2011 2SS Manual Shifter Improvement

[Tomd27858]

I have had this Camaro for about 2 years and have put 10k on it. I have never been happy with the shifter. I did a bit of searching regarding the MGW and the Hurst shifters. I was reluctant to order one since I will be doing all of the work on my back on jack stands or ramps. I love tinkering but it just seemed like a huge pain...also it isn't a daily driver.

Anyhow, we took the ole girl out for a couple hour drive and the stiff...hard to get in 1st or 5th shifter started getting on my nerves. I had made up my mind that something had to get done. My Trans Am shifts like butter....and is 12 years older....

When I got home, I pulled the trim and the gauge cluster from around shifter to get my thoughts together. I looked at the upper boot and popped it loose. I got to thinking....maybe after 11 years things just need a little love. I took a needle oiler with synthetic oil and dripped it down the shift lever. Figured it couldn't hurt. Worked the shifter a bit and wow!....It is better.

Giggled to the wife and discussed the placebo effect that all men suffer from. She drove it up to the store to pick up a few things and shrugged her shoulders and said it did make a difference. It has been several days since I drove it. I needed to change the light bulbs in the garage so I moved the Camaro out of the way. I was like...wow! all over again. It made a huge difference. Placebo effect wore off and things were still better.

I just thought I'd share with the group. It is not a MGW shifter by any means. It is a step in the right direction though.

Blue skies!

[SS376]

Interesting. I put a Raceseng weighted shiftknob on mine and amazingly it made a really noticeable difference.

[chef-beavis]

I did the MGW in my early 40s, with jackstands. Put it in my 2010, changed it back to stock, and reinstalled it in my 2013. It's really not too bad.

[hesster]

I went with the Hurst Shifter and the Hurst "Pit Pack" addition. Significant improvement over stock. Then added a Raceseng Ashiko 1.6lb Shift Knob to replace the weenie Hurst ball. Better yet.

https://www.phastekperformance.com/2...gs-3326030.htm

[demonspeed]

Love my MGW. I was always a Pro 5.0 guy in third and fourth gens, but MGW makes a nice piece that’s worth the money. I’m not sure how anyone could stand the sloppy, long throws of stock. Even the OE Hurst shifters are slushy. Nonetheless, if it’s an improvement for you then it’s a win.

[acammer]

I'll go ahead and be the contrarian here - I think that the stock shifter is really pretty decent. My 2011 had a aftermarket Hurst Billet Two Plus in it when I bought it - and it was junk. It was noisy, it was sloppy, but the worst part was that it really caused trouble getting the car to reliably shift when driven aggressively. I've had stick cars my whole life, and that shifter genuinely made me feel like I didn't know what I was doing.

Now, I'm aware that they make a "Pit Pack" which has a different bushing set and tightens it up a little. I'd contend that they ought to just sell it that way, knowing how problematic it is. Dollars and cents I'm sure driving those decisions. I can imagine that with good bushings and a heavier ball it probably could be decent - but that wasn't my experience at all.

I tried a different master cylinder, bleeding the clutch, running Redline D4 ATF, but what cured my poor shifting was simply getting my hands on an OEM shifter and swapping that in. Instantly resolved every problem I had with the trans. So, I have little love for the aftermarket Hurst.

The stock shifter has been just fine. I think an MGW would potentially be an upgrade, but not a substantial one. Maybe for a circuit raced car the stronger centering would be more important to me, but my car primarily sees drag, and the stock shift has been plenty adequate. Sounds like the original poster has found much the same.

[demonspeed]

Andrew, Hurst shifters suck. Period. They’re only popular due to the nostalgia factor. I’ve been into drag racing for two decades and a shorter, quicker, tighter shifter is one of the best mods - and one of the first - I’ve always done. If we were closer I’d be more than happy to let you abuse mine to prove it

[NOT A 45]

Originally Posted by hesster

I went with the Hurst Shifter and the Hurst "Pit Pack" addition. Significant improvement over stock. Then added a Raceseng Ashiko 1.6lb Shift Knob to replace the weenie Hurst ball. Better yet.

https://www.phastekperformance.com/2...gs-3326030.htm

Is it just me, or is the shift pattern on the knob different than the one on the bezel?

I ordered my 13 2ss with only 2 options.....NPP and the Hurst shifter. Had I known about the 1LE that box would have been checked also! Anyhow I'm very happy with the factory Hurst shifter.

[acammer]

Originally Posted by demonspeed

Andrew, Hurst shifters suck. Period. They’re only popular due to the nostalgia factor. I’ve been into drag racing for two decades and a shorter, quicker, tighter shifter is one of the best mods - and one of the first - I’ve always done. If we were closer I’d be more than happy to let you abuse mine to prove it

I've driven a few MGW cars, C5Z06, couple 5th gens. I definitely don't dislike it, crisp and short is nice, but in my experience, the trans and clutch release by far more limiting factors than the shifter, especially the early 2010-2011 Camaro TR6060s - they kinda suck!

[mickss]

Try Amsoil Manual Synchromesh Transmission Fluid.
https://www.amsoil.com/p/manual-sync...uid-5w-30