B&M mega shifter Not a good Idea for your daily driver - Third Generation F-Body Message Boards

formula forever · 06-22-2009, 12:00 PM

Im thinking of getting a Mega shifter for my daily driven trans am gta. The thing is I keep hearing and reading that its not good for a daily driven car. why

Im so curious to know why that is. I really what to spice up my interior and a megashifter is just the thing. I searched and read alot of people have a hard time getting it out of park and that the cable they supply you is wayyyy to long.

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Camarslow · 06-22-2009, 03:35 PM

If you don't want to deal with a ratchet shifter in a daily driver then the megashifter is not for you, but there are members on here who love them, it's purely a matter of personal taste. As far as problems shifting, people have had that problem and fixed it, I don;t have one so I'll let someone who does tell you about that. The cable is the length that it is becuase it's supposed to be coiled on top of the transmission iirc.

I H8 WWD · 06-22-2009, 03:55 PM

Always think of your tastes first before others.

And if you really need a good description, find a local member with a mega shifter and ask to take a ride with them, maybe they can even let you drive their car.

My brother has the mega shifter with the hard to shift up and down feel (some have this, some don't), but it does not bother him or me one bit. Its a preference.

-Take care

Stephen 87 IROC · 06-22-2009, 04:17 PM

I had a Megashifter in my race car and didn't like it. I now use a ProRatchet.

The Megashifter in a daily driver isn't bad. It's inconvenient to ratchet shift but you're not constantly shifting gears. It's a love or hate choice. Some people like a ratchet shifter, some like a gate shifter.

From park, you need to ratchet the shifter back twice to get to reverse. Pull back twice more and you're in D (OD). Without a manual shift valve body, there's no reason to downshift into the lower gears. Just let the transmission shift on it's own.

From D (OD), you ratchet forward once into neutral. To move the shifter into reverse, the interlock handle needs to be lifted up then ratchet forward once more. This is probably the most awkward part of all the shifting. From reverse, ratchet forward twice to go back into park.

The Megashifter handle stays in the same position through all the gears except when put into park where it goes all the way forward. I didn't like that so I put a ProRatchet shifter in my car. The handle stays in the same position no matter where the selector is including park.

Rich2279 · 06-22-2009, 05:39 PM

I put one in my '79 T/A and loved it.

RED_DRAGON_85 · 06-23-2009, 05:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stephen 87 IROC

I had a Megashifter in my race car and didn't like it. I now use a ProRatchet.

The Megashifter in a daily driver isn't bad. It's inconvenient to ratchet shift but you're not constantly shifting gears. It's a love or hate choice. Some people like a ratchet shifter, some like a gate shifter.

From park, you need to ratchet the shifter back twice to get to reverse. Pull back twice more and you're in D (OD). Without a manual shift valve body, there's no reason to downshift into the lower gears. Just let the transmission shift on it's own.

From D (OD), you ratchet forward once into neutral. To move the shifter into reverse, the interlock handle needs to be lifted up then ratchet forward once more. This is probably the most awkward part of all the shifting. From reverse, ratchet forward twice to go back into park.

The Megashifter handle stays in the same position through all the gears except when put into park where it goes all the way forward. I didn't like that so I put a ProRatchet shifter in my car. The handle stays in the same position no matter where the selector is including park.

they must have changed the design since you had one... i have one but after reading your description, i would hate it too..

the way mine works is this:
from park, i pull up on the t-lever.
this is equivalent to pushing the button on the shifter.
i pull the shifter back into reverse, neutral or drive as if it was a regular stock shifter.

if all you are doing is going from park to reverse neutral or d (od) then it works just like a stock shifter.

now, you are driving and want to downshift.
pull back on the shifter.
it will ONLY GO INTO THIRD
pull back again
it will ONLY GO INTO SECOND.
you want to go back to third?
Push foreward.
it will ONLY GO INTO THIRD.

there is no over shifting, and you can bang that thing as hard or carelessly as you want. it will not make a mistake.

say you are in drive and accidentally push it forward.
without lifting the t-handle (or essentially pushing the button on the stock shifter) there is no way it will go into reverse.
it WILL go into neutral, but not reverse.
even if you try and push forward from there, it will not go into reverse.
to get to reverse from being ratchet-ed into neutral, you have to pull back, lift the handle, and shift to reverse like normal.
this is a safety feature that i am very thankful for as i have accidentally gone from d-n more than once, and it would have been terrible to accidently go to neutral.

its pretty easy once you are accustomed to it, which takes all of five minutes...

it would be a pain if you had a forward pattern, manual valve body, because you would have to always ratchet three times to go from 4 to 1 before you could drive away.
with a reverse pattern valve body, it would be P-R-N-1-2-3-4, so it would be just as easy as with a automatic valve body.

anyway, i love mine and wouldn't have it any other way.
my only gripe is having to clean the shifter knob once every other month or so.
the mirror finish gets pretty gross after a while

hope that helps

I H8 WWD · 06-23-2009, 06:02 PM

So I learn something new once again. Yay me.

