advice on a new shifter

[JTB]

I want shorter throws/reliability, etc. It seems that B&M has one about $75 to $100 more than the Hurst. Please let me know if anyone has any experience with these or any other brand. I would also like to eliminate the reverse lockout feature on the stock shifter. Thanks in advance!!

 

[JTB]

I just ordered the hurst after reading quite a few personal reviews. Thanks.

 

[cplbilski]

so you agree that the hurst is better than the b&m

 

[JTB]

From what I have read, the hurst is more of a daily driver shifter vs the B&M has even shorter throws and requires more "force." I am sure you can't go wrong with either one, but I can't see spending more money on the B&M at this point. I will let you know more when I get the Hurst in (on backorder right now ad )

 

[cplbilski]

cool ill be looking fwd to your post.

 

[JTB]

Wow, simple answer: I think this was a no-brainer and am very happy.
Long answer: The throws really seem about 50% shorter (versus the 30% advertised). It just feels like this is how they should have come off the assembly line. It literally makes that car feel sportier. I am most impressed with the 2-3 shift, it is not up-over-up, it almost "feels like" a straight line over to third. My mechanic (took him a couple of hours-exhaust does have to come off) loved it and thought it was "leaps ahead of the original shifter." Definitely not too firm to shift gears in a daily driver. The stock knob is still there and no reverse lock out. I am trying to post some pics to give you an idea of the overall height, etc but they may not do it justice. In my opinion, it was worth every cent.

 

[JTB]

Check out the car on the box...can you say Ruby Red ZR-1!!!! If only I was installing it in that car...

 

[cplbilski]

it looks real nice, why did you have to drop the exhaust though. shouldnt you just have to remove the center console and replace it fron the interior of the car. thats how i did my T56when i put the B&M ripper in my trans am.

 

[JTB]

Go down to the 3rd review for a (long) nice write-up about replacing the shifter...
http://corvetteforum.com/reviews/viewsubtopic.php?SubTopicID=406&TopicID=21

 

[cplbilski]

that was a great review, but in my opinion i still dont understand why you have to drop the exhaust. it should take less than an hour by just removing the console.

 

[JTB]

I wish I could tell you the specifics but he did most of the work from underneath after the console was off. Sorry, don't know what to tell you. I am sure he would have done everything from inside if possible.....Someone more knowledgeable please step in if you have some more insight on this.

 

[Vettart]

I have a Hurst shifter on my '96. Worth every penney. The action is crisp and sure. The gate is less narrow, the shifter has one inch less travel in each direction. Less wobble and flex.
I have driven the B&M model in another car. I found the action to be tougher. The lever required more effort and the gate was almost non-existent. You have to watch out around reverse. I think if I had driven it more, I would have gotten used to the action but after the Hurst, it was not worth the extra money.

My 2 cents

 

[Vettart]

I got my Hurst shifter from Jegs's for $129.

 

[Wamp]

We installed the Hurst shifter on the 96 and love it! I was not the easiest job to do and yes, we did have to drop the exhaust also. You can't reach everything you need to from the inside. My husband and I did it together. It was awhile about a year ago we did it, so I don't remember everything we did have to do. We have a craft shop to go to that you can rent lifts by the hour. Big help there. I can have him post specifics on the job if you like when he gets home. We have a homecoming to do today, so it would be later on...

 

[Jeffvette]

Buy the shifter from Chris Rineheart.
He designed them for hurst and he sells them on ebay for 112 plus 8 bucks for shipping, I think were the prices when I bought mine.

 

[HTRK-1]

that was a great review, but in my opinion i still dont understand why you have to drop the exhaust. it should take less than an hour by just removing the console.

You're thinking of the shifter in the C5's and late camaros. They used the T56 tranny and is very straight forward to replace like you said. The ZF is different and requires dropping the exhaust. I have heard of some people being able to do it without removing the exhaust, but they must have long skinny arms.