So it's been 3 months since I purchased my '14 Z51 with manual transmission. I put 1500 miles on the car which now has 51k miles. This is my 3rd Corvette I've owned. The other 2 we're C6's. For the most part, I really like the car. But one thing that is really starting to annoy me is the awful shifter. Not only is it super clunky, it's hard to shift into 1st at a stop and I have to double check that it's actually in 1st or it will slip out and grind when taking off even though it feels like it's in 1st and shows 1 on the HUD. Another "annoyance" is downshifting from 7th to 6th when cruising on the highway. It's very easy to shift from 7th to 4th if you're not really careful. It's the clunkiest shifter that I've ever driven and at 70 years old, I have driven many sports cars with manual transmissions. I would appreciate any thoughts you may have regarding this issue and possible fixes. Thanks in advance.

 

Use the Ranger method to change the clutch fluid and then change the transmission fluid. I use Redline D4 ATF. Yes, the manual uses an ATF, just like the TR6060 did in the C6.

After the above, there's a bulletin on how to adjust the shift linkage in the car. After a decade of use, it may have worn or moved a bit.

Lastly, the MGW shifter is a nice change.

 

I'm 2 years younger than you, and I have a 2019 M7 which as far as I know is the same Tremec unit that you have. To be honest I've found it to be a smooth and solid gearbox. I've had a C3 M4 which was extremely clunky. Then a C5 M6 which had a tight linkage but similar issues to what you describe in 1st gear...if I didn't ram it tightly starting off it would sometimes slip out of gear and grind if you had released the clutch by then.

Maybe I've been somewhat tolerant towards the Corvette gearboxes after owning a (1980) Porsche 928 for 5 years inbetween my C3 and C5 (needed a back seat for my 2 young kids at the time). The M5 in there was so absolutely awful that anything else would seem like an improvement.

Anyway...my M7 shifts like a dream and I enjoy it every time I take it out (it's a daily driver so very frequently).

 

My two cents for what its worth. I have a '15 Z51. This is my third Corvette with a manual transmission. In my C5 the shifter was way too tall so put a C6 shifter in it. My C6 was fine. My C7 is fine although with so many gear positions in such a small space (don't you just love the short throw!) it does happen on occasion when I ALMOST engage the wrong gear but the HUD is so convenient I usually recover on the fly. I find that it shifts pretty smooth except when it is cold and I am going from 1st to 2nd at low RPMs. For context I do the ranger method about every 10K miles. The algorithm to skip shift (1 -> 4) is so restrictive that this hardly ever happens to me so unlike my C5 and C6 I did not bother putting in a skip shift eliminator (or whatever they are called) in my C7.

There are several plus's to mention. Rev Matching and hill assist are both great features.

 

I've owned my 2017 m7 since new, just over 8 years now. At first it took some getting used to the shifter, but I have had none of the issues you described. As mentioned, I would change the clutch fluid using the Ranger method and have the transmission fluid changed.

 

My own gripe about my M7 is a common one about notchy up shifts 1-2 and downshifts into second. It cannot be rushed. Others have pointed out the size of the gear requires the synchronizers more time to spin up that gear. Changing fluid to Redline D4 really did not help my M7 with the issue. A thoroughly heated up tranny and higher rpm shifts does make it smoother.

 

A shifter adjustment could help and I doubt changing the trans or clutch fluid will help any. My c6 I owned for 8 years shifted fine with the stock shifter even with the 1-4 still active. Never understood why guys will add something that isn't needed. To bypass the 1-4 the factory gave you a built-in defeat already installed, the gas pedal. Bring the revs up a tad and 1-4 disappears. My C7 has the defeat installed so I'm not going to remove it. As far as the hard or clunky shifting, that seems just the way these M7's are. It's a tight shift pattern for sure. Easy to miss an intended gear change with as tight as the pattern it is. When I first drove my C7 I buzzed thru all the gears fine but I did miss a shift or two going to 5th when I wanted 3rd and downshifting to 5th when I wanted 3rd. Took me a day or two to get used to it and this C7 has the MGW shifter. Mine never has any trouble actually putting shifter in a specific gear.

The other odd feel I do notice is the clunk type feel when letting clutch out after selecting a gear change. Kind of a drive line clunk. I can eliminate it with a certain smooth throttle apply and clutch release. There is a certain spot in the clutch release pedal travel that will make a smooth feel without the clunk. Many others have mentioned this "clunk" when shifting as well over the years. Rev Match on helps a lot with this as well.

 

The Redline fluid definitely helped mine especially the cold 1-2 shift. I went through the tech bulletin on adjusting the linkage which 'maybe' helped. Mine is still a little difficult to get into 1st, or I should say all the way into first. But, other than that, it shifts very nicely. When I question whether it is fully in 1st, I go back to N, let out the clutch, and quickly push for first. Seems to me that short time while gears are still moving, it goes into 1st better.

 

I'm your age. My only issue is that 2nd gear is cranky when cold - much better after I applied some force on one shift. You get used to 7 - 6 downshift - just need to keep some side pressure on the stick so the centering spring does not take you all the way to the 3 - 4 gate. Partial exchange of the clutch fluid (Ranger) is important for good clutch operation. I've installed the skip shift resistor on my Corvette manuals.

Ron

 

Shift linkage adjustment? Is that something done at the dealership or can be done at home? Please explain.

 

Thank you!

 

Thank you! You're C5 sounds like mine.

 

Thank you! I totally agree regarding the HUD. I too catch it when I'm trying to go from 7th to 6th on the highway.

 

Thank you!

 

Thank you!

 

Thank you!

 

Thank you! That's helpful!

 

Thank you!

 

Thank you all for the help and suggestions. What I'm hearing is that it's not unusual for my shifter to behave like it is. I guess whether or not I get a new shifter is whether how long I can tolerate it. In all honesty, if I'm paying close enough attention, I can make sure it's completely in 1st before I take off from a start. But there are times when I feel it's a safety issue when I'm pulling out into traffic and it should slip out of 1st. That second to put it in 1st could be potentially dangerous. But I have 2 questions: Can it cause any damage in the shifter or linkage when you're trying to jam it into 1st gear? Also, is there ANY possibility of accidentally shifting into Reverse when going from 7th to 6th? I think part of my problem is worrying that this may happen and I will then tend to put more pressure to avoid it and therefore going into 4th?

Anyway, thank you all again for the very helpful information.

 

It's notchy for sure stock. The gears are spaced small, very easy to miss a shift. The MGW increased effort on my car. I have to make sure I'm in the gear I need, & it takes positive engagement on my part. It was re-designed a few years back. I think that increased the stiffness. But stock isn't too bad, it's different. Can't be sloppy.

You want bad? Someone drive a 88 Bronco with the 5 speed. That thing pops out of gear at will.