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C6 shifter questions

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Old Sep 26, 2007 | 08:37 AM
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Default C6 shifter questions

After reading numerous posts on the subject, I have a few questions about shifters for my ’06 Z51.

1. It seems that it takes a lot of effort (more than I would like) to shift. I plan on doing the anti-venom mod this weekend. Can anyone confirm that this will make gear selection easier/smoother, especially on downshifts?

2. Does “short shifter” imply the physical length from the base to the **** is shorter in length or, does it mean that the throw of the shifter, i.e. the distance from 1st to 2nd, for example is shorter?

3. Which aftermarket shifter has the shortest throw?

4. Is the ’08 Z06 shifter a “drop in” replacement on an ’06 Z51?

Thanks.
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Old Sep 26, 2007 | 08:55 AM
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1. The aftermarket requires a little more effort than stock, but I loved it over the stock shifter since it cut down on the throw distance and sloppiness. The other advantage at least with the B&M that I had was that it had stronger centering springs which meant that you could put your palm behind the shifter while in second and just push up and the shifter would basically shoot up and over to third. It made it alot easier to shift fast when driving it hard in my opinion.

2. It's the distance of the throws. I had a B&M in both of my prior C5's and the throw distance with the B&M was probably about 30% shorter than stock and definitely a more precise feel without the sloppiness that the stock shifter exhibited.

I would advise you to find someone local with an aftermarket shifter and see if you can check it out in person on their car.
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Old Sep 26, 2007 | 09:09 AM
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what is the anti-venom mod?
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Old Sep 26, 2007 | 10:43 AM
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I've also got the B&M shifter and it (mine at least) has no centering springs. The majority of the mechanical feel (the gating, detent, spring pressure) is in the trans.

The stock and B&M shifters are nothing more than a shaft on a free moving pivot. If anything, the stock shifter might have a very weak sudo-spring return due to the rubber cap, it has a natural tendency to push the shifter back to center. The B&M has nothing, it flops freely if not mounted to the trans.

The difference between the shifters is the position of the pivot point, it's higher on the short shifters. This shortens the throw distance and also looses a small amount of mechanical advantage, so it takes a little more effort (force) to make the shift. The bulk of the shifter's personality is in the trans itself.

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Old Sep 26, 2007 | 11:12 AM
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Originally Posted by TripleblackZ51
After reading numerous posts on the subject, I have a few questions about shifters for my ’06 Z51.

1. It seems that it takes a lot of effort (more than I would like) to shift. I plan on doing the anti-venom mod this weekend. Can anyone confirm that this will make gear selection easier/smoother, especially on downshifts?

2. Does “short shifter” imply the physical length from the base to the **** is shorter in length or, does it mean that the throw of the shifter, i.e. the distance from 1st to 2nd, for example is shorter?

3. Which aftermarket shifter has the shortest throw?

4. Is the ’08 Z06 shifter a “drop in” replacement on an ’06 Z51?

Thanks.
1. I've read pros and cons on doing the anti-venom and decided against it. I know it was a popular with the C5 crowd but it sounds like it's a marginal improvement for the C6.

2. It means a shorter throw. What I don't understand is why some short shifter mfg's make the height of the shift lever taller than stock, seems like that would defeat the purpose. I like the lower stick height, to each his own.

3. Don't know...

4. I bought the C6 Z06 shifter when it became available. I compared it to the stock C6 shifter and it's mechanism is identical to the stock C6 shifter. The ONLY difference is the four mounting points. The stock unit uses rubber vibration 'dougnuts' and the Z's doesn't. Otherwise there's no difference.

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Old Sep 26, 2007 | 11:23 AM
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Callaway here with no regrets it takes a little more effort to shift than the stock shifter, but is much more precise. I would rate installation as beginers/basic tools.
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Old Sep 26, 2007 | 11:53 AM
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I put my C5 Hurst shifter in my 07 and did a "anti venom" like mod at the same time. The shifter is more precise and less sloppy and does self center well. The Hurst has centering springs that are adjustable along with shift stops too.

As for the "anti venom" mod, I can't tell any difference on the C6. I am just too lazy to jack the car back up and remove the washers.
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Old Sep 26, 2007 | 10:27 PM
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I have the Kirban shifter in mine and the improvement is dramatic. The shift throws are perceptibly shorter. The biggest benefit is in the much more precise 2-3 shift. The stock shifter is not the worst I have driven but you simply have to try an aftermarket short throw to appreciate the difference. By the way, I drove my brother's C6 Z06 with the B&M and the improvements are similar. His seems to rattle a little more than my Kirban.
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Old Sep 27, 2007 | 04:36 PM
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Default anti venom

Originally Posted by TripleblackZ51
After reading numerous posts on the subject, I have a few questions about shifters for my ’06 Z51.

1. It seems that it takes a lot of effort (more than I would like) to shift. I plan on doing the anti-venom mod this weekend. Can anyone confirm that this will make gear selection easier/smoother, especially on downshifts?

2. Does “short shifter” imply the physical length from the base to the **** is shorter in length or, does it mean that the throw of the shifter, i.e. the distance from 1st to 2nd, for example is shorter?

3. Which aftermarket shifter has the shortest throw?

4. Is the ’08 Z06 shifter a “drop in” replacement on an ’06 Z51?

Thanks.
I can only respond to your first question, did the anti venom washer install on my 06, it made a noticable improvement in the shifter effort required. Also put royal purple syncromax in the trans, cold operation improved.
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Old Sep 27, 2007 | 05:22 PM
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Originally Posted by REVAK
I can only respond to your first question, did the anti venom washer install on my 06, it made a noticable improvement in the shifter effort required. Also put royal purple syncromax in the trans, cold operation improved.
Just curious, were the RP Syncromax and Anti-venom done at the same time? I did RP only and noticed an improvement.

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Old Sep 27, 2007 | 06:08 PM
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I installed a Callaway Short-Throw and Royal Purple Syncromax about 6 months ago, and the BlueCoupe is definitely more fun to drive now.

Although the effort required to shift is slightly higher, the shift distance and the height of the shifter is less than stock.
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Old Sep 28, 2007 | 01:57 PM
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Originally Posted by TripleblackZ51
After reading numerous posts on the subject, I have a few questions about shifters for my ’06 Z51.

1. It seems that it takes a lot of effort (more than I would like) to shift. I plan on doing the anti-venom mod ??this weekend. Can anyone confirm that this will make gear selection easier/smoother, especially on downshifts?

2. Does “short shifter” imply the physical length from the base to the **** is shorter in length YESor, does it mean that the throw of the shifter, i.e. the distance from 1st to 2nd, for example is shorter?Yes again

3. Which aftermarket shifter has the shortest throw?don't know, but you can always saw off the top of the lever if it isn't short enough 4 U

4. Is the ’08 Z06 shifter a “drop in” replacement on an ’06 Z51???

Thanks.

Shorter throw = quicker but harder shifts.
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Old Sep 28, 2007 | 07:48 PM
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Originally Posted by Lowlead
Just curious, were the RP Syncromax and Anti-venom done at the same time? I did RP only and noticed an improvement.

I did the sycromax first, cold operation improved. The anti venom mod improved the overall shift feel warm or cold. The two mods together produced a noticable improvement. Prior to these mods., I was not happy with the trans or the shifter feel. Also , change your clutch fluid , search the ranger method, easy to do , good improvement.
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