I was thinking about buying a Megashifter for my 86 trans am, but what would the advantages be of getting one? What exactly does it do that not my stock shifter can't do? I know it's ratchet shifting, but what the heck does that mean? Please help. I need as much info as possible about these Megashifters before I go out and buy one.

 

Are you having any shifter problems now? Do you use the car in a way that the stock shifter is adequate? Or do you just want it because of the way it looks.....

 

It allows quick gear shifts, up or down, one at a time without skipping.

 

its a waste of $187, dont buy it, if u do id get a hurst, i had a bunch of problems with my megashifter, bolts striped...so on. Rachting is allowing your to upshift 1 gear at a time, so u cant miss the gear. I found mine hard to use (hard to move the shifter from gear to gear) and overall a waste of money

 

It sounds like he's got money burning a hole in his pocket. He thinks he wants a Megashifter, but doesn't know what it does or why he would need it. Send ME that $187.00. I don't need a Megashifter either, but I could use a couple kegs of beer and some pizza.

They do look cool, but are a PITA to live with, especially if other people drive your car now and then and you have to explain how to work the shifter every time...

 

Like these other guys have said its a pos waste of $187. The factory shifter is much better especially since you dont have to adjust the factory shifter every 2 months. Hurst makes a goood aftermarket shifter but the stock one is plenty fine.

 

Zepher hit the nail on the head. If you like shifting manually it's a must, or some other similar one. Sliding into N at WOT is no fun, happened to me.

Personally, I love my Megashifter, it has held up great in the past 1.5 yrs.

Words of advice, use the stock shifter cable, put some lock tite on the handle, and never armorol the boot, it will crack.

If you do a search on the tranny board, you'll get mixed reviews. I think it has a lot to do with the installer.

 

You let other people drive your car?

The B&M is really stiff when it's new, after it breaks in, it works nice.
This Hurst Quarter Stick shifter baffles most people when they try to get it into park,

 

You need to learn how to shift Mark.
Anyway must have gotten one of the shifters that actually went through quality controll.

Ive never known anyone who is happy with thier aftermarket shifter unless its with a manual transmission.

 

I'll have to say, I also hate the way the B&M feels. Maybe it's not worn in enough or it's the flimsy mounting surface on my '82. It just feels ............ummm ..... Cheap?

Now I did play with the Quarter Stick, and that sucker feels solid.
Kind or like comparing a hardware store bolt to ARP bolts.(What ever - right?)

However the Quarter Stick is not to good if you want to bang the gears back down! Like for AutoX/Road racing with a Full Manual Automatic. (Pun alert)

This is where the ratchet type shifters shine. There versatility on the street, drag strip, or road course.

Before my project car is done, I might (repeat might) pull out my Megashifter for a Hurst Pro-Matic 2. (HA HA I have no interior , so the options are limited if your wanting a stock installation)

Ron

 

I really wasnt crazy about the megashifter either. The factory one was much easier to use in everyday driving. I just leave mine in drive and let the tranny do the shifting for me.

 

Wow, you guys really don't like the megashifter? It always gets mixed reviews and splits us into two camps.. one with no problems and those with them..

I really like mine.. was stiff at first but went in easy and hasn't needed adjustment yet (threadlock)..

Maybe I am just sentimental my dad put one on the car back in 83 with a th350, now with the 4l60e I put another on.. Zepher has my old quarterstick.. nice peice, but no better than the B&M..

here is the b4 and after..

 

After.. well almost, during the LT1 swap..

 

Wow, those are some nice wheels on that car in the garage.

 

I like my B&M...You gotta be rough with it! Banging through the gears is just that....

 

I dont understand when you guys say "BANGING THROUGH THE GEARS WITH THE MEGASHIFTER"? Whats that mean?

 

Since it's a ratchet design, you can literally bang the shifter as hard as you want when shifting manually, and it won't slide past a gear. As where with the stock shifter if you hit the shifter hard it would slide past gears possibly into N or R.

 

Is the quarterstick a ratchet shifter as well?

 

No, It's a gate type shifter...

 

can you explain the differences?

 

No, it's not.
It's a slide style like the stock one but it has a lever you either hold or let go off when going up through the gears.

Example,
Pull it all the way down to 1st, just like the stock one.
The push it forward for second, it won't go any further.
To shift to 3rd, you pull the lever and push forward while holding the lever.
to go to 4th, just release the lever and push forward, it won't go any further than 4th.
To get to neutral from 4th, you pull the lever and push forward.

 

<b>What's the purpose of a B&M Megashifter? </b>

On a Hot summer day the purpose of the megashifter is to burn the B&M logo into the palm of your hand.

 

lmao, good point, that's why I leave a rag over it

Oh, and it gets cold as nuts in the winter

 

My bad, it's a 'Detent' Style shifter.

'25THRSS' with rachets you bang threw the gears one at a time. Say starting out in first gear you push the stick all the way forward, and allow it to return...Going into second & third is the same way, the shifter will return to the center position. Going from 3rd to 2nd, you pull back on the stick, and let it return to the center position.

Think of it like putting a socket wrench on the shift lever.

Ron

 

Ok I feel stupid...

I have a B+M megashifter, It came in the car. However, I just used it normally. what is this banging through the gears thing? my shifter wont go into 1 2 or 3.... Is there something you have to do to use it like a manual?