Shifter gate
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
Shifter gate
hello all. I'm the new owner of a beautiful 07 c6 6spd 
.
now my question is this is my first manual car. I have been driving for a few days for about 20 mins each drive and my only thing is I miss gears alot and i'm scared i might miss a gear going alittle bit faster and my engine spit out babies all over the road. so my question is is there anyone who makes shifter gates like these
?
or is there any other stick/whatever I can buy that will help me not miss a gear as i'm learning? sorry if the pic's are a little big. btw I saw this car and got converted from a strict ford guy so..hello my new chevy brothers!
. now my question is this is my first manual car. I have been driving for a few days for about 20 mins each drive and my only thing is I miss gears alot and i'm scared i might miss a gear going alittle bit faster and my engine spit out babies all over the road. so my question is is there anyone who makes shifter gates like these
?or is there any other stick/whatever I can buy that will help me not miss a gear as i'm learning? sorry if the pic's are a little big. btw I saw this car and got converted from a strict ford guy so..hello my new chevy brothers!
Last edited by preposterous; May 12, 2014 at 04:18 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 20,352
Likes: 568
From: Ventura County, Calif
Don't know of any gated shifters but I don't think that is the answer anyway.
Since it's your first manual, I think you just need to invest in some seat time to learn and get used to it. The Vette shifter, while not perfect, is pretty decent by most accounts, unless there is actually something mechanically wrong with your shifter, which is possible but not likely.
You could hit up local cars and coffee or shows or Vette club and ask someone to check it for you.
There really is no substitute for seat time experience.
Since it's your first manual, I think you just need to invest in some seat time to learn and get used to it. The Vette shifter, while not perfect, is pretty decent by most accounts, unless there is actually something mechanically wrong with your shifter, which is possible but not likely.
You could hit up local cars and coffee or shows or Vette club and ask someone to check it for you.
There really is no substitute for seat time experience.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 9,595
Likes: 959
From: Palm Harbor not far from Sebring Florida
St. Jude Donor '11
Oldtimer
I cannot help you with a shift gate, but I can tell you that your cat is not Maroon, it is Monterey Red Metallic. As far as missing shifts, if this is your first manual gear box, I suggest that you learn it by simply driving it. Granny shift, don't be trying any hard speed shifts until you have it mastered. Also the Corvette does have a built in feature that will have you shift from 1st to 4th if the RPM's are low when you go to shift from 1st to 2nd. Just let it happen, as once that is done you can always down shift in the 3rd or even 2nd. You can buy the skip shift part that you install to stop the computer from forcing that shift.
Last edited by BWF07; May 12, 2014 at 04:15 PM.
Racer
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 379
Likes: 4
From: Rochester NY
As somebody who's owned one for about a month now: It get's better.. I did take me a while to get used to but now I don't miss anymore.
Also, if you haven't checked / changed your clutch fluid using the ranger method then do that and it will help.
Also, if you haven't checked / changed your clutch fluid using the ranger method then do that and it will help.
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
well the point of it is to be able to get more seat time without being scared of throwing into the wrong gear and blowing the engine. I was going 4th to 5th and ended up going 4th to 3rd. Afraid one of these little drives ill throw it big time into the wrong gear. plus I do like the look of the gated shifter.
Racer
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 379
Likes: 4
From: Rochester NY
I can see a gated shifter just making things worse since the stock is not so accurate... I'm telling you, I was as annoyed as you, but then I just got used to it especially after getting the old nasty clutch fluid changed out.
these really help, I'm going to get one at some point:
http://www.mgwltd.com/corvette_short..._shifter.shtml
these really help, I'm going to get one at some point:
http://www.mgwltd.com/corvette_short..._shifter.shtml
Last edited by theblue; May 12, 2014 at 04:37 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 2,476
Likes: 45
From: One of the Edema Ruh
I'm really surprised at the number of people that have issues with the manual C6's. The springs that pull the shifter to the center line it up perfectly to third or fourth.
Just keep practicing and it will become second nature. Plus it's the perfect excuse to drive your new car
Just keep practicing and it will become second nature. Plus it's the perfect excuse to drive your new car
Racer
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 441
Likes: 1
From: Mascoutah Illinois
I can see a gated shifter just making things worse since the stock is not so accurate... I'm telling you, I was as annoyed as you, but then I just got used to it especially after getting the old nasty clutch fluid changed out.
these really help, I'm going to get one at some point:
http://www.mgwltd.com/corvette_short..._shifter.shtml
these really help, I'm going to get one at some point:
http://www.mgwltd.com/corvette_short..._shifter.shtml
Get yourself a MGW Short Throw Shifter and Shifter Box! Makes a huge difference! 
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Drifting
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 1,345
Likes: 32
From: Arlington Texas
The stick will naturally rest in neutral between 3rd & 4th gear. Push the stick toward your for 1st & 2nd, push straight up & down for 3rd & 4th, and push away for 5th & 6th.
Take it easy for a while. The trickier part is being smooth with the clutch ... Depress quickly but release gingerly. After a few months, you're going to love doing stick. Good luck!
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 10,909
Likes: 2,701
From: Phila Suburbs 2023 C8 & 2013 650ix
One key to these transmissions is that the throw from second to third and that is a "straight forward" motion with no side force. Test it with a shift with the palm of your hand and no side force. The linkage always goes into third.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 5,636
Likes: 1,185
From: Lake Worth Beach, Florida
Take your time until you get the hang of shifting.
One important thing you want to do is adjust your seat position so that you completely disengage the clutch between shifts by pushing the clutch pedal completely to the floor and when you actually shift your hand is in the correct position to fully engage the next gear.
One important thing you want to do is adjust your seat position so that you completely disengage the clutch between shifts by pushing the clutch pedal completely to the floor and when you actually shift your hand is in the correct position to fully engage the next gear.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 3,017
Likes: 171
From: Vancouver Island
I haven't done the exact math and dont have all the data at my fingertips on gear ratios, but you would need to be doing around 100 mph to over-rev the engine by hitting third gear instead of fifth, so keep it under 100 until you get the hang of it. For the first couple of weeks that I owned my car, l worried I might have made a mistake getting a manual trans, but pretty soon I got the hang of it and have been using it as a DD for almost three years now.
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 4,138
Likes: 171
From: Missouri
St. Jude Donor '13-'14
As everyone has said, practice makes perfect... or rather, practice makes pretty good. Give it a month and you won't even need to look at the tachometer. In any car. Ever again.
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 199
Likes: 1
I cannot help you with a shift gate, but I can tell you that your cat is not Maroon, it is Monterey Red Metallic. As far as missing shifts, if this is your first manual gear box, I suggest that you learn it by simply driving it. Granny shift, don't be trying any hard speed shifts until you have it mastered. Also the Corvette does have a built in feature that will have you shift from 1st to 4th if the RPM's are low when you go to shift from 1st to 2nd. Just let it happen, as once that is done you can always down shift in the 3rd or even 2nd. You can buy the skip shift part that you install to stop the computer from forcing that shift.
get the SKIP SHIFT eliminator as your first "mod"
Team Owner
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 45,267
Likes: 8,542
From: Rochester, NY
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 215
Likes: 4
From: Parker Colorado
Pro
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 538
Likes: 2
From: billswebspace.com- GA
The Corvette shifter, at least mine, is pretty good. The one thing I found to be not so good was the shift **** that encourages strange engagement. After installing a regular ball ****, flat palming the shifter is possible and feels better and more natural to me.