DIY Hurst Short Throw Shifter Install - Pix and Video

[azrickster]

Strange your bushings wore out so quickly. I have to say, I was really shocked at the lack of quality of the OEM shift mechanism. I expected better :( but really glad I installed the Hurst shifter. WAY better!

[TAG UR IT]

Originally Posted by meSSohappy

That's great....but cant find them !!!

PM Sent.

Originally Posted by CamaroJoe96

CAN ANYONE TELL ME HOW TO REMOVE THE CENTERING SPRINGS/INTERIOR RUBBER DUST BOOT(it's v6) SO THAT I CAN DROP THE SHIFTER?!
thanks

Springs? Is that an auto? I've only worked on my stick shifter.

Originally Posted by azrickster

I installed my Hurst shifter over the weekend. Took just under two hours, now that o know what to do, I can do it in about an hour. Thanks for posting the pics and video clips. It was very helpful. Love the new shifter. Looks awesome and makes driving tthe Camaro even more fun.
Rick

You got it. Now...try dropping that bad boy and tossing in those brass bushings. HOLY SH!T!!! TOTAL new shifter feel! I've had them in for what...a couple weeks now? The new feel is absolutely incredible. I would ONLY recommend this shifter with the brass bushings.

Originally Posted by azrickster

Strange your bushings wore out so quickly. I have to say, I was really shocked at the lack of quality of the OEM shift mechanism. I expected better :( but really glad I installed the Hurst shifter. WAY better!

Yeah...stock shifter SUCKED. There was SO much play with it. It was like an oar in a rowboat. Sorry GM. But I wasn't happy with that at all. In fact, if I had the cash, I'd upgrade to a 1LE with the new shifter, tranny, rear end, everything. This stock shifter was crap... from right off the bat, I KNEW I had to so something with it. Can't believe the change that was made just by adding the Hurst shifter with the bushings. WOW>

[meSSohappy]

Cant find the brass bushings...but Kenji came through and Hurst is sending me an updated set under warranty....I hope they last...will keep you guys posted.

[crashprime]

This thing is awesome, and I have had mine installed for a year. I have to ask (I know it's probably obvious to most of you and silly that I'd ask)... what will the brass bushing do vs the nylon one that came with the kit?

The feel of my shifter is still awesome. It pops right into each gear, and the only time I ever feel uneasy is when the skip shift decides to override my decision about shifting into 2nd.

[slick rick]

Originally Posted by crashprime

This thing is awesome, and I have had mine installed for a year. I have to ask (I know it's probably obvious to most of you and silly that I'd ask)... what will the brass bushing do vs the nylon one that came with the kit?

The feel of my shifter is still awesome. It pops right into each gear, and the only time I ever feel uneasy is when the skip shift decides to override my decision about shifting into 2nd.

Time to get a skip shift eliminator

[Speed2acer]

Anyone have trouble with the HURST brass bushings not fitting correctly? mine will only go in half the way and is now stuck.

[sycraft]

Originally Posted by Speed2acer

Anyone have trouble with the HURST brass bushings not fitting correctly? mine will only go in half the way and is now stuck.

Depending on which ones you have, they almost press into the shift shaft and the pin needs to be burnished to fit, it is a tight fit and so far mine is still operating perfectly.

[Raptor3141]

Just installed NH-SS's brass bushings yesterday. Burnishing was a PIA but, got it done. The problem I ran into was getting the fork perfectly aligned with the shifter to get the pin installed because the tolerances are so close.

Word of caution: I had developed a rattle in my shifter and wasn't sure what it was. When I went to remove the shifter, I found that both retaining screws has fallen out and were lying in the dust boot. Maker sure you get plenty of lock-tight (supplied with the shifter) on the threads when installing.

The result of the new bushing install wasn't even comparable. There is now NO play in the shift handle at all. Feels great.

[TAG UR IT]

Originally Posted by Speed2acer

Anyone have trouble with the HURST brass bushings not fitting correctly? mine will only go in half the way and is now stuck.

I used a vice. Aligned one on one side and pressed it in, then did the other. The problem I found was that with the brass bushings with the rubber rings, the rings popped out of the rivets and got smushed in between the brass rivet edge and the fork. Therefore, it created a tiny gap on either side which ended up causing a pain in my ass trying to get that fork to slide on on either side. There wasn't enough room.

I had to use a razor, catch the edge of the rubber ring, pull out as much as I could, and then press that somnabitch with all my might. It pushed them in near all the way and then I hauled @ss to get the shifter in and fork on before what rubber was left in the rings pushed it back out.

But it worked....and worked well. NO play. I'd use a press or vice if I was you. There's really on reason it shouldn't continue to go in.

Originally Posted by Raptor3141

Just installed NH-SS's brass bushings yesterday. Burnishing was a PIA but, got it done. The problem I ran into was getting the fork perfectly aligned with the shifter to get the pin installed because the tolerances are so close. EXACTLY.

Word of caution: I had developed a rattle in my shifter and wasn't sure what it was. When I went to remove the shifter, I found that both retaining screws has fallen out and were lying in the dust boot. Maker sure you get plenty of lock-tight (supplied with the shifter) on the threads when installing.
And never expect to take them out. Talk about a PITA!!!
The result of the new bushing install wasn't even comparable. There is now NO play in the shift handle at all. Feels great.

