Howdies

I have an 86 camaro with a 5 speed manual transmission which I assume is the T5. I have a question with regards to the shifter itself. When moving from 2nd to 3rd gear there is supposed to be some springed tension moving it from the first slot (1st n 2nd gear) over to the 3rd n 4th gear position. It just flops around in that area. I do however have a springy feel when going into 5th and reverse and that side feels normal. Does the stock shifter have an adjustment to tighten things up on the 2nd to 3rd side? I've been looking at those short throw shifters as a replacement but dont want to go there if I dont have to.

I hope that made sense . Left side no tension, Right side has tension.

Any comments would be greatly appreciated
Kaycee

 

Well, the factory trans all try to center the stick, i bet the right side may have more tension due to stop and go, the lower gears get used allot more. Only thing i can figgure.

 

The factory shifter is GARBAGE. They usually are and always have been, in practically every kind of car. Too much importance given to stifling vibration and noise transmission and not enough to rigidity and speed of operation IMO.

Get an aftermarket one. AMAZING difference. You won't BELIEVE it's even still the same transmission. That was the VERY FIRST mod I did to my car, back in about 85, after hitting the radio buttons with my hand while shifting (!!! in a practically brand-new car); it's still real high on the list of bang-for-the-buck things I've done to it. I got a Hurst Comp Plus. They don't make that any more; get this one instead http://store.summitracing.com/partde...=HUU%2D3915032

One thing you might want to pay attention to: alot of shifters have different threads on them from stock, such that you HAVE TO use their ball. I hated the Hurst one. It looked foreign to the car and cheep, altogether weenier than the leather-covered stock ****. I made a bushing by finding a bolt that matched the stock threads, cutting an inch or so off the end of it, drilling a hole in the center, and tapping it to fit the Hurst handle; and Loctiting it to the shifter. With its black handle, you couldn't tell it wasn't stock by looking. I
'm not sure whether the Billet Plust that is the only one they ofer for our cars any more, requires that or not.

 

The only thing the stock shifter is good for is a shotput contest. I have one of the new Hurst Billet Plus shifters, which replaced the Competion Plus they used to offer. The downside to it is that it still uses a goofy thread size for the **** (7/16-20), with a cheap, shower door looking shift ****. The plus side is that it's the only aftermarket shifter I know of that has an adjustable spring bias for the stick. It also has adjustable, positive shift stops. The Pro 5.0 and the B&M Ripper shifters use the stock thread size on the stick, and both have the adjustable shift stops. The Pro 5.0 is probably the best one according to a lot of people who've tried all of them. Whatever the case, any of the three aftermarket shifters are FAR superior to the factory POS. I was going to attempt to modify the stick on my Hurst so I could use a factory ****, but I found a good deal on a lightly used (500 miles) Pro 5.0, so I bought that instead.

 

Ahh thanks all for the info . I'm gonna try the hurst shifter out and hopefully like you've said it will make a good difference. With regards to installation its pretty much just removing the console and boots then 4 bolts on the stock shifter and pull out keeping an eye out for the plastic tube I guess thats in there ? Are those hursts pretty much just a stuff in and go or do they require alot of adjustment out of the box on the stops and tension?

Thanks to all that have shared their comments it really helped out alot
Kaycee

 

If you buy the Hurst new, it comes with instructions on how to adjust the shift stops. Pretty simple to do. All you have to do is shift it into 3rd and adjust the stop bolt until it touches the stick, then back it off half a turn and tighten the locknut. Then shift it into 4th and do the same thing. Other than that, it's just the 4 bolts and make sure to put a thin layer of RTV on the edge of the shifter opening in the trans before bolting it up. While you're there, this is also a great time to drain the fluid and change it out since the easiest way to add new fluid is by pouring it into the shifter opening. Once it starts to trickle out of the fill hole on the passenger side, you're there. Usually takes between 2-3 qts.

 

Cool deal that sounds easy enough. I didnt even think of doing the fluid change at the same time. I havent really looked close at the tranny from under the car and was wondering if it had a drain plug to remove the old fluid and if the T5 uses standard ATF like dexron III or something different.

Thanks for that tip as you say definitely alot easier from the top hehe.

Kaycee

 

Yeah, regular Dexron works great in them, and they do have a drain plug on the passenger side near the bottom. Fill plug is about in the middle on the same side.

 

Thanks Pat I guess that will be todays project.

Kaycee

 

Well got that all installed and the fluid changed out . You werent kidding on the shifter **** lol. Considering they said in the ad that it was the factory OEM thread for the **** I think they need to reinvestigate that. Now I have to find a nice handle that will work with the darn thing as I'm used to either pistol grip or T handle style ***** ;0. Do you have a link for one of those styles of handles handy by chance ?

Thanks again for all the info it helped alot
Kaycee