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MGW Shifter Review | C7

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Old Jan 3, 2022 | 07:19 PM
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Default MGW Shifter Review | C7

I took the time to do a quick follow up review after install of my MGW Short Throw Shifter on my C7. I didn't do an install video as there are plenty of those, this is more of my first impressions based on Hwy and street driving. I linked a good install video in the description. Enjoy!

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Old Jan 3, 2022 | 11:38 PM
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Thanks for sharing your thoughts on the MGW shifter.
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Old Jan 3, 2022 | 11:50 PM
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My only complaint with the MGW shifter is it doesn't shift well starting out in colder temperatures. Living in Ohio, some mornings about 40 degree it takes more effort to get it into gear. After about 5 miles works perfectly. No issues driving during the summer. Dec- Mar in storage so don't know if cold all day would have any affect -
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Old Jan 4, 2022 | 11:04 AM
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Originally Posted by 70vetteinpieces
My only complaint with the MGW shifter is it doesn't shift well starting out in colder temperatures. Living in Ohio, some mornings about 40 degree it takes more effort to get it into gear. After about 5 miles works perfectly. No issues driving during the summer. Dec- Mar in storage so don't know if cold all day would have any affect -
A shifter can't compensate for a characteristic of the internal operation of the transmission. No matter which shifter you use they are all the same. A stick through a hole with the short end of the stick below the hole mated to a rod that moves back and forth and rotates. Any feature a specific shifter has ends where it connects to the shift rod. The shift rod can only move back and forth through a specific range and can only rotate through a specific range. The movement of the shifter is set by the length of the stick below the hole and how tight the hole is around the stick.

Bill
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Old Jan 4, 2022 | 02:28 PM
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Originally Posted by Vetteman Jack
Thanks for sharing your thoughts on the MGW shifter.
Your Welcome,
hope it help you make an informed decision should you ever decide on a shifter.
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Old Jan 4, 2022 | 02:36 PM
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Originally Posted by 70vetteinpieces
My only complaint with the MGW shifter is it doesn't shift well starting out in colder temperatures. Living in Ohio, some mornings about 40 degree it takes more effort to get it into gear. After about 5 miles works perfectly. No issues driving during the summer. Dec- Mar in storage so don't know if cold all day would have any affect -
I agree, although most manual transmissions struggle to get in gear when its cold and the MGW takes a little getting used to.

I will say it takes more getting used to finding natural 6th after downshifting from 7th gear as it exaggerates the distance from the 1st-6th quadrant from the 7th & reverse quadrant. The first time I downshifted from 7th to 4th it felt like the gears grouped together so close that I had to consciously think about 6th to avoid going into 4th. After a few shifts I got used to it and felt like I was overthinking it. Other than that, I have approximately 20 miles on it and I hear it will get better with more drive/break in time.
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Old Jan 4, 2022 | 02:37 PM
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Originally Posted by Bill Dearborn
A shifter can't compensate for a characteristic of the internal operation of the transmission. No matter which shifter you use they are all the same. A stick through a hole with the short end of the stick below the hole mated to a rod that moves back and forth and rotates. Any feature a specific shifter has ends where it connects to the shift rod. The shift rod can only move back and forth through a specific range and can only rotate through a specific range. The movement of the shifter is set by the length of the stick below the hole and how tight the hole is around the stick.

Bill
With all that in consideration what is your shifter of choice?
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Old Jan 4, 2022 | 04:07 PM
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Originally Posted by Rdubfalco
With all that in consideration what is your shifter of choice?
My stock shifter works fine. I hold it by placing my hand on the top shifter and then using my fingers and the palm of my hand to shift the transmission. Fingers make the shifts into 2nd, 4th and 6th. The palm of hand makes the shifts into 3rd, 5th and 7th. Most of the shifting is done by flicking the hand with a small amount of arm movement. Any shifter that shortens the throws increases the force required to shift so reduces the ease of which you can toss the shifter back and forth.

Bill
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Old Jan 5, 2022 | 01:15 PM
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Originally Posted by Bill Dearborn
My stock shifter works fine. I hold it by placing my hand on the top shifter and then using my fingers and the palm of my hand to shift the transmission. Fingers make the shifts into 2nd, 4th and 6th. The palm of hand makes the shifts into 3rd, 5th and 7th. Most of the shifting is done by flicking the hand with a small amount of arm movement. Any shifter that shortens the throws increases the force required to shift so reduces the ease of which you can toss the shifter back and forth.

Bill
Sounds good. I thought the stock shifter was decent as well. That's the reason it took me so long to install the MGW shifter.
I noticed your shifting technique seems to cover basic fundamentals of shifting. I been on this forum for approx 4 years and noticed your deep background and experience with corvettes and C7's. Are you an engineer by trade?
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Old Feb 10, 2022 | 03:13 PM
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To chime in on MGW:

I bought one second-hand from a forum member here for my C6. Came with all parts but was missing the dynamat and heat shielding that comes with the kit (which I'm sure the seller left in his car). Called MGW and they were extremely helpful - got that stuff ordered as well as a tube of their 'green' grease for the lower ball. Reasonable price and expedient. Pleasure to deal with
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Old Feb 15, 2022 | 03:16 PM
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Buy one and you will never go back. Redline D4 will help with cold transmissions.
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