Afternarket shifter preference

[lisekplx]

So looks like I’m having a similar issue with the ipsco shifter making contact against part of the center console support . Mark said to install new poly trans mount and cross member. Can’t tell if there is any vibration yet because I’m still waiting on more parts to come in before I can start it. Anyone that run into this issue , did the mount and x member fix it or anything else that needs to be done ? Thanks

[MrCreosote]

Interesting thread - makes me wonder if there is more to my MGW shifter than just the knob and short stalk.

Previous owner of my 96 put the full MGW Monte: Shifter, glove box lid cup holder and boat anchor, gas cap cover, and 4 metal tire stem caps. All with the nice red jewel like inlays. (sadly, all the stem caps have long since been lost.) NOTE: The MGW stuff was installed before 2002. I don't know if I have more than just the MGW shifter knob - the stalk was very short so maybe I have the whole enchilada?

But I had a new 2000 GTS at the time.

The short MGW was simply not enough mechanical advantage to bull through a single cone T56. After driving the MGW, driving the 2000 was like shifter "power steering."

I decided that I need a crow bar shifter solution for the MGW. Since I liked the look of this MGW stuff, I machined a 2" stalk extender to give me more mechanical advantage.

Now the MGW was a joy to shift.

MY DILEMA: Am I too shopping for an improved shifter?

The talk of the IPSCO making a drastic improvement on eliminating the "money shift" really caught my eye: you see, I let a knowledgeable guy (has driven over 200 mph at Bonneville) drive my MGW 96 and he achieved the dreaded money shift. Fortunately, only egos were damaged. So I get two impressions from this thread: the IPSCO eliminates the money shift and the early MGW was a big improvement. I think I may have that "good MGW" but don't know. Don't know if the IPSCO would be an improvement. Don't know if any improvement over my MGW is possible.

[Steve M]

Personally, I'll never buy another aftermarket shifter unless I can try one first.

I chased my tail for years on my old T-56 equipped Camaro when it came to shifters - it had a Hurst from the factory, and I ended up trying B&M and MGW shifters over the 9 years I had it. At the time, everyone seemed to be going for the shortest throw possible without any regard for the higher shift effort that came along with it. They were also installing super short knobs that made you feel like you were reaching down in a hole to shift. I was not a fan of either trend - I felt like my MGW required a LOT of effort to get into any gear. The B&M required the least, and was probably my favorite of the shifters I tried. I should have just left well enough alone, but sometimes you just have to make mistakes (and waste $$$) on your way to understanding what you like vs. what you don't.

Due to that experience, I've not touched the stock shifter on my '08, minus swapping in a shorter knob from a '10 ACR to replace the original telephone pole. It reminds me a lot of the B&M I had in my old Camaro; moderate shift effort, short throws, and a really nice feel when engaging any gear.

Any missed shifts in my '08 have been a direct result of poor technique, specifically poor hand placement. I fixed the technique issues, and haven't had an issue since. If shifting fast matters (and it does in drag racing), you have to practice, practice, practice. I'm still not great, but I've gotten much better over the nearly 20 years I've been driving a manual.

[AZTVR]

Interesting thread - makes me wonder if there is more to my MGW shifter than just the knob and short stalk.

...
So I get two impressions from this thread: the IPSCO eliminates the money shift and the early MGW was a big improvement. I think I may have that "good MGW" but don't know. Don't know if the IPSCO would be an improvement. Don't know if any improvement over my MGW is possible.

I did not think that MGW made a short throw shifter assembly to fit a Gen 2; but, I do not know for sure. (I thought that it was too tall for Gen 2 fitment.) Others might know for sure.

[71firebird400]

I've had an MGW in an F-body and the IPSCO in a Gen 2 Viper. Similar feel but the shifter height will definitely affect it. I do not like the stubby little shifters some folks run and opted to use the IPSCO with a 1" shifter lowering kit that was compatible with the stock knob. That combination places the knob at approximately the same height as stock, which gives me my desired level of compromise between effort and shift-throw length.

[GTS Dean]

I posted about my troubles with the initial IPSCO install somewhere in another thread, but this seems the right place to summarize results. I ran the stocker with an upgraded urethane tailshaft bushing for decades. I bought the IPSCO, used the urethane bushing and OE x-member and had interference issues almost from the get-go. It would not go into reverse but one time in about 10-12 tries. I pried the tail shaft around to the limit of tolerance and improved it only slightly. The trans shop I used removed the bushing preload plate and milled down the mounting plate a bit. After that, it has worked fine with no more vibration against the ash tray box-out. I went ahead and bought Mark's very nice crossmember to install the next time I have a notion to do so.

I also decided the OE isolator under the shifter ball was just too tall. I ended up installing the longest short one that IPSCO makes and it places the gear knob pretty close to OE height.

The gate springs, particularly on the 5-6 side, are quite a bit stiffer than OE. On my first foray at the track, I missed a 4-5 upshift because I wasn't being firm enough. I still have plenty of leverage, so I just have to be more attentive to that one all the time.

Overall, everything IPSCO manufactures is an excellent product at a solid value level.

[Old School]

In my humble opinion, the t56 needs a shifter upgrade while the tr6060 does not. The tr6060 already has a much shorter throw due to the reduced slider movement needed to make a shift inside the trans.

[MrCreosote]

OT BUT: I just read a claim that you cannot get individual Viper gears for the TR6060 from Tremec - you can only buy the complete transmission.

[Fatboy 18]

I had the stock shift gate in my car, then tried the screw in longer and shorter shift levers, was still not impressed, but there were other issues too. New Polly Motor mounts and transmission mounts also made a massive improvement to shifting. I then went to the Hurst shifter, the shaft length is fixed. After install I found I had to cut a small area on top of the trans tunnel to allow the shifter to engage Reverse.
No big deal and I have been very happy ever since. Not missed a gear now at all, and am much more confident driving on track.

The Mgw and Ipsco shifters also look really well made, I cant comment on performance because I have never driven a Viper with those fitted. All I can say is I love my Hurst.

[USAFPILOT]

I bought the ipsco shifter and will be having it installed soon. I was under the impression my stock shift knob will work with it, am I wrong? Do I need an adapter? 93 RT10 I've already installed new poly engine mounts and transmission mount, but so far still have the stock cross member. I do need reverse pretty often, at least to leave my garage.

[Fatboy 18]

This is where I had to noch out on the Hurst, but you don't have to do this on the Ipsco shifter

[Viper98]

Stock shift knob will work with IPSCO shifter. I used the short shaft. I like the stock look. I street drive with some spirited driving. No track time. A ball would, probably, be a better track choice. No mod required. Don’t be surprised to find the inner shift boot dried and cracked like crazy. A lot of heat gets in that area.

[GTS Dean]

I bought the ipsco shifter and will be having it installed soon. 93 RT10 I've already installed new poly engine mounts and transmission mount, but so far still have the stock cross member. I do need reverse pretty often, at least to leave my garage.

Buy his crossmember. Period.

[USAFPILOT]

The Ipsco cross member? Will do I guess.

Update: that shifter is designed for 96-02 Gen2 Vipers. Is it backwards compatible with Gen1? I think that’s why I didn’t buy it and only the poly mount last time I looked at it.

Thanks