Good morning all!

This weekend I was able to get the MGW 25% shifter with MGW Gripper installed and got a couple hundred miles on it to put it, and me, through our paces. But first...

This all came about after speaking with George a few times via email and phone. George, thanks for being a stand-up guy and following through - I know you are very busy with this new release but I appreciated all of your help. Those considering this mod, I recommend that you shoot George an email; I think you will like what you hear from he and his team.

In writing this review I have decided two things up front that are worth revealing.
1. I am no engineer so I will not try to blow smoke up you a$$ with technical mumbo-jumbo. I will give you my visceral response to the shifter in real world, stop and go, street performance.
2. I am good with tools, but no mechanic. If I say it was easy, it was. If I say I struggled some, it was still probably pretty easy.

There is already a pretty good install guideline out there so I will forego most of that with few exceptions:
1. This is my first time taking the console off so it took me a half hour or so to sort this out. It is not hard; it just requires some higher geometry to disconnect it and swing it out of the way into the passenger's seat without scratching any of the finishes. It also requires somes guts to pull the console until the clips release that are holding it in place. (I kept looking for more screws that weren't there.) Take your targa top off and shine some lights into the cockpit so you can see what you are doing.
2. I was a little baffled by the rubber plate held in by four nuts. I had to modify mine by cutting the hole bigger (I cut to the second ring). I am pretty sure George said this wasn't neccessary. My guess is that this part has been slightly modified from year to year by Chevy and therefore some will need this mod and others not. I have an '07 and mine had a hard plastic ring molded into it and therefore could not be streched to accomodate the new shifter housing. Not to worry, it worked out flawlessly in the end.
3. I did not follow the install guideline from this forum completely. I opted not to reinstall the white foam over the top of the shifter boot. It seemed like a C6 design afterthought meant to please the Chevy suits. I did keep it just in case I'm wrong, however...
4. How do I rate this on difficulty? I would say this is easy with two personality trait requirements. First, patience. What's the rush?! Take your time, think about your moves, set your screws and nuts in a place that makes sense. Second, patience. Nothing will give a more soured taste in your mouth for modding than having to stare at a mistake you made everytime you get in your car! Seriously, you will be fine. Have fun with it!



On to the review:
I hadn't even gotten it out of the garage and already I was impressed. Immediately, my biggest fear was alleviated when my knuckles didn't hit the dash in first, third, fifth, or reverse. This was probably common sense for most of you but I felt better when I saw it for myself. I took it for a short run just to test my workmanship and was surprised to find just how used to the piece of crap stocker I had become. What I am saying is be prepared for a little uncertainty until you get accustomed to it.

Gone are the days of the "right angle wrist" when shifting from first to second!!! You know what I am talking about... Man, I hated that more than anything!

I went with the 25% reduction because my wife likes to drive it occasionally and I did not want to make it intimidating for her. If she is happy, I am happy... Besides, although at times I think I am at Road America the truth is I am really stuck on I-405 going about 25mph on a good day. Last point on this (and a personal sticking point), when modding always have a clear view of your objective. For my car, I have always wanted a pretty fast, comfortable, streetable sleeper. All of my mods to date have had this as the central theme. A 35% reduction might be a hair faster but could have forced me to compromise my overall objective. Just my $.02.

I hear a lot of talk about force required to shift. Here is my take on it; lateral movements require a little more energy. That is it takes a little more effort to pull it left to first and right to fifth and reverse. It takes far less to move it in and out (first to second to third to fourth). From fourth to fifth is easy just not quite as natural as the first three shifts. Fifth to sixth took a little searching but hopefully this will improve with use and driver experience. Reverse is actually easier to get to even though a little more force is required. I chalk this up to the shorter throw and the far increased precision.

I think the Gripper Ball handle has alot to do with shifting ease. I will let George fill you in on the chemical make-up but suffice to say, this just feels so right. Whether you judge it on how well it is weighted, finish, grippiness or asthetics it all just works. It looks expensive, has a very slight give to it when you squeeze and somehow still is solid as a rock!

And now, my gut feelings... Holy fast laps, Batman!!! This is how one of the world's most revered sports cars is supposed to shift! My left foot is now the weak link and I will have to work on my clutch-foot precision. It is crisp, fast, quiet, not notchy in the slightest and adds tremendously to the whole C6 experience.

From my profile you can see that I have done a few mods, more than some and a lot less than others, and this mod was unique among them. Of all my mods none brought me closer to the driving "experience". Headers, ported intake and tb, cai and a tune made me faster. Koni FSDs and Z51 sways gave me the ride and tracking I wanted. But the shifter, of all things, gave me the experience I was missing! Somehow, the car seems more like "my" car now, like it was tailor built for me alone. This probably seems over the top but it is no longer just a C6, now it's my C6R! I feel like Ricky Bobby!!! (now where can I get a Wonderbread helmet?)

