Best aftermarket T5 shifter?
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 26
Likes: 0
From: Kentucky
Car: 1985 Z-28
Engine: 355 cid
Transmission: T5
Axle/Gears: 3.73
Best aftermarket T5 shifter?
Just finished the auto-T5 swap, looking for a good shifter to top it off.
I hear good things about the Hurst Billet/Plus. Is it the best/most comfortable shifter out there? Let's hear it!
I hear good things about the Hurst Billet/Plus. Is it the best/most comfortable shifter out there? Let's hear it!
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 6,530
Likes: 94
From: Aridzona
Car: `86 SS / `87 SS
Engine: L69 w/ TPI on top / 305 4bbl
Transmission: `95 T56 \ `88 200-4R
Re: Best aftermarket T5 shifter?
the adjustable hurst comp/plus was good to me when I ran a T5.
Supreme Member
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 2,412
Likes: 0
From: St Catharines, ON
Car: '85 Z28
Engine: 350
Transmission: T5
Axle/Gears: 3.23
Re: Best aftermarket T5 shifter?
I love my Hurst Billet Plus, I got it used on here. However, the Pro 5.0 is very highly praised on these boards and looks like a very nice piece! If I was buying new I'd give it a try.
Supreme Member
iTrader: (1)
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 2,565
Likes: 10
From: Texas
Car: 1992 Formula Firebird
Engine: 305CID (LB9)
Transmission: World Class T5
Axle/Gears: 10-bolt, 4.10 gears
Re: Best aftermarket T5 shifter?
I'm using a B&M Ripper here. I like it a lot.
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 27,996
Likes: 2,485
Car: Yes
Engine: Usually
Transmission: Sometimes
Axle/Gears: Behind me somewhere
Re: Best aftermarket T5 shifter?
Comp Plus here, in the car since about 85.
IMO you can't go wrong with any of em... seems like anybody that has any one of the replacement ones, LOVES it. They're all so much better than stock, it's astounding. Hard to believe GM would equip us with something THAT crappy.
Personally I don't like a bunch of bling, so I made a bushing so I could put my stock **** on the Comp Plus. You couldn't tell it had been swapped just to look at it.
IMO you can't go wrong with any of em... seems like anybody that has any one of the replacement ones, LOVES it. They're all so much better than stock, it's astounding. Hard to believe GM would equip us with something THAT crappy.
Personally I don't like a bunch of bling, so I made a bushing so I could put my stock **** on the Comp Plus. You couldn't tell it had been swapped just to look at it.
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 12,228
Likes: 1,156
From: Il
Car: 1989-92 FORMULA350 305 92 Hawkclone
Engine: 4++,350 & 305 CIs
Transmission: 700R4 4800 vig 18th700R4 t56 ZF6 T5
Axle/Gears: 3.70 9"ford alum chunk,dana44,9bolt
Re: Best aftermarket T5 shifter?
For normal driving and powershifting I like the Pro 5.0.
Waaay better than anything I ever used on a T5. IMO
Waaay better than anything I ever used on a T5. IMO
Supreme Member
iTrader: (1)
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 2,565
Likes: 10
From: Texas
Car: 1992 Formula Firebird
Engine: 305CID (LB9)
Transmission: World Class T5
Axle/Gears: 10-bolt, 4.10 gears
Re: Best aftermarket T5 shifter?
Comp Plus here, in the car since about 85.
IMO you can't go wrong with any of em... seems like anybody that has any one of the replacement ones, LOVES it. They're all so much better than stock, it's astounding. Hard to believe GM would equip us with something THAT crappy.
Personally I don't like a bunch of bling, so I made a bushing so I could put my stock **** on the Comp Plus. You couldn't tell it had been swapped just to look at it.
IMO you can't go wrong with any of em... seems like anybody that has any one of the replacement ones, LOVES it. They're all so much better than stock, it's astounding. Hard to believe GM would equip us with something THAT crappy.
Personally I don't like a bunch of bling, so I made a bushing so I could put my stock **** on the Comp Plus. You couldn't tell it had been swapped just to look at it.
Trending Topics
Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 413
Likes: 1
From: O'Fallon Mo.
Car: 1992 Camaro
Engine: HSR 355, afr 195s, xfi280, Holley e
Transmission: t-5
Axle/Gears: Braced 10 bolt Auburn and 3.73s
Re: Best aftermarket T5 shifter?
Pro 5.0 all the way i've had stock and the hurst and the 5.0 is night and day to me. the hurst seemed to be to long. love the 5.0!!!
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 520
Likes: 2
From: Fallston, Maryland
Car: 1989 Trans Am GTA
Engine: 350
Transmission: T56
Axle/Gears: 9 Bolt 3.70
Re: Best aftermarket T5 shifter?
I've had both the B&M Ripper and Pro 5.0 on my T5. Both are good, but I prefer the Pro 5.0. The Pro 5.0 is a bit notchier shifting than the B&M, but I personally like that as there's no question as to what gear you're in. And to me, it seemed like the throws on the Pro 5.0 were a bit shorter than the B&M.
Unlike the Hurst shifter, the B&M and Pro 5.0 sticks accept a stock shift ****, which is a plus if you like to keep things looking original.
Like stated before, ANYTHING is going to be an improvement over the stock shifter.
Unlike the Hurst shifter, the B&M and Pro 5.0 sticks accept a stock shift ****, which is a plus if you like to keep things looking original.
Like stated before, ANYTHING is going to be an improvement over the stock shifter.
