C6 or MGW shifter?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2025
Posts: 101
Likes: 12
From: New Hampshire
C6 or MGW shifter?
What’s the better shifter for someone fairly new to manual? I know that short throw shifters feel much nicer, but I’ve also heard that it can be easier to misshift. I’ve seen a few people put C6 shifters in their C5 as it has a more medium throw. What would you recommend?
Pro
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 645
Likes: 345
From: San Jose CA
MGW has its fans and critics.
No one has a bad word to say about Tick, they are expensive and worth it.
https://www.tickperformance.com/corv...fter-assembly/
C6 has different stalk and ****-thread.
No one has a bad word to say about Tick, they are expensive and worth it.
https://www.tickperformance.com/corv...fter-assembly/
C6 has different stalk and ****-thread.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2025
Posts: 101
Likes: 12
From: New Hampshire
MGW has its fans and critics.
No one has a bad word to say about Tick, they are expensive and worth it.
https://www.tickperformance.com/corv...fter-assembly/
C6 has different stalk and ****-thread.
No one has a bad word to say about Tick, they are expensive and worth it.
https://www.tickperformance.com/corv...fter-assembly/
C6 has different stalk and ****-thread.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2021
Posts: 888
Likes: 753
From: SW Desert
Is the stock, original shifter not working for you? I've had a couple of aftermarket shifters (TMOD, MTI) but the factory C5 shifter and box assembly I currently have installed in my C5 Z06 works the best for me in the HPDE environment my car spends the majority of its time in. If you really feel like you need something a bit different I'd go with the factory C6 unit and try that for a while.
Racer
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 255
Likes: 109
From: Detroit area, Michigan
If you have the budget for a MGW, go for it. You can also cut off an inch of your existing shifter to reduce the throw. You might have to cut some new threads to screw on a new shift ****. See youtube for videos going over this.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 19,463
Likes: 1,166
From: Dyer, IN
Given your disclosure, I would say neither. Leave the stock shifter in place, and learn how the car behaves to establish a baseline, then make changes after you are acclimated.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 31,977
Likes: 487
From: Guinness Its whats for B'fast JAWGA
CI 3-4-5-9 Veteran
Shifters are an item some people will love and others not so much. If you are new, I'd learn with what you have.
I am not a fan of going for the shortest throw possible but go after a shifter that I feel I can get into the gate the easiest. I like a MGW, and also like a B&M ripper. Haven't driven a Tick. They make a great product but someone is bound not to like their shifter. Tmods has fans as well. The Hurst and I didn't get along but I have friends that loved their Hurst, that go after what you like thing. Who knows the Hurst may not have been lined up correctly. It was in a friends car. Again, get used to your car and go after what you like, if you can find someone local with a shifter and can drive their car, go for it. Otherwise you might try buying one used, if you don't like it sell it for a minimal loss.
Froggy had a couple of video of adjusting his C5 shifter.
I am not a fan of going for the shortest throw possible but go after a shifter that I feel I can get into the gate the easiest. I like a MGW, and also like a B&M ripper. Haven't driven a Tick. They make a great product but someone is bound not to like their shifter. Tmods has fans as well. The Hurst and I didn't get along but I have friends that loved their Hurst, that go after what you like thing. Who knows the Hurst may not have been lined up correctly. It was in a friends car. Again, get used to your car and go after what you like, if you can find someone local with a shifter and can drive their car, go for it. Otherwise you might try buying one used, if you don't like it sell it for a minimal loss.
Froggy had a couple of video of adjusting his C5 shifter.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2021
Posts: 2,555
Likes: 1,213
What’s the better shifter for someone fairly new to manual? I know that short throw shifters feel much nicer, but I’ve also heard that it can be easier to misshift. I’ve seen a few people put C6 shifters in their C5 as it has a more medium throw. What would you recommend?
After you learn the limitations/problems with what you have, seek out a solution to those problems.
Millions of people have driven manual transmission automobiles and never considered changing the shifter. Until you figure out what you think is inadequate there is no way to make a rational decision on how to fix it.
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Pro
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 645
Likes: 345
From: San Jose CA
Does the throw length of the shift affect your ability to operate it as a new driver? IMHO no, the shifter throw is not the pinch point for learning stick; that would be clutch engagement in 1st gear.
For the record - I've had a Hurst on my car for 20+ years and have never seen a reason to change it. If I was buying new, I'd probably go Tick as they have continued R&D whereas Hurst/B&M are pretty much the same as they were in 1997 (I've heard). I've driven a lot of C5's... and hate the factory shifter, not just the throw, but the slop.
Nothing wrong with the C6 shifter, many people do that swap. I'm a guy who likes to spend money once.
For the record - I've had a Hurst on my car for 20+ years and have never seen a reason to change it. If I was buying new, I'd probably go Tick as they have continued R&D whereas Hurst/B&M are pretty much the same as they were in 1997 (I've heard). I've driven a lot of C5's... and hate the factory shifter, not just the throw, but the slop.
Nothing wrong with the C6 shifter, many people do that swap. I'm a guy who likes to spend money once.
Racer
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 279
Likes: 4
From: Cincinnati OH
I’ve had my C5 with the stock shifter for about 15 years and finally put in an upgraded one. WOW, what a difference. The shifting is much more precise and has a great positive feel as compared to the original. Makes the car more enjoyable to drive for sure. I went with the
https://www.corvettecentral.com/c5-9...fter-nd-535059
KIRBAN KWIK 6-SPEED SHIFTER (ND)…
https://www.corvettecentral.com/c5-9...fter-nd-535059
Running Guns & Moonshine
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 12,656
Likes: 7,296
From: CT
From your phrasing up at the top? C6 Z06 bent shifter. Easy to toss. Great to learn on. Once you get some miles on it come back around and consider others if inclined.
I always suggest the TMOD upgraded tub of course. No one knows the bushing on their 25+ year old are worn out until they put these lifetime pieces in. Small price for cleaner shifting.
Enjoy the car as it is intended with the upgrade to a C6 Z06 shifter. They rock. I've tried a TON of shifters as folks here will say so I offer some weight with my suggestion. Kind of surprised no one tagged me in on this thread before now. LOL
I always suggest the TMOD upgraded tub of course. No one knows the bushing on their 25+ year old are worn out until they put these lifetime pieces in. Small price for cleaner shifting.
Enjoy the car as it is intended with the upgrade to a C6 Z06 shifter. They rock. I've tried a TON of shifters as folks here will say so I offer some weight with my suggestion. Kind of surprised no one tagged me in on this thread before now. LOL
