I hear you, and agree with what you're saying about the Billet just looking like a better unit. Did yours come with new shifter bushings in the kit?
I'm not sure what you mean by shifter bushings. The whole shifter is unbolted from the transmission and replaced. The pic you posted of the Billet is missing the rubber boots that protect the mechanism.
Here is one of the best shifter install guides I've found, for any shifter. If you don't find the bushings there, they don't exist.
GET THE BILLETT!!! Definitely 2 man job with some beers. Had mine on the car for about 100 miles now and has broken in very well. Definitely some more tranny noise coming through in city driving but i kinda like it. I literally shift with my fingers instead of my whole arm
Did you install yourself? Overall - how happy are with the Billet, any complaints? Did you leave the boot off? Seems like it would look cool exposed...Thanks for the Info... Asking all these questions because I am close to pulling the triger for one...
Quote:
Originally Posted by fattirewilly
I'm running the Billet. Its night and day difference from the stocker. If your not aware, B&M now owns Hurst.
GMM and B&M were the first shirters for the Monaro. GMM was consistantly favored over the B&M by many. B&M seemed more difficult to install correctly as people had problems with stuff coming apart. The GMM doesn't have a real short throw and some complain about the hand coming close to or touching the radio. The GMM doesn't use a linkage, it goes direct to the tranny, probably a plus for positive feel, but a negative for noise. For a short shifting GMM, you need to add a Lou's Short Stick to it and by then you're in Billet territory price wise.
I don't know anything about the Hurst performance, but looking at the pics, I'm happy with the Billet. The springs in the Billet are stout. When I first installed, reverse almost required two hands. They loosen some, but my wife doesn't like to drive it cause its to stiff for her. I love it, the rubber feel is gone, shifting is like "click, click". Downside is some tranny noise under acceleration, but maybe I just need to move the stops on the shifter a touch.
Did you install yourself? Overall - how happy are with the Billet, any complaints? Did you leave the boot off? Seems like it would look cool exposed...Thanks for the Info... Asking all these questions because I am close to pulling the triger for one...
My neighbor and I did it. I'm no mechanic but change oil, install speakers, and do other minor work like brake pads. I didn't install my Pedders Street II, although I know I could have done half of it. I consider a clutch install over my head, but would be tempted if the install guide was as good as the Billet guide.
Do not leave any boot or other sound deadening device off, it will only detract from your enjoyment of any shifter you select.
Prior to the Billet, when at a stop, I always shifted to first "twice" before letting out the clutch. The tranny had a habit of sometime not quite being in first, and it would pop out with a grind or clunk. The Billet did not cure this issue. I thought it made it better, but it still happened. I go into first twice now without even thinking about it.
The Billet takes some strength to operate initially. It should be installed in the highest setting (which is still lower than competitors) for leverage. The springs break in some and its all good. As I mentioned, my wife still finds it to stiff to drive comfortably, which is probably a positive in my book....
1-2 is a given, regardless of the shifter except with the Billet, its so short you don't need to lift the elbow, you can shift with your finger tips. 2nd to 3rd is absolute money. The 5th/4th/3rd downshift is money too. The centering tension pulling toward the center of the shift pattern is really good.
I'm not claiming perfection, I've done a single ham fisted missed shift from 3rd to 2nd in one of about a dozen 1/4 mile runs with the Billet (got excited, changed my regular grip), but missed fair amount more on the road prior to the Billet. 5th to 6th requires the same focus, palm away effort as the stocker so as not to end up in 4th, which happens to me frequently when I'm lazy or not paying attention.
Regarding grip, I read somewhere that the proper T-56 technique professed by all the Vette guys is for the thumb to be pointed down the shifter shaft. This helps prevent mis-shifts. I adopted that grip technique and it seems to work. Any thoughts on this?
Last edited by fattirewilly : 05-16-2008 at 07:27 PM.
GET THE BILLETT!!! Definitely 2 man job with some beers. Had mine on the car for about 100 miles now and has broken in very well. Definitely some more tranny noise coming through in city driving but i kinda like it. I literally shift with my fingers instead of my whole arm
+1 on the finger shifts! Try setting the stops off the shaft just a hair....let me know if that fixes all the vibration.
Last edited by fattirewilly : 05-17-2008 at 02:46 PM.
My neighbor and I did it. I'm no mechanic but change oil, install speakers, and do other minor work like brake pads. I didn't install my Pedders Street II, although I know I could have done half of it. I consider a clutch install over my head, but would be tempted if the install guide was as good as the Billet guide.
Do not leave any boot or other sound deadening device off, it will only detract from your enjoyment of any shifter you select.
Prior to the Billet, when at a stop, I always shifted to first "twice" before letting out the clutch. The tranny had a habit of sometime not quite being in first, and it would pop out with a grind or clunk. The Billet did not cure this issue. I thought it made it better, but it still happened. I go into first twice now without even thinking about it.
The Billet takes some strength to operate initially. It should be installed in the highest setting (which is still lower that competitors) for leverage. The springs break in some and its all good. As I mentioned, my wife still finds it to stiff to drive comfortably, which is probably a positive in my book....
1-2 is a given, regardless of the shifter except with the Billet, its so short you don't need to lift the elbow, you can shift with your finger tips. 2nd to 3rd is absolute money. The 5th/4th/3rd downshift is money too. The centering tension pulling toward the center of the shift pattern is really good.
I'm not claiming perfection, I've done a single ham fisted missed shift from 3rd to 2nd in one of about a dozen 1/4 mile runs with the Billet (got excited, changed my regular grip), but missed fair amount more on the road prior to the Billet. 5th to 6th requires the same focus, palm away effort as the stocker so as not to end up in 4th, which happens to me frequently when I'm lazy or not paying attention.
Regarding grip, I read somewhere that the proper T-56 technique professed by all the Vette guys is for the thumb to be pointed down the shifter shaft. This helps prevent mis-shifts. I adopted that grip technique and it seems to work. Any thoughts on this?
I'd definitely recommend the Billet Pro shifter. Yeah it costs a bit more than the others but, if you look at the quality of it compared to the others, it's easy to see why. Not that I'm advicating the price mind you. I still think it's pretty steep but that's the "price" we pay for driving a car that not many others own.
I have yet to hear anyone complain about the Billet shifter, other than how hard it is to shift during the break-in period. I have however heard many horror stories involving the competition, including the long awaited Hurst shifter. For piece-of-mind, I'd rather spend the extra $$$ and only have to do the install once, rather than having my POS shifter break and then have to spend the $$$ to replace it. JMO though...
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Hi all:
I installed the Hurst shifter by myself in my garage with my personal tools. I have a great love for this unit. It is easy to install. Wonderful shifter, don't miss it. I would highly recommend it,
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Asking all these questions because I am close to pulling the triger for one...
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