I think I may stick with the Mega Shifter (Was thinking Pro Ratchet), get a reverse manual valve body and I have it so I can slam it down (Towards the rear of the car) to go up in gear and forward (Towards the front of the car) to go down...please tell me I read that correct.

RED_DRAGON_85 · 06-23-2009, 09:11 PM

well since normally its forward for up and back for down, then with a reverse it would be back for up and forward for down.
i actually planned to call B&M today but forgot because i would like a manual valve body, but dont want to loose the forward-up and back-down action.
i was going to ask if they had a shifter that could work with a reverse valve body and still have the standard action.

i was thinking that if they made it so when you pull up on the T it would go all the way back to 1, that would be ideal. then you could use a normal valve body and still have manual shifting and normal action...
you also wouldnt have to ratchet three times and lift the T to get from 1 to park.

im sure that if i had the time i could engineer a way to do it (my work has all kinds of cnc and milling machines) but i have neither the time nor motivation...
maybe someone else wants to make the call?

the_am_man · 06-23-2009, 11:42 PM

The previous owner of my car installed one of these shifters, im assuming its an older version since its a dark rubber grip, not a shiny metal one.

One day I was out messing around with the car, I thought... that I shifted all the way down to 1st.....I shifted up to what i thought was 2nd, then to what I thought was 3rd.. SCREEEEEECH!!!! The car started hopping like crazy

I slammed on the brakes but it was too late. The rear wheels locked up and layed about 40ft of rubber. I was scared shitless, I figured for sure my tranny was wrecked thank god it wasn't. For some reason my shifter has no lockout on it, or it isnt functional.

Ever since that I just put in in 'D' and go.

leeperryracing · 06-24-2009, 12:09 AM

have mine for around 4yrs....wouldn't trade it for nothing! most people screw up the install and then blame the product/manufacturer.

matthufham · 06-24-2009, 12:16 AM

i've used my truck style mega shifter for the last 3 years without a single problem, i love it. it's a bump here, a bump there, don't have to shift if i don't want just throw it in drive. it's got a reverse lockout, but i can get it in reverse quicker than anyone out there, and just slam it down straight to drive. no park lock, can release it whenever without the key... no drawbacks here

leeperryracing · 06-24-2009, 12:18 AM

mine has all the safety features operational.....the car sees the track regularly.

Stephen 87 IROC · 06-24-2009, 12:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RED_DRAGON_85

the way mine works is this:
from park, i pull up on the t-lever.
this is equivalent to pushing the button on the shifter.
i pull the shifter back into reverse, neutral or drive as if it was a regular stock shifter.

My mistake. It's been so many years since I've used it, that's the way it does work. In my race car, I really didn't like the way it worked because of that long throw into park. It was awkward to push it that far forward. I needed something simpler because I now have an air shift solenoid to do the shifting. With the shift handle in the same position in all the detents, it was easier to install the air cylinder.

Forward pattern is PRN321
Reverse pattern is PRN123

With the reverse pattern valve body, you pull back to shift up through the gears. Once in high gear, it's impossible to shift to neutral without slowing down first to downshift.

formula forever · 06-24-2009, 12:57 AM

so you need a manual valve body to shift up and down with the mega shifter. how would i go about finding out if i have one.

Stephen 87 IROC · 06-24-2009, 10:35 AM

Changing the shifter does nothing to the transmission. Shifting through the gears with an aftermarket shifter is the same as shifting through the gears with the factory shifter. At WOT, if you shift up a gear at a slower speed, the transmission won't shift until the governor tells it to shift. The transmission doesn't care what type of shifter you use. It still works off factory preset automated hydraulic pressures.

Manual valve bodies means the transmission has no automatic function. It will not up or downshift on it's own. You can start in any gear and if you try starting in high gear because you forgot to downshift after coming to a stop, you'll eventually burn out the clutches in the tranny. Constantly manually shifting an automatic on the street might sound like fun but the novelty wears off quickly. It's not the same as driving a car with a manual transmission.

You can change the shifter in the car for a more custom look and feel but from a performance standpoint in a street driven car, there is none. Aftermarket shifters like these are really designed for the racing aspect.

