[Z06] My C6 z06 shifter impressions...
09-06-2009, 05:28 PM
#1
Safety Car
Thread Starter
My C6 z06 shifter impressions...
After the first day of ownership of my 03 Z, I installed a B&M Precision Sport shifter. My initial thoughts were, "wow, this is great!!" The throws were *much* shorter and precise compared to the stock shifter. Shifting through the gears was much stiffer and notchy, though. After a couple months, the stiffness became to much of a nuisance, so opted back to the stock shifter. After re-installing the stock shifter, I once again said to myself, "wow, this is great!!" 
Although, the throws were noticeably longer and not as precise, the ease/smoothness of shifting was much better!! I used the stock shifter for a couple months. I read a lot of reviews about how the C6 z06 shifter is a good "middle ground" between an aftermarket and stock shifter. I decided to give it a try. Boy, am I glad a did!!! 
What a perfect shifter!! Throws are noticeably shorter and more precise than the stock shifter, but the ease/smoothness is right where it should be. I found myself occasionally missing 3rd gear on high RPM runs with stock shifter, but not the C6 z06 shifter! The C6 **** sits lower, and less reach due to the re-designed handle of the C6 z06 shifter. The C6 **** itself is great! All in all, I will never look into another shifter, this one is perfect!!
P.S. DO NOT go from an aftermarket shifter to a C6 z06 shifter, you will not feel the benefits as much as switching from a stock C5 z06 shifter. Also, I bought the 2009 version C6 z06 shifter from Gene Culley which is supposed to have improvements over the 06-08 C6 z06 shifter. Keep this in mind if you're thinking about buying one.
Although, the throws were noticeably longer and not as precise, the ease/smoothness of shifting was much better!! I used the stock shifter for a couple months. I read a lot of reviews about how the C6 z06 shifter is a good "middle ground" between an aftermarket and stock shifter. I decided to give it a try. Boy, am I glad a did!!! What a perfect shifter!! Throws are noticeably shorter and more precise than the stock shifter, but the ease/smoothness is right where it should be. I found myself occasionally missing 3rd gear on high RPM runs with stock shifter, but not the C6 z06 shifter! The C6 **** sits lower, and less reach due to the re-designed handle of the C6 z06 shifter. The C6 **** itself is great! All in all, I will never look into another shifter, this one is perfect!! P.S. DO NOT go from an aftermarket shifter to a C6 z06 shifter, you will not feel the benefits as much as switching from a stock C5 z06 shifter. Also, I bought the 2009 version C6 z06 shifter from Gene Culley which is supposed to have improvements over the 06-08 C6 z06 shifter. Keep this in mind if you're thinking about buying one.
09-06-2009, 05:47 PM
#3
Melting Slicks
I have a 09 Z06 shifter setup also. I like it around town, though i would like a little bit shorter shifts when i'm playing around.
I came from a B&M when i bought the car. Ya that was nice when i wanted to race but it got annoying on the street. It was loud as hell and rattled like crazy under WOT.
The C6Z is...well a stock feeling shifter. I'm thinking MGW whenever i get tired of the C6Z shifter.
I came from a B&M when i bought the car. Ya that was nice when i wanted to race but it got annoying on the street. It was loud as hell and rattled like crazy under WOT.
The C6Z is...well a stock feeling shifter. I'm thinking MGW whenever i get tired of the C6Z shifter.
09-06-2009, 06:11 PM
#7
Safety Car
Thread Starter
I came from a B&M when i bought the car. Ya that was nice when i wanted to race but it got annoying on the street. It was loud as hell and rattled like crazy under WOT.
The C6Z is...well a stock feeling shifter. I'm thinking MGW whenever i get tired of the C6Z shifter.
09-07-2009, 05:59 PM
#9
Supporting Vendor - Supporting Member
How difficult is it to install the c6 z06 shifter? Also can you mount the hurst 8 ball shift **** on this?