[45thCamaro]

Just thought I would chime in. I just received this as a birthday gift last week. I have a m6 LFX. The video hurst put up is good to watch. I probably watched it 10 times before I got it as a gift and then another 3 before i installed. Everything was going well until I couldn't get the stock shifter out. In the instructions they give you a small little blurb about the centering springs and that's it. No pictures, no tutorial nothing in the video, nothing. I wound up fighting this god forsaken thing for an hour and a half. I had snips in my hand, and was about to cut the dust boot open to see what the hell was going on. You can't take the dust boot off, and the only way you can see into it is by using your fingers to try and open it up from the small hole where the shifter goes through. It's freaking impossible. I tried screwdrivers, needle nose pliers, fingers, still couldn't get them to loosen the shifter. The springs are on both sides of the shifter, it holds up the shifter from coming out both the top nd the bottom. As a last straw, I pulled up on the shifter from inside the car. Then with it up all the way, I pulled it towards the passenger side of the vehicle and twisted and it came out. I couldn't believe it came out that way. I had to then reach back in and fix the springs because I was trying to move them around. Then i went back under the car and in probably 15 minutes I was done down there.


I tried to contact hurst to tell them how disappointed I was in their lack of instruction and guidance with this issue. I left a voicemail for someone who I was told I would have to talk to, and they never called me back. I'm disappointed that try never called me because it says to me as a consumer, "we already got your money, it's your problem now." Whereas if they would do the right thing and show people what is necessary to do the job, i would have better things to say about them. I can't say I would recommend them, solely based on the experience I have had. Yeah the shifter is nice, but had I know of the problem I would have removing the old one, I would haven't done it. Or had someone else do it. I am mechanically inclined, I just feel misguided.

It would be nice if hurst would get back to me, but I'm sure they are too busy counting their $$.

[meSSohappy]

Originally Posted by meSSohappy

Cant find the brass bushings...but Kenji came through and Hurst is sending me an updated set under warranty....I hope they last...will keep you guys posted.

Hey Kenji, I havent received these bushings yet? Your sales rep said no tracking available...can you please check on the delivery for me...Thanks!

[45thCAMARO 2SS/RS]

I don't mean to crash the page, but i have a 2012 camaro n it has the hurst shifter but is there a difference from that hurst to the one with the white ball? Or is it still the same short shifts and its more of a different look?

[45thCamaro]

It's probably just the lower stick attachment that they changed. Try popping off your 4 pack gauges and the 4 screws that hold the boot on and look to see if you have the 2 screws holding on the upper stick. If its not 2 pieces I might not be hurst.

[TAG UR IT]

Originally Posted by 45thCamaro

Just thought I would chime in. I just received this as a birthday gift last week. I have a m6 LFX. The video hurst put up is good to watch. I probably watched it 10 times before I got it as a gift and then another 3 before i installed. Everything was going well until I couldn't get the stock shifter out. In the instructions they give you a small little blurb about the centering springs and that's it. No pictures, no tutorial nothing in the video, nothing. I wound up fighting this god forsaken thing for an hour and a half. I had snips in my hand, and was about to cut the dust boot open to see what the hell was going on. You can't take the dust boot off, and the only way you can see into it is by using your fingers to try and open it up from the small hole where the shifter goes through. It's freaking impossible. I tried screwdrivers, needle nose pliers, fingers, still couldn't get them to loosen the shifter. The springs are on both sides of the shifter, it holds up the shifter from coming out both the top nd the bottom. As a last straw, I pulled up on the shifter from inside the car. Then with it up all the way, I pulled it towards the passenger side of the vehicle and twisted and it came out. I couldn't believe it came out that way. I had to then reach back in and fix the springs because I was trying to move them around. Then i went back under the car and in probably 15 minutes I was done down there.


I tried to contact hurst to tell them how disappointed I was in their lack of instruction and guidance with this issue. I left a voicemail for someone who I was told I would have to talk to, and they never called me back. I'm disappointed that try never called me because it says to me as a consumer, "we already got your money, it's your problem now." Whereas if they would do the right thing and show people what is necessary to do the job, i would have better things to say about them. I can't say I would recommend them, solely based on the experience I have had. Yeah the shifter is nice, but had I know of the problem I would have removing the old one, I would haven't done it. Or had someone else do it. I am mechanically inclined, I just feel misguided.

It would be nice if hurst would get back to me, but I'm sure they are too busy counting their $$.

From what I remembered, the instructions were for the V8 shifters only. It's been a LONG time. I honestly don't have any idea what you were talking about with springs and hate to say that if you would have asked, I wouldn't have been able to tell you. Sorry... Would liked to have helped.

Originally Posted by 45thCAMARO 2SS/RS

I don't mean to crash the page, but i have a 2012 camaro n it has the hurst shifter but is there a difference from that hurst to the one with the white ball? Or is it still the same short shifts and its more of a different look?

You have the stock GM hurst shifter. Nothing wrong with it. If I were you, I'd stick with it. This H shifter (with the white ball) has a tiny bit shorter throw. It's a great shifter and with the brass bushings...really can't be beat (IMHO).