*86EYEROK* · 06-24-2009, 10:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stephen 87 IROC

Manual valve bodies means the transmission has no automatic function. It will not up or downshift on it's own. You can start in any gear and if you try starting in high gear because you forgot to downshift after coming to a stop, you'll eventually burn out the clutches in the tranny. Constantly manually shifting an automatic on the street might sound like fun but the novelty wears off quickly. It's not the same as driving a car with a manual transmission.

that is SO true, i had a B&M manual valve body tranny in my car when i got it. car was built to drag only. i always had to shift it, was a pain in the a** but was fun at first. i never new this was bad fot it but i always started out in 2nd gear and shifted to drive. hardley ever used 1st gear only when i wanted to beat on it. i learned the leason the hard way. smoked the cluches

roughskinjrz · 06-24-2009, 11:04 AM

think twice about a manual valve body it sounds like fun but will wear off quickly. i ran lots of ratchet shifters, the mega shifter is alright i liked it alot. i now run a hurst quarter stick shifter with reverse manual valve body in my monte carlo and its mostly drag some street.

Stephen 87 IROC · 06-24-2009, 12:53 PM

I use a powerglide in my race car with a full manual valve body. I usually do a high gear burnout in the waterbox to get wheel speed. I don't even bother shifting from low to high in the waterbox. I just start in high gear.

The only reason I don't launch in high gear is that I use a transbrake which only works in low gear and my high gear clutch pack only has 5-6 clutches in it. If I had the 10 disk clutch pack, I could launch and do the entire 1/4 mile run in high gear. ET would be slower but consistency would be deadly.

irocman79 · 06-24-2009, 01:56 PM

my car is a daily driver and l love my mega shifter never any problems with works great. You just need to make sure you take the time to get it installed correctly.

RED_DRAGON_85 · 06-24-2009, 07:16 PM

Quote:

The previous owner of my car installed one of these shifters, im assuming its an older version since its a dark rubber grip, not a shiny metal one.

One day I was out messing around with the car, I thought... that I shifted all the way down to 1st.....I shifted up to what i thought was 2nd, then to what I thought was 3rd.. SCREEEEEECH!!!! The car started hopping like crazy

I slammed on the brakes but it was too late. The rear wheels locked up and layed about 40ft of rubber. I was scared shitless, I figured for sure my tranny was wrecked thank god it wasn't. For some reason my shifter has no lockout on it, or it isnt functional.

Ever since that I just put in in 'D' and go.

you didnt have a mega shifter.
you had the cheap version without any safety features.
i think its called the quick street shifter or some conglomeration of words like that.
the main clue is the black plastic knob

RED_DRAGON_85 · 06-24-2009, 07:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stephen 87 IROC

I use a powerglide in my race car with a full manual valve body. I usually do a high gear burnout in the waterbox to get wheel speed. I don't even bother shifting from low to high in the waterbox. I just start in high gear.

The only reason I don't launch in high gear is that I use a transbrake which only works in low gear and my high gear clutch pack only has 5-6 clutches in it. If I had the 10 disk clutch pack, I could launch and do the entire 1/4 mile run in high gear. ET would be slower but consistency would be deadly.

that tells me you dont have enough rubber under your car...
that or too much power

just yanking your chain.
we all know you can never have too much power

the_am_man · 06-25-2009, 01:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RED_DRAGON_85

you didnt have a mega shifter.
you had the cheap version without any safety features.
i think its called the quick street shifter or some conglomeration of words like that.
the main clue is the black plastic knob

It may be a cheaper version, but it looks identical and has a black rubber shifter.

The shifter plate is made for a 3 speed trans, PRND21

elano · 06-25-2009, 01:45 AM

I love my console megashifter and use it every day. Much better than stock.

inNEEDofPAINT · 07-27-2009, 02:37 AM

i just installed a b&m console megashifter into my 1984 camaro z28 and i love it! i do see what some people were talking about it being difficult to shift out of park, but its honestly not that big of a deal. it just takes some getting used to in order to know how much force to give it so you dont go from park to drive in one fell swoop. i think the megashifter is a blast to drive and it definately perks up the interior and gives it that "dont f- with me" look. the only problem i had installing it myself was figuring out which wires coming from the stock shifter went to the neutral safety switch and back up lights (still havent figured out the back up lights, but i got the car inspected before i put the shift kit in

anyways, if you decide to get one, enjoy! just dont forget to switch gears

Faster_than_you · 07-29-2009, 12:17 AM

A buddy of mine just gave me his B&M shifter because he swapped his motor and has a manual trans now. He previously had a 350 turbo and I have a 700R4.He didn't bother to keep the install directions so I'm unsure which hole the shift cable connects to at the end on the plate that connects to the trans. Somebody help me out here..

The Devastator · 07-29-2009, 03:56 PM

The forward hole is for the th350,th400,th700r4,and th200r4.