Supreme Member
iTrader: (1)
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 2,565
Likes: 10
From: Texas
Car: 1992 Formula Firebird
Engine: 305CID (LB9)
Transmission: World Class T5
Axle/Gears: 10-bolt, 4.10 gears
Re: Best aftermarket T5 shifter?
I've had both the B&M Ripper and Pro 5.0 on my T5. Both are good, but I prefer the Pro 5.0. The Pro 5.0 is a bit notchier shifting than the B&M, but I personally like that as there's no question as to what gear you're in. And to me, it seemed like the throws on the Pro 5.0 were a bit shorter than the B&M.
Unlike the Hurst shifter, the B&M and Pro 5.0 sticks accept a stock shift ****, which is a plus if you like to keep things looking original.
Like stated before, ANYTHING is going to be an improvement over the stock shifter.
Unlike the Hurst shifter, the B&M and Pro 5.0 sticks accept a stock shift ****, which is a plus if you like to keep things looking original.
Like stated before, ANYTHING is going to be an improvement over the stock shifter.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 26
Likes: 0
From: Kentucky
Car: 1985 Z-28
Engine: 355 cid
Transmission: T5
Axle/Gears: 3.73
Re: Best aftermarket T5 shifter?
Great info all, thanks. I'm leaning toward the Hurst Billet/Plus or the B&M Ripper, so here is my next question.
I'd like to run the black leather "H" **** that SLP sells. Will this **** fit either of those shifters? I can't seem to find the thread size listed for it anywhere, and some of these replies have stated that the Hurst doesn't accept a stock style (thread type?) ****.
I'd like to run the black leather "H" **** that SLP sells. Will this **** fit either of those shifters? I can't seem to find the thread size listed for it anywhere, and some of these replies have stated that the Hurst doesn't accept a stock style (thread type?) ****.
Last edited by 5 'O THIS; Sep 23, 2011 at 07:57 AM.
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 6,530
Likes: 94
From: Aridzona
Car: `86 SS / `87 SS
Engine: L69 w/ TPI on top / 305 4bbl
Transmission: `95 T56 \ `88 200-4R
Re: Best aftermarket T5 shifter?
Great info all, thanks. I'm leaning toward the Hurst Billet/Plus or the B&M Ripper, so here is my next question.
I'd like to run the black leather "H" **** that SLP sells. Will this **** fit either of those shifters? I can't seem to find the thread size listed for it anywhere, and some of these replies have stated that the Hurst doesn't accept a stock style (thread type?) ****.
I'd like to run the black leather "H" **** that SLP sells. Will this **** fit either of those shifters? I can't seem to find the thread size listed for it anywhere, and some of these replies have stated that the Hurst doesn't accept a stock style (thread type?) ****.
Hurst makes other sticks which will fit the billet/plus but I don't think any have stock size thread.
One of the best features of the comp/plus (and I assume billet/plus) was the splined mating surface between stick and shifter base. I don't know if any of the short-stick sellers out there could add that to one of theirs for you.
So a bushing to adapt 3/8-24 thread to M16 x 1.5 thread it is.
Supreme Member
iTrader: (1)
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 2,565
Likes: 10
From: Texas
Car: 1992 Formula Firebird
Engine: 305CID (LB9)
Transmission: World Class T5
Axle/Gears: 10-bolt, 4.10 gears
Re: Best aftermarket T5 shifter?
Great info all, thanks. I'm leaning toward the Hurst Billet/Plus or the B&M Ripper, so here is my next question.
I'd like to run the black leather "H" **** that SLP sells. Will this **** fit either of those shifters? I can't seem to find the thread size listed for it anywhere, and some of these replies have stated that the Hurst doesn't accept a stock style (thread type?) ****.
I'd like to run the black leather "H" **** that SLP sells. Will this **** fit either of those shifters? I can't seem to find the thread size listed for it anywhere, and some of these replies have stated that the Hurst doesn't accept a stock style (thread type?) ****.
Supreme Member
iTrader: (1)
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 1,132
Likes: 12
From: Aloha, Oregon
Car: '91 Camaro Z28, '85 Camaro Z28
Engine: LB9, LB9
Transmission: T5, 700r4
Axle/Gears: Eaton 3.73 Posi, 3.23 Posi
Re: Best aftermarket T5 shifter?
I've had experience with the Hurst, B&M, and Pro-5.0. The Hurst has a very positive feel for gear engagement and a nice strong spring to center the lever. The stick is nice looking but too long IMO, barely shorter than stock, though the throw is shorter.
The B&M has a much smoother gear engagement, softer return spring, but has a 30% shorter throw than stock, and the stick is shorter than the Hurst which makes it much more confortable to drive with.
The Pro-5.0 has a nice firm and crisp gear engagement, absolutely no slop, a nice strong return spring like the Hurst And is much shorter in both throw and height than either the Hurst or B&M.
I'd rate them as such...
1: Pro-5.0 (by far)
2: B&M
3: Hurst
The B&M has a much smoother gear engagement, softer return spring, but has a 30% shorter throw than stock, and the stick is shorter than the Hurst which makes it much more confortable to drive with.
The Pro-5.0 has a nice firm and crisp gear engagement, absolutely no slop, a nice strong return spring like the Hurst And is much shorter in both throw and height than either the Hurst or B&M.
I'd rate them as such...
1: Pro-5.0 (by far)
2: B&M
3: Hurst
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post











