I've had my '05 coupe with 6MT for a couple of months now, and is it just me... or does the factory shifter leave a little something to be desired? The car's only got 5,000 miles on it, so I know it's not worn out.

I have had my share of sports cars over the years so I know how to shift. Really. But, there have been times when I missed a gear (mostly downshifting), and that's not like me. It's actually got me a little spooked. God forbid I miss a gear downshifting at speed and overrev the engine.

And, I don't know if this is a shifter, linkage or tranny issue, but I've also had instances where, while stopped, it didn't want to go from neutral into first, and I had to back out and force it in.

So, what do you guys/gals think? Have I lost my touch or is it the shifter?

And, what do you recommend? I've looked at short throw shifters on the suppliers' websites and there seem to be a number of choices. If I change shifters I'd like a good positive feel going into the gates, both up and down, and a good self-centering mechanism.

Thanks for your input. Gonna try to get this on my Santa list if you think I should go this route.

 

Mine has give me a hard time going from N to 1st a few times. Not real sure what that is about. Never noticed anything about downshifting though. Maybe even after a few months you still aren't used to it. I'm sure others will have more ideas.

 

What you are experiencing is very common. One possible solution that may help out is to change out the clutch fluid. That a look at the fluid, it should be clear, if not, time to change. I usually change mine out at least once during driving season which for me is the summer. Do a search for changing the clutch fluid and you will find many post on the subject, as well as, a DIY

 

I don't have any major problems with the manual transmission in my 2005. Down-shifting is SOP on the street or the track. On the track I'm constantly doing fairly high RPM downshifts and there's no problem. I don't double clutch much but I do rev-match. Every once in a while (not often) it will balk going from neutral into first...it has happened. I would never "force" it into 1st geat. Generally if that happens, you can bump it briefly down into 2nd gear then back up into first. Frankly, this doesn't happen often enough for me to consider it a problem. In normal (for me) street driving about the only time I go from neutral into first is when I first start off. For instance, when approaching a red light I will down-shift my way into first gear and come to a stop. I don't sit waiting at a traffic light in neutral...I just stay in 1st gear until the light changes.

FWIW I use Royal Purple transmission fluid and I change it at least annually. I flush/change my clutch fluid (per the 'Ranger' method) generally every couple weeks before tracking the car (if you do it often the fluid stays pretty clean). If you haven't done it in a while I suggest you change the transmission and clutch fluids...see if that helps. Again, don't force the transmission into 1st...if you absolutely have to you'd be better off starting off in 2nd gear (then go up into first or just keep going in 2nd depending on the circumstances). Good luck.

 

Why not switch to the MGW shifter. That was one of the first mods I did to my 2010 coupe. I love it especially once it was broken in. It's an easy install as well.

Do a search, you'll find many positive post on it.

 

MGW

 

100%. I also opted and installed one short throw MGW shifter. In addition, I took MGW George's advice (he told me I will not have vibration and noise with the combination of thread stem and the 05 trans) and choose the threaded stem. I then made my own shifter ****. Great compliment for the C6 with no vibration and solid shifting.

 

The bushings that mount the shifter to the torque tube deteriorate rapidly. Mine were virtually gone. A forum member (Mez) found replacement bushings that are now sold by forum sponsors. They are inexpensive and make shifting a lot more precise.

The neutral to first lockout is a known problem with our trannys. Nothing much can be done about it that I am aware of: http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c6-t...sometimes.html

 

Let me get my flame suit on here... zzzzzzzzip.

OK, so I've read over and over about how the after market shifters are so much better but I just don't see why. I mean the part you are buying is just a lever with a ball joint! A high school machine shop student could fab one up. They don't even give you the plastic piece that goes on the end of the ball. So assuming your factory shifter is not throughly worn out, what makes the after market ones better? My car has 21k on it and there is almost no play in the ball joint. I did change out the mounting bushings and put RTV on the base where it meets the tunnel. That seems to be where you would get 90% of the slop.

 

I don't know how to explain it but I got my 2010 with a Museum delivery and the shifter was OK and shifted fine but it felt a little 'mushy' to me and I had read on here about the MGW so I bought one to see if I could tell the difference.

Believe me when I say there is a DEFINITE difference in the 'feel' of the MGW shifter and the stock one. If you drove a Vette with a stock shifter and one with an MGW back to back, I guarantee that you could tell the difference.

Also when you take out the stock shifter and compare it to the MGW you can see that the MGW is a better built and better quality shifter.

The MGW feels more precise in the shifts. At first it even felt a little 'notchy' but within a few weeks it started to brake in and I really like how the shifter feels now.

 

Others have mentioned the MGW shifter and I will recommend that as well. My stock shifter was sloppy. The MGW is nice and firm.

As for the hard shifting from N to 1st shift, that is pretty common as well. If it is hard to shift into 1st don't force it, shift it into 2nd and then shift it into first. Sometimes this happens with reverse too.

 

Actually, the MGW is so much better than the stock shifter that once you drive a car with the MGW, it's hard to drive one that still has the loose/mushy stocker.

Tom

 

I don't question anyone's experience, I just don't see what would make the after market shifter better. As I said before, I think most of the 'slop' is in the shifter 'box' and that doesn't get changed.

 

If you're happy with the stock shifter then stay with it. Otherwise I suggest you find someone with the MGW shifter and see if they will let you try it out so you can see for yourself if you can feel the difference.

Experience IS reality.

 

I for one, applaud everyone's patience in sharing their experience! Right on!

 

Sorry nothing to add... I thought the title said sloppy second.

 

What vendors sell the replacement bushing?

 

- always presumed that was just an English expression

I have a B&M shifter, seems fairly direct and slot like to me, not up to Honda S2000 standards (or exotica), but certainly not something you'd complain about.

I still have, on a cold transmission, a bit of difficulty getting into first despite new tranny fluid.

I just tell myself it's a sports car, and therefore does that sort of thing

 

OK. I understand now what you are saying. The slop isn't in the "rail" shifter mechanism inside the transmission. It's in the shifter mechanism that is replaced when you install an aftermarket shifter. The aftermarket shifters like MGW use stiffer springs to force a return to the neutral position faster. Plus, these shifters change the effort required to move the shifter by increasing or decreasing the length of the shifter.

Take this info as you will. I am NOT an engineer. This is just my opinion from playing around with C5/C6 shifters.

Tom

 

As noted the "first gear block out" that you experienced is a design issue with the OEM shifter. It has to to with a sizeable land area between the gear teeth. The gears can actually try to mate with that land area and be prevented from meshing thus, keeping your car from going in to gear. Typically a pull to second and back to first will remedy this. This was a feature change in 2008 when the transmission moved from the Tremec T56 to the T6060 manual.

On the slop, a lot of it is in personal preference. I don't find the stock shifter "sloppy" in that there is not a lot of play or movement once engaged. It does require a fair amount of precision to hit the gears every time at force and at speed and I realized that is a definition of slop for some.

For those that are recommending a MGW shifter, I would agree it is a very precise, incredibly manufactured precision shifter. You will see a slight increase in force required and a decrease in shifter throw. You will also see a bit of a decrease in height over stock shift **** location with the MGW. The reason I chose to sell them is because they are so well made and so highly regarded. It is made by a company that cut it's teeth in Military manufacturing and it is apparent the minute you take it out of the box that it is a whole different animal. Additionally, they have continued to improve on what was a great design from the get-go and constantly try to take customer feedback in to consideration and make changes to the basic design. For those that have not driven a car with a MGW shifter, seeing (feeling) is believing.