I've had my console megashifter in my camaro for about 4 years. I also have a full manual valve body and very firm shifts. I preferred to run it full manual as it had shifted on me in turns before in the rain which put me head on with oncoming traffic. After a while driving full manual you get used to it. Its not any more annoying to me than driving a stick.

kkingsrulee · 07-29-2009, 04:27 PM

What the hell? All of this sounds so confusing, putting it in different positions and whatnot, a manual just seems so much easier.

85camarojunkie · 07-30-2009, 09:58 AM

mine worked like reddragon85. Alot of times the hard shifting is caused from the cable not being adjusted right. that can be a hassle. Also there should be grease in the linkages nad every mving part of the shifter. I had mine for a few years and re greased it and it was alot smoother. It is all about taste as said. But with proper adjustments and taking care of it. It eventually just feels like a regular shifter and you wont even realize it. Also they take a hell of a beating when hard shifting.

85camarojunkie · 07-30-2009, 10:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Faster_than_you

A buddy of mine just gave me his B&M shifter because he swapped his motor and has a manual trans now. He previously had a 350 turbo and I have a 700R4.He didn't bother to keep the install directions so I'm unsure which hole the shift cable connects to at the end on the plate that connects to the trans. Somebody help me out here..

I used the first and third hole im pretty sure, you only need the 2 and 4th for the 400. Also make sure you remove the c-clip and the dowl pin in the back of the shifter so you can open 4th gear.

85camarojunkie · 07-30-2009, 10:06 AM

www.bmracing.com/bmracing/installation_instruction/8.pdf

sorry for replying 3 times. but this is the exact instructions that come with the kit. Includeds wiring diagram and all. You have to hook wires up, there is a neutral safety switch and if noone of this is hooked up right the car will not start. That is the plug that hooks up to your factory shifter. But this is a simple process

Faster_than_you · 07-30-2009, 01:42 PM

Thanks for the help guys.I'm putting it in today.

The Devastator · 07-30-2009, 01:44 PM

I just put a th400 in my camaro. While I was doing this one of the problems I wanted to address was the overly long cable. I wound up using their extreme duty 2 foot cable. Its a straight shot to the shift lever on the transmission.

TheMonster · 07-30-2009, 02:49 PM

I love mine, but is the reverse manual body expensive? And is it that much of a pain as you guys say? Worse than a manual, or doesn't make a difference?

The Devastator · 07-30-2009, 02:56 PM

A full manual valve body is usually more than most street users desiring manual shifting need. A B&M stage two shift kit with a locked out governor is usually enough. I ran mine like that behind my 383 and it would upshift automatically at 2000 rpm regardless or throttle or speed. If you wanted to run it higher you just held it in the range you wanted.

Once you get used to using a rachet shifter it is easier than driving a manual. Its so simple you couldn't possibly screw it up. I don't see why so many people are having difficulty understanding it. Guess its one of those simple to do hard to explain things.

Find somebody who has a megashifter and ask them to try it out. The console megashifters made specifically for 2nd and 3rd gen camaros is identical to the universal ones installed in trucks/jeeps/and all manner of vehicles.

TheMonster · 07-30-2009, 03:07 PM

Alright, I am content with my B&M shift kit alone, it gets the job done.

HypnoToad · 07-30-2009, 03:19 PM

i like mine,but it still needs some ajusting cause when u go from 2nd to 3rd it doesnt wanna shift sometimes...yea theres real no need for it unless u have a shift kit or something,i still like coming out of 1st gear though,so i can control throttle better without worrying bout it shifting.

plus it looks a lot better than the stock shifter,i bought the black knob though,looks better in my interior and doesnt get hot.

galletti · 10-31-2009, 09:35 AM

This thread is kind of old but I see a lot of knowledgeable people answering so I thought I'd ask your opinion. My car is mostly a weekend cruiser but I'm getting ready to take it to the circuit track for solo events for some laughs. I don't really have the budget to go with a manual swap and was wondering if I should go with a full manual valve body and the Megashifter. From what I see on this thread this would give me pretty much a 4 speed "manual" tranny. My doubts are:
1. Does banging through the gears with the Megashifter work both up and down? I mean, on the solo track I'll be up and downshifting a lot and need to know how convenient this would be with the combo I mentioned.
2. What is the approximate cost of the manual valve body and what does the install involve? I have a stage one B&M kit on my 700r4 which I installed myself fairly easily so, how about it?
3. Is there any combination of valve bodies/shifters out there that will allow me to operate manual at the track and auto on the street? I really want full manual on the track to avoid unexpected shifting.
Thanks a lot for any info/opinions.

1A Dan · 10-31-2009, 02:49 PM

I thought the megashifter was one of the best "toys" I had bought for my daily driver RS. It took a little bit of work to get it set up right, but was definitely something fun to use when I wanted too.

just make sure to cover it in the summer; there were many days where I'd have a red "B&M" on my right palm....