 

Ordered off Amazon, about $5. I'll give it a while, I'm sure there is a break in period for the shifter and owner before I change anything.

 

 

Mine will be here tomorrow and installed over the weekend. Goodbye noisy Kirban.

 

How do you know when the reverse lockout solenoid is bad? What are the symptoms? Will it throw a code?

 

OP, I got an MGW also and feel ya on the reverse....

What I do, and maybe mechanically it does nothing, but feels easier to me - before going into reverse I'll depress clutch and hit 3rd then 4th then reverse.....

Used to do the same thing in my C3 4speed and made it much easier to get into reverse...

 

the easiest way to determine if the solenoid is bad is to leave the car off and key out of the ignition, then try to go from neutral into reverse. If it feels the same as when the car is running, then your solenoid is bad. If it’s much harder, then your solenoid is working fine.

With th my B&M shifter I can go into reverse with two fingers. My car with an mgw shifter has the reverse lockout disconnected, so I can’t speak for that one.

 

Disconnected reverse lockout? Sounds like a fiasco waiting to happen LOL

 

Can you pull it out and epoxy the insert back in?