Difficult to shift into low gears
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2022
Posts: 125
Likes: 9
From: Chattanooga, TN
Difficult to shift into low gears
2005 manual 6 base. Often, it is difficult to shift into first or second gear, like at a traffic light. Many times it goes into third, from what seems like should be first, bogs etc.
to get into first, I have to basically slap the shifter kind of hard to the left then push up into diagonal left top corner.
this seems to have happened after I had a new clutch put in maybe a year ago. It seems like it was acting this way then was fine for while I think.. or maybe I just got used to it.
anyhow I don’t like and it feels un safe that I can’t push push into first gear.
Any help is appreciated!
to get into first, I have to basically slap the shifter kind of hard to the left then push up into diagonal left top corner.
this seems to have happened after I had a new clutch put in maybe a year ago. It seems like it was acting this way then was fine for while I think.. or maybe I just got used to it.
anyhow I don’t like and it feels un safe that I can’t push push into first gear.
Any help is appreciated!
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 1,295
Likes: 236
From: Oshawa Ontario
Does it happen only when the car is cold, or regardless of how long you've been driving? My car very sluggish to try and get into 1st when it's cold, but once the car is fully warmed up, it usually goes in like butter. That said, maybe it's related to the clutch. I know I'm not a fan of the hydraulics in our cars ..... I don't feel like they do a good enough job giving the clutch a full push, which then results in harder-than-necessary shifts.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2022
Posts: 125
Likes: 9
From: Chattanooga, TN
Does it happen only when the car is cold, or regardless of how long you've been driving? My car very sluggish to try and get into 1st when it's cold, but once the car is fully warmed up, it usually goes in like butter. That said, maybe it's related to the clutch. I know I'm not a fan of the hydraulics in our cars ..... I don't feel like they do a good enough job giving the clutch a full push, which then results in harder-than-necessary shifts.
Former Vendor
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 1,114
Likes: 259
From: Apple Valley CA
Your box needs to be rebuilt. The combination of the rebuilt box and upgraded shifter bushing to replace the bushing on the bottom pivot of your top shifter will get your shifter feeling significantly better than it did when it was brand new.
If you have any questions let me know, I'm happy to answer anything I can.
https://tmodcustoms.com/products/upgraded-factory-boxes
If you have any questions let me know, I'm happy to answer anything I can.
https://tmodcustoms.com/products/upgraded-factory-boxes
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2022
Posts: 125
Likes: 9
From: Chattanooga, TN
Your box needs to be rebuilt. The combination of the rebuilt box and upgraded shifter bushing to replace the bushing on the bottom pivot of your top shifter will get your shifter feeling significantly better than it did when it was brand new.
If you have any questions let me know, I'm happy to answer anything I can.
https://tmodcustoms.com/products/upgraded-factory-boxes
If you have any questions let me know, I'm happy to answer anything I can.
https://tmodcustoms.com/products/upgraded-factory-boxes
how big of a job is this? I am pretty handy with working on my Vette, I did everything myself except clutch and torque tube.
Former Vendor
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 1,114
Likes: 259
From: Apple Valley CA
I used to buy old boxes and rebuild them to have in stock but I don't do that to often anymore, I have the Billet Box which is the aftermarket replacement for the stock box, that's the one for $265. This is the best option combined with the upgraded shifter bushing which will replace the factory bushing on the bottom pivot of the shifter.
The new bushings is a little different design; it's tighter and dampens vibration better than the factory bushing. That combo will help a lot, it's the best option for sure. If you want to send me your factory box after you swap them out I'll give you $25 back as well. When you get the factory box out you'll have to remove two Philips screws and remove the shaft from the box. Wipe it off with brake cleaner and apply a thin layer of the grease included with the Billet Box and the shaft goes into the Billet Box, then it's ready to go in the car. The installation is pretty easy, getting the console out of the car is the trickiest part, just take your time and be nice to it and you'll be fine. I'll email you an invoice that will link to the website to checkout and I'll email you installation notes as well. If you have any questions or you want to let me know when your going to be doing the install I'll make sure I'm available to answer anything I can.
The new bushings is a little different design; it's tighter and dampens vibration better than the factory bushing. That combo will help a lot, it's the best option for sure. If you want to send me your factory box after you swap them out I'll give you $25 back as well. When you get the factory box out you'll have to remove two Philips screws and remove the shaft from the box. Wipe it off with brake cleaner and apply a thin layer of the grease included with the Billet Box and the shaft goes into the Billet Box, then it's ready to go in the car. The installation is pretty easy, getting the console out of the car is the trickiest part, just take your time and be nice to it and you'll be fine. I'll email you an invoice that will link to the website to checkout and I'll email you installation notes as well. If you have any questions or you want to let me know when your going to be doing the install I'll make sure I'm available to answer anything I can.
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2005 manual 6 base. Often, it is difficult to shift into first or second gear, like at a traffic light. Many times it goes into third, from what seems like should be first, bogs etc.
to get into first, I have to basically slap the shifter kind of hard to the left then push up into diagonal left top corner.
this seems to have happened after I had a new clutch put in maybe a year ago. It seems like it was acting this way then was fine for while I think.. or maybe I just got used to it.
anyhow I don’t like and it feels un safe that I can’t push push into first gear.
Any help is appreciated!
to get into first, I have to basically slap the shifter kind of hard to the left then push up into diagonal left top corner.
this seems to have happened after I had a new clutch put in maybe a year ago. It seems like it was acting this way then was fine for while I think.. or maybe I just got used to it.
anyhow I don’t like and it feels un safe that I can’t push push into first gear.
Any help is appreciated!
Start with just re-indexing the shifter, and make sure that the rear linkage coupling bolt is tighen down with Blue loktite.
Hence best guess, someone had a MGI shifter installed, then pulled it out to use in his next vet, and did not get the coupling bolt tight enough,to cause the shifter problems now with the oem shifter and box reinstalled.
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...-at-first.html
As for if shifter box or shifter upper assembly is shot, then look into getting a MGI shifter, that will come with new lower box as well.
The difference between the oem stock shifter and box, against the MGI shifter and it new box, light years better in every way.
https://www.mgwshifters.com/shifters/corvettes/88
