Six speed shifter blues
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 220
Likes: 42
From: Blairstown New Jersey
Six speed shifter blues
I have a 2011 Grand Sport and had a 2002 Z06 a while back. I've had plenty of four speeds over the years, back to 1971, and never worried about putting it in the wrong gear, up or down, when shifting. I've never been a power/speed shifter, but with these Corvette six speeds I have still numerous times gone into, or started to go into, the wrong gear. I have to concentrate on shifter movement way more than should be necessary. Sometimes the shifter seems to go "in-between" and stops without going into a gear slot at all.
Is it me, or does anyone else find the same issue? I realize that a six speed shifting by nature can't be as idiot-proof as a four speed, but I have to believe shifting should be less challenging than this.
Is there anything out there that can make the shift system more user-friendly? I had a "short shifter" on the Z06, but I don't think that helps this situation. Maybe I need a Ferrari gated shifter. Maybe it IS me. ??
Is it me, or does anyone else find the same issue? I realize that a six speed shifting by nature can't be as idiot-proof as a four speed, but I have to believe shifting should be less challenging than this.
Is there anything out there that can make the shift system more user-friendly? I had a "short shifter" on the Z06, but I don't think that helps this situation. Maybe I need a Ferrari gated shifter. Maybe it IS me. ??
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 1,825
Likes: 443
From: Boca Raton Florida
Think about it. In 4 speed, you have 4 corners to bang. In 6 speed you have 2 more in the middle so you can no longer bang only on to corners any more. Yes it will take little bit more consideration, very occasionally i will skip a gear and go into 5th instead of 3rd, but that is when i am not paying attention. Over all i have no problem with it, at least not near enough to make a post about it.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 2,514
Likes: 1,166
From: Northern Wisconsin
4 speed shifters were mounted right on the transmission and had short shift rods. That resulted in rock-solid shifts. I loved the feel of the shifts on my 1968 442. On the C6, the transmission is in the back, by the differential, so the shifter has to be mounted to the torque tube, and it connects to the transmission via a long shifter rod, and there are additional shifting parts inside the transmission. This all adds up to more flex and play in the C6 shifter. An MGW shifter does help some, and I am glad I installed one.
Safety Car
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 4,667
Likes: 1,849
From: Erlanger, Kentucky
I have an MGW shifter in my 2011 GS and if I try to shift too fast, it will hitch/get caught sometimes on the 2nd to 3rd shift in between the 1 and 3 slots. Not sure why it does that other than me trying to shift too fast.
What I try to remember is to shift slowly/smoothly which is then faster than hurrying and missing a shift.
What I try to remember is to shift slowly/smoothly which is then faster than hurrying and missing a shift.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 12,502
Likes: 3,631
MGW with road course type ****.
Hence you still play the 4 corner game to hit 1, 2, 5, and 6, but since the MGW shifter will hold firm in the 3 and 4 gate line with no side pressure, this shift are seamless as well.
As for the T56 and TR6060 trans, allow the sync's enough time to work correctly per gear shifts and bobs your uncle.
You sling shot shift the trans, and all your doing is causing premature damage to the sync's, with premature tear down on the trans to fix such instead.
Hence you still play the 4 corner game to hit 1, 2, 5, and 6, but since the MGW shifter will hold firm in the 3 and 4 gate line with no side pressure, this shift are seamless as well.
As for the T56 and TR6060 trans, allow the sync's enough time to work correctly per gear shifts and bobs your uncle.
You sling shot shift the trans, and all your doing is causing premature damage to the sync's, with premature tear down on the trans to fix such instead.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 820
Likes: 332
From: Orlando Florida
I had that problem after installing my MGW shifter. Turned out to be the pinch bolt that attaches the shifter to the shift linkage was not tightened properly. I made sure the transmission was in neutral, loosened the pinch bolt, made sure the the shifter linkage was oriented properly with the cutout in the shift linkage, then torqued the pinch bolt. No more issues going into the correct gates when shifting.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 4,009
Likes: 491
From: South Florida
I had a C5 before my C6 GS, and shifts were a breeze with the aftermarket shifter I had in the car. I am STRUGGLING with the 2-3 shift with the C6. Dont get me wrong, I will always hit it if I need to, but I can't hit it the way I WANT to which drastically slows the car down in a race. I am hoping a new shifter will put things right back the way they need to be. The more I've thought about this the more I remembered having troubles hitting 3rd with the stock C5 shifter too, but that thing was a total POS compared to the C6 shifter at least for throw distance.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Banned Scam/Spammer
Joined: Feb 2021
Posts: 787
Likes: 279
From: Reston, VA
For me, the way I hold the shifter helped immensely with getting the shifts right. Thinking of the **** like a cube helped me get used to the TR6060 and from there it's muscle memory
This was the video:
A little long and slow, but it's worth the watch. Start around 1:45 to get to the cube explanation. I don't hold it the same way he does for all his shifts but I apply pressure in the way he describes.
This was the video:
A little long and slow, but it's worth the watch. Start around 1:45 to get to the cube explanation. I don't hold it the same way he does for all his shifts but I apply pressure in the way he describes.
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 30,427
Likes: 1,609
From: Outside the Quick Stop N.J.
For me, the way I hold the shifter helped immensely with getting the shifts right. Thinking of the **** like a cube helped me get used to the TR6060 and from there it's muscle memory
A little long and slow, but it's worth the watch. Start around 1:45 to get to the cube explanation. I don't hold it the same way he does for all his shifts but I apply pressure in the way he describes.
A little long and slow, but it's worth the watch. Start around 1:45 to get to the cube explanation. I don't hold it the same way he does for all his shifts but I apply pressure in the way he describes.
The stock shifter **** never "fit" my hand comfortably, a round cue ball style one does much better.
OP, you may want to consider swapping over to a C5 clutch return spring as well. It eliminates the on/off feel of the pedal for ~$10.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 4,355
Likes: 2,633
From: Draper Utah
^^^This worked wonders for me.
I don't miss shifts with a ball shifter and the C5 clutch spring is by far the biggest bang for your buck available for the C6 M6.
The ball shifter also lowers the top of the shift **** about 1/2", which shortens the shift throws and allows more percission.
Last edited by Iceaxe; Nov 9, 2021 at 11:50 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 2,626
Likes: 195
From: On the east coast we drive until we die
I had a C5 before my C6 GS, and shifts were a breeze with the aftermarket shifter I had in the car. I am STRUGGLING with the 2-3 shift with the C6. Dont get me wrong, I will always hit it if I need to, but I can't hit it the way I WANT to which drastically slows the car down in a race. I am hoping a new shifter will put things right back the way they need to be. The more I've thought about this the more I remembered having troubles hitting 3rd with the stock C5 shifter too, but that thing was a total POS compared to the C6 shifter at least for throw distance.