Aftermarket Product ReviewProvide questions and answers about aftermarket parts for the Third Generation F-Body.
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Been searching automatic console shifters over the winter to replace my beat up leather stocker, and decided on a Hurst Dual Gate over the B&M Mega Shifter (was hearing the B&M was hard to get out of park and a few other complaints). Plus I like the look of the Hurst. Anyway, was planning on ordering it from Summit this spring but I just searched the site and noticed that it wasn't there anymore. Have they discontinued this shifter? Is there somewhere else I can order it from if they have? Hate to think I just missed the wagon on this thing and am going to have to search for one used (nightmare). I could swear I saw it on Summit for my application no more than a month or two ago. I have an 89 IROC with a 700-R4,stock console. Any help is appreciated. Want to get this thing before summer.
I've had both, the megashifter is a much better shifter.
What made the mega shifter a better shifter? Now you've got me curious. I've never had an aftermarket shifter, so I really don't know what to expect. I'm pretty set on the dual gate but might change my mind after all.
The dual gate is not a true ratchet shifter so it's still possible to go into the wrong gear. The Megashifter is a true ratchet shifter and therefore you only change one gear at a time when you slam it (RACING!) so it is a much better shifter for positive shifts into the right gear.
__________________ 389 CID Vortec TPI Engine, 428 HP, 507 TQ. Wheeler Vortec Heads, KB, Comp Cams, Crane, Eagle, SLP, Accel, Fluidamper, Vigilante, TCI, Spohn, Lakewood, Hedman, Flowmaster, Random Technologies, Be-Cool, Granatelli, Goodyear, Bosch, SDPC Intake, Texas Speed, Custom Chip and Ford Motorsport (30 lb Fuel Injectors).
11.894@114.3 mph.
Sacrificed to the God of Speed: (2) 700R4's, 3 TC's, 3 sets u-joints, one driveshaft, one camshaft, one bent rod, 3 blown head gaskets and two blown motors.
The dual gate isn't a ratchet shifter, but used properly the race gate still prevents you from upshifting more than one gear at a time. More of a drag-only setup than the megashifter.
i also just bought my dual gate from summit right before it went discontined and i decided on it over the b&m becase as the last post said if used properly u wont miss a gear i havent installed it yet but it seems very hard to miss a shift and i think it looks a heck of a lot cleaner than huge b&m thing imo it looks out of place and kind of ugly also a lot of people say its extremly hard to shift out of park
I've got the dual gate in my 84. I went with it because it looks more "understated" than the megashifter. Both of them are really for appearance, more than anything. I think if I was going to replace it, I'd put a stock shifter back in with a modified detent plate to make it behave like a quarter stick or something.
Well if it just comes down to appearance. I'm all about the dual gate. Definitely a better looking unit in my opinion. I really wanted a quarter stick (the one with the white shift knob) but they don't make that as a direct fit, and I don't want to go hacking up my console. To you guys that have/had the dual gate, can you give me some info on the operation. From the picture it looks kind of like the shifter is just kind of hanging there, does it click to the different gears or do you just throw the thing wherever you need it? I don't see a button of any kind on the knob like the stocker. How was the install? Getting new carpet this spring too, so going to do everything in one shot while the console and seats are out.
Mine went in easily enough, pretty much a matter of removing the stock shifter and bolting the dual gate directly in its place. It reuses the factory park/neutral/reverse switch, which is a bonus over the megashifter. Mine was one of the early ones that reused the factory shift cable and park-lock cable. Later ones came with a new shift cable, apparently.
There's no detent plate in the shifter itself, but you'll feel the "clicks" of the detent plate in the transmission itself.
The handle is spring-loaded to push it to the left. To take it out of park, you move it to the right and pull back. Similarly to put it in reverse or park, you move it to the right and push forward.
To use the "race" gate, you put the handle in neutral, then move it over to the right side, and pull back into first. Then to upshift one gear at a time, you push the handle to the right and forward. A spring loaded stop keeps it from moving more than one gear until you let it go.
or you could get that new paddle shifter in superchevy mag
Do you have any more information on that?
