What can be done to improve the function of the shift mechanism in a 05,C6, I have done the Anti Venom Mod and really don't notice much improvement for notchy feel ?????Any suggestions or hints will be greatly appreciated..I never had any of this crap in my C5 with an o8 Shifter mechanism..

 

What's the problem? What can be done to improve the Function of the shift mechanism does not mean much to me.

 

Corvette manual transmissions are somewhat 'notchy.' I run road courses all the time and I don't have any problems with my 2005 6-speed. Its slightly notchy (at least compared to certain other cars) but it works fine. It is what it is. When did you last change the transmission fluid? I use Royal Purple Synchromax in my tranny and change it at least once a year. Fresh fluid will help somewhat.

 

There is list of things that could affect the feel of the shifter. Things that come to mind include the clutch, old/black slave cylinder fluid, loose shifter box bolts, bent shifter box flanges, failed shifter box bushings, shifter linkage alignment, etc.. Give us an idea what you are experiencing.

 

The car has 25000 miles, fluid is clear and has been changed . It just seems that I have to be very conscience of how I shift it .I have had several Corvettes 63-05 and this is the first one that I have to think about how fast or slow i move the shifter. Sometimes I feel like I am rowing a boat. The am going to change the tran fluid to RedLine ATF D4 and hopefully that will help.I have checked all the normal stuff as you suggested shifter box bushings alignment etc.

 

Sorry, I still don't understand. Rowing a boat...can't picture what that means.

Are you missing gears? Grinding, difficult to get into gear at a light? Resistance or grinding when down shifting? Do you feel its in the shifter or the trans?

Do you mean the shifter requires more muscle to move than you expect? The short throw shifters such as you B&M do need more effort due to less leverage. I've noticed that upon disassembling a few shifter boxes, the main shaft rides on nylon bearings and some seem to have higher resistance than others. It does not move as freely as you think it should. I polished the shifter shaft and re-lubed it and it seemed to free it up.

 

This is a completely stock shifter , Never ever grinding ,never any trouble getting into gear from stop,so I know the clutch is disengaging fine . My description of rowing a boat is when trying to go from 2nd to third it some times feels like I am pushing against a stop.I then have to carefully locate the correct path for it to go in . On my C5 I installed a Hurst Short thro and after about a week I removed it and installed a complete shifter assembly Box and all new from Chevrolet and it was great. Never any trouble no matter how aggressively or mildly I shifted.I guess I want my C6 to work the same way . I have removed this Assembly Cleaned lubricated made sure of alignment (pin installed before removal in neutral etc.) bushings like new and I think it should work better. Next I am turning my attention to the Trans fluid which was changed at 22000, Now 25000 ,at a Chevrolet dealer per there requirements (who Knows really what they do ) .I will drain it and install Red line and try that . Thanks for your suggestions

 

I think I have experienced what you are talking about. Not often, but a few times. I think the issue is the "self-centering" mechanism GM has put into this shifter. In what should be your arm and the "self centering" working together - they are actually sometimes working against each other. It is as if the self centering (spring ??) is easily overwhelmd by a fast and/or inaccurate shift. The reason I think this is --> yes, you are correct, slowing down your shift movement seems to ease the problem.

Those who have gone to the after market shifters (MGW, Hurst, etc) have reported significant decreases in this issue. I don't fully understand this since the self-centering is not in the shifter itself, correct? (I honestly don't know)

Anyway, an MGW is now planned for one of my future mods.

Search the forums for some of the MGW reviews - and you will see what I mean.

 

Thanks ,will do ,It has to be something simple I just want to make it better..

 

Some aftermarket shifters have additional centering springs in the shifter housing. I have a KIRBAN Ripper Shifter on my 02 ZO6 and it has centering springs. It provides POSITIVE third/neutral/fourth gate centering. From that position, it easy to find any gear.

With that shifter and the proper hand grip (or should I say no grip) on the shifter ****, I never have any issues.

How do you hold the shifter ****?

If your holding the shift **** with a death grip, thats part of the issue. If you shift with the palm of your hand and the tips of your fingers, the shifter will actually go to the gate that it need to go by it self. Theres NO need for us to assist it to here it needs to go. From the neutral position, just push left or right to select the gate you want and push up or pull down. There should not be any notches.

Shift the trans to SECOND Gear. With just the palm of your hand, push the shifter out of second. It should pop into the neutral position. If you continue to push forward, it will find THIRD with out any issues. With the tips of your finger, you can pull it straight down to fourth.

Try that shifting technique and see if it helps.

People who death grip the **** have a tendency to pull their arm toward their body when shifting and when they go from third gear to fourth,,,they unknowingly pull the shifter toward their body and grab SECOND GEAR vise third. That will NOT make your drive train happy!! With the proper shift technique, that will not happen.

 

Thanks Bill ,I have never had shifting issues with other C5's and I have had 2 of those,I did get a Newer shifter assembly from you for my 01, (08) it was smooth as butter no thinking or planing just shift normal.I just got this C6 and I just feel like it should shift smooth and easy like my previous cars have ,this isn't my first rodeo.I have tried short shifters both B&M and Hurst and I didn't like either . I am recuperating from shoulder surgery maybe thats the problem now . LOL. Thanks for your advise ,I am still looking for a set of std. front fender splash guards..

 

Your confusing me with Gene CULLEY. Hes the one who sell the parts.

I just help people fix Corvettes.

 

I happen to know that in some Vettes, the torque tube supplier / manufacturer did not do a good job in locating the brackets for the shifter mounts. This could conceivably cause the shifter locator to 'fight' the shifter linkage locator. The solution would be a new torque tube shell. Or if you're daring, removing and rebrazing the shifter mounting brackets. But I wouldn't advise doing that.

 

I installed an MGW shifter in my '07. The MGW tightened the movement during shifting. That is, it removed the slack in the stick. It of course decreased the overall movement during shifting.

The aspect that remains unchanged, and I beleive is the topic of this thread -- "notchy" -- is the following:

When trying to go into gear, there seems to be a point after starting to go into gear, but before actually meshing fully into gear, where I am forced to briefly hesitate before pushing into full engagement.

I do not believe this is a shift box or linkage or shifter issue.

While driving it seems to me that the synchros are slow to synchronize the gears.

I cannot ever shift my C6 fast & smoothly as I have with many other transmissions. I have assumed that this forced pause was a "normal" aspect of these transmissions.

I hope this helps to focus on the problem.

 

Sorry Bill , You are so right ,You have helped me out in the past also ,Thanks