Seriously, it is cheap, it is fun to install, and does all that I was promised and than some; what more could I ask for?!

Good luck all!!!
Dinger

 

Nice post....thanks!

 

I installed mine last week.....What he said.....

 

Nice review. Enjoyed reading it.

Rob

 

Great write-up.

Thanks for the review.

 

I ordered mine last week. Great report!

 

Do you get any rattling noises when romping on the throttle and going through the gears. I have had two different shifters and both will rattle and buzz under hard acceleration through the gears. The only one that didn't was the stock Z06 shifter that was in the car from GM.

 

Great write up on the shifter, Excellent advice on the mods...

 

Couldnt agree more with this post!! Absolutely spot on!! I installed mine last week and am very happy with how the install went and more importantly how well the product performs!!

 

Wow, there must be some noisy shifters out there... I have experienced no audible rattling, whatsoever. It is absolutely quiet so far.

The only thing I have noticed is that when I am hard on it, and I have my hand on the shifter (pushing through the gears) there is a subtle rumbling pulse in the palm of my hand. It is not audible, to my memory, but more palpable. I actually like it! It feels like the car is happy to be waking up and stretching it's legs.

George may choose to speak about the patented dampening mechanisms in the shaft and explain this from a more scientific standpoint.

Personally, the pulsing is like a secondary SOTP feeling for me that has multiple effects:
1. It reminds me that I am pushing it. It is time to pay attention to what I am doing. It reminds me that revs are up, wheel slippage can occur, and cops are around.
2. It also adds to the whole emotional experience that I was trying to describe in my review. It is one more yummy sensation to enjoy in this fantastic car; and one that I did not have before I did this mod. And for that I am very thankful.

Can you tell I love my car?!
Dinger

 

I installed my shifter friday night. Its built well. I got the 35% version with the gripper ball.
My does rattle when I get to 3500 rpms+. Its not to loud but it will get annoying quick. I eliminate the possibility of it being the **** or the shaft with the pinch bolts by removing them and listening for the rattle. I tighten all the bolts and it still rattles. I guess I have to deal with it. My gto I traded in for the vette had a rip shifter and that rattled.

 

you need to call me asap. you should not be getting any rattling .

the only time we have seen the shifter exhibit any noise is when the outside temps are below freezing and then the inner rubber core of our center sahft is so hard that it cannot do its job effectively. it should go away after several minutes of driving when the shifter heats up.

also, if you hold the **** while driving you will cancel out the vibration suppression deisgn of the shifter and it may chatter. only hold the **** when shifting.

in any event call me and we will get it right for you. it should not rattle.

regards
george

706-793-1770

 

Is there a website I can go to for pictures of the shifter and ****? I would like to see what they both look like.

 

Definately give George a call...something is not right...This shifter does not rattle.

 

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1911719

 

Dinger2u, Great write-up. I did the initial write-up with install pics and I too was a little confused by the installation of the supplied boot and the OEM rubber panel. I had origionally installed the MGW boot over top of the OEM rubber with a little modification (as you can see by the pics) cause I thought doing the opposite made the fit way too tight.....George told me that the oem rubber goes over the supplied boot, so I reversed them, But I too had to cut the oem rubber to make it all go together nice. As for the yellow rubber sheet, I almost didn't re-install it like you, but I figured if nothing else it would act as a sound deadener so I reused it.
Glad you like the shifter...It really is the best!

 

That is the OEM shifter.

Here is my install with one of the optional *****:

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...&highlight=MGW

 

UPS just dropped of my MGW shifter! OOPS I forgot I have an A6. All kidding aside, we've been hearing so many good things about MGW just had to try it. It's for my son's '08 Mustang GT. He wasn't even going to change the stock shifter till we started reading all the posts on MGW products. Don't write my son off to the dark side, he also has a matching number '72 C3 vert, small block, A/C, P/S 4 speed, 2 top. He needed a DD, wanted American, rear wheel drive, V8 and could not wait for the new Camaro to come out. So I will live with a Ford in the driveway till the second year of the new F-body.

 

just a question to OP: have you driven an '08 and, if so, how would you compare the two(your MGW and the '08's)?

 

I have not, sorry I cannot help in this matter. I know the transmission changed some but I think the shifter is the same and herein lies the problem. You cannot imagine how vague your shifter is or how long and uncomfortable the throws are until you have experienced the precision throws on the MGW. It so much more comfortable in addition to being faster. If it were me I would give MGW a shot, I don't think you will be disappointed...