BTW, on the Megashifter. Am I correct in thinking when it's in ratchet mode that it's just like a hi/lo gear in the Pole Position, the old arcade game where you drove a drop top Ferrari with the female passenger, or Cruising USA games? Or does it actually have gears like the stock shifter that you have to knock into place? How big of a PITA is it to roadrace/autocross with?
For those of you that think you can't miss a shift with the dual gate, HA! If you haven't you will or you aren't really racing it. Of course the Megashifter being a ratchet shifter you won't miss a shift. You can go up and down in the gears and it doesn't miss a shift, it's great for stoplight meetings, drag races or twisty go-fast time, the dual gate just doesn't compare. I don't have any trouble getting my car out of park, my daughter does, but she can still do it. And the piece of mind of not missing a shift is worth it.
__________________ 389 CID Vortec TPI Engine, 428 HP, 507 TQ. Wheeler Vortec Heads, KB, Comp Cams, Crane, Eagle, SLP, Accel, Fluidamper, Vigilante, TCI, Spohn, Lakewood, Hedman, Flowmaster, Random Technologies, Be-Cool, Granatelli, Goodyear, Bosch, SDPC Intake, Texas Speed, Custom Chip and Ford Motorsport (30 lb Fuel Injectors).
11.894@114.3 mph.
Sacrificed to the God of Speed: (2) 700R4's, 3 TC's, 3 sets u-joints, one driveshaft, one camshaft, one bent rod, 3 blown head gaskets and two blown motors.
I've never missed a shift at the track with the dual gate. Then again, I never missed a shift with the stock shifter, either. Missing a shift during drag racing is hardly the end of the world that people seem to think it is.
Wow, people raggin on the aftermarket shifters I'm not really sure what to expect. I just need to throw something in there that looks clean and replaces the beat up stocker. The leather is peeling off the thing and it looks pretty ragged. Anyone have a pic of the dual gate installed in their car?? Would be great to see that posted.
I've never missed a shift at the track with the dual gate. Then again, I never missed a shift with the stock shifter, either. Missing a shift during drag racing is hardly the end of the world that people seem to think it is.
I've got a block with a hole in the side to prove missing a shift, or more correctly going to neutral at WOT is the end of the engine. That is why I now have a Megashifter.
__________________ 389 CID Vortec TPI Engine, 428 HP, 507 TQ. Wheeler Vortec Heads, KB, Comp Cams, Crane, Eagle, SLP, Accel, Fluidamper, Vigilante, TCI, Spohn, Lakewood, Hedman, Flowmaster, Random Technologies, Be-Cool, Granatelli, Goodyear, Bosch, SDPC Intake, Texas Speed, Custom Chip and Ford Motorsport (30 lb Fuel Injectors).
11.894@114.3 mph.
Sacrificed to the God of Speed: (2) 700R4's, 3 TC's, 3 sets u-joints, one driveshaft, one camshaft, one bent rod, 3 blown head gaskets and two blown motors.
Wow, people raggin on the aftermarket shifters I'm not really sure what to expect. I just need to throw something in there that looks clean and replaces the beat up stocker. The leather is peeling off the thing and it looks pretty ragged. Anyone have a pic of the dual gate installed in their car?? Would be great to see that posted.
Hurst dual gate in a 87 IROC.
Cat.
(pls excuse the pic size - slipped my mind to resize)
Is that the handle that came with it? The T with the red side button? Every pic I have seen shows just a black ball shift knob that I am actually kinda fond of. Does it screw on and off? Wouldn't mind switching to a white shift knob though.
To the guy that blew up his engine. Were you not using the race gate? I thought there was no neutral on that gate, just 1,2,3,4. Could be wrong.
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Thanks for posting up the pic so fast. This site is awesome!
Last edited by RagTopIROC; 03-07-2007 at 03:04 PM.
Reason: Automerged Doublepost
won't fit a firebird or T/A without making another shift plate.
there is many shifter handles and knobs available to fit this shifter. here is an attachment of mine. (generic pic off Ebay but that is th eone I have)
Myself I think this is one of the best shifters out there kinda sucks they don't make one exactly like this but for three speed. (I am going to be switching to turbo 400 on the next motor swap.) So unless I decide to buy another Camaro I may sell the one I have now. I am not impressed with the B&m pos at all just didn't feel right.
Yeah, I've got one too, put your car in neutral and floor it from idle and see if your rev limiter saves your engine. Better yet, don't, because it won't.
__________________ 389 CID Vortec TPI Engine, 428 HP, 507 TQ. Wheeler Vortec Heads, KB, Comp Cams, Crane, Eagle, SLP, Accel, Fluidamper, Vigilante, TCI, Spohn, Lakewood, Hedman, Flowmaster, Random Technologies, Be-Cool, Granatelli, Goodyear, Bosch, SDPC Intake, Texas Speed, Custom Chip and Ford Motorsport (30 lb Fuel Injectors).
11.894@114.3 mph.
Sacrificed to the God of Speed: (2) 700R4's, 3 TC's, 3 sets u-joints, one driveshaft, one camshaft, one bent rod, 3 blown head gaskets and two blown motors.
Just so you guess know. Alot of people complain about the mega shifter being hard to take out of park and shift. The thing has to break in. It will take some time. So hand tight. It is a good shifter.
Glad to see this thread was pulled out of the archives.
I am looking for a console dual gate in the worst way for my 92 Z28.
Any of you who have one and don't like it , and want to get rid of it, I will take it. My factory one works perfect and can be part of the deal if you are looking to go back to factory. I want a dual gate like I had in my 80 Ta. I loved it, never missed a shift, and easy to install. I will be happy with any of the 2 different models for the 4 speed dual gate, but prefer the one that uses the factory cable.
Thanks, cash via pay-pal today.
Tom (518) 858-7380
I just briefly looked on the web sight, I didn't see it. Hurst isn't manufacturing it anymore. So it's gona be hard to find a new one in the box unopened now. But I'm sure there are some out there, somewhere.
they probably don't reply because they are long gone. When I sold mine it took me less than a day. They are really hard to get ahold of but you have to be patient. either way if you can find one it won't be cheap. Before when Hurst was selling them not enough people bought them to continue production on them now everyone wants them and they don't make them. I will call and see how many would be needed to do a small run of them but with B&M owning Hurst now not sure if they even will or can?
they probably don't reply because they are long gone. When I sold mine it took me less than a day. They are really hard to get ahold of but you have to be patient. either way if you can find one it won't be cheap. Before when Hurst was selling them not enough people bought them to continue production on them now everyone wants them and they don't make them. I will call and see how many would be needed to do a small run of them but with B&M owning Hurst now not sure if they even will or can?
Not "long" gone because I have contacted these people before they were sold and had positive responses and then........nothing..........!
Your offer to contact B&M is a breath of fresh air. Yet, we both know how it will end. B&M will say something gay like,"try the mega-shifter, it is way better!" or something like that. They bought Hurst to eliminate the competition, even though there was a huge following they discontinued the product to get market share of their own.
I've often wondered if an earlier model Dual Gate can be made to work with the 4-speed.
I havetwo of the earlier ones, and it would be a tricky project to make one work with a 4-speed auto.
Think of stepping through the gears with the stick on your current automatic - the spots where you stop are cut into the "his" side if the Hurst dual gate like stairsteps. A spring pulls the stick to the side, so you can only go up one step at a time.
If you wanted to make an older dual gate work you would need to replace the stairsteps in it with one having the right size stairsteps for your shift positions.
I'm not really sure what to expect. I just need to throw something in there that looks clean and replaces the beat up stocker. The leather is peeling off the thing and it looks pretty ragged. Anyone have a pic of the dual gate installed in their car?? Would be great to see that posted. 
, and want to get rid of it, I will take it. My factory one works perfect and can be part of the deal if you are looking to go back to factory. I want a dual gate like I had in my 80 Ta. I loved it, never missed a shift, and easy to install. I will be happy with any of the 2 different models for the 4 speed dual gate, but prefer the one that uses the factory cable. 
or something like that. They bought Hurst to eliminate the competition, even though there was a huge following they discontinued the product to get market share of their own.