09-07-2009, 06:06 PM
#10
Safety Car
Thread Starter
8 ball will not fit. Only the C6 **** will fit if I'm not mistaken? Installation can be a bit tricky as you want to be able the center the shifter properly and re torque the bolts to proper spec.
09-07-2009, 06:51 PM
#11
Race Director
There is an after market company that makes cue ball type ***** for the C6/Z06 oem shifters...
http://www.westcoastcorvette.com/p-1...or-c6-z06.aspx
http://www.westcoastcorvette.com/p-1...or-c6-z06.aspx
Last edited by hotwheels57; 09-07-2009 at 06:56 PM.
10-08-2009, 03:34 PM
#13
Racer
Member Since: Feb 2008
Location: Sammamish WA
Posts: 290
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
as far as i have read this forum it seems that
MGW, Kirban and C6Z are the most popular ones, with the kirbans being recommended over MGW by a select few.
10-08-2009, 05:15 PM
#14
Le Mans Master
I've had a modified stock shortened C5 shifter 
I installed a Hurst, much more notchy and around town it is a bit of a pain but very precise. Intstalled the C6Z shifter now and love it around town but at the track I will reinstall my Hurst as the C6Z doesn't give me the confidence of a drag racing shifter. a little too loose for that. My $0.02
I installed a Hurst, much more notchy and around town it is a bit of a pain but very precise. Intstalled the C6Z shifter now and love it around town but at the track I will reinstall my Hurst as the C6Z doesn't give me the confidence of a drag racing shifter. a little too loose for that. My $0.02
10-10-2009, 01:29 AM
#15
Racer
Member Since: Aug 2006
Location: Protecting the sheep in northern MN
Posts: 312
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Just pulled the trigger on the new 2010 version from Gene. He said they no longer make the Z06 shifter its just the C6. Problems with bushings in the Z model. All have rubber bushings now verses the solid bushings in the Z. I will throw my .02 cents in when it's installed.
10-10-2009, 01:37 AM
#16
Team Owner
Just pulled the trigger on the new 2010 version from Gene. He said they no longer make the Z06 shifter its just the C6. Problems with bushings in the Z model. All have rubber bushings now verses the solid bushings in the Z. I will throw my .02 cents in when it's installed.
10-10-2009, 10:24 AM
#18
Drifting
Since the shifters (C5 & C6) were the same except for the shift lever, I would assume that you could keep your C5 Z06 case and just switch in the top of the C6 shifter to get the benefits of the C6 without losing the solid mount of the Z06. But I would check to make sure there weren't any other changes in 2010.
Last edited by hattitude; 10-10-2009 at 10:30 AM.
10-10-2009, 11:14 AM
#19
Melting Slicks
I run the B&M Ripper in my 02Z.I also did the Anti-Venom mod with 3 washers.Made all the diff in the world.
Make sure to keep the shifter well lubricated( under boot).
Shifts are smooth,firm and has a good "snic-snic" sound.
\db2
Carolina
Make sure to keep the shifter well lubricated( under boot).
Shifts are smooth,firm and has a good "snic-snic" sound.
\db2
Carolina
10-10-2009, 11:38 AM
#20
Safety Car
Thread Starter
The Z06 shifter was a solid mount and the C6 or C5 had rubber bushings at the mount points. According to an above post, they only make the rubber mounted now.... I didn't know that.
Since the shifters (C5 & C6) were the same except for the shift lever, I would assume that you could keep your C5 Z06 case and just switch in the top of the C6 shifter to get the benefits of the C6 without losing the solid mount of the Z06. But I would check to make sure there weren't any other changes in 2010.
Since the shifters (C5 & C6) were the same except for the shift lever, I would assume that you could keep your C5 Z06 case and just switch in the top of the C6 shifter to get the benefits of the C6 without losing the solid mount of the Z06. But I would check to make sure there weren't any other changes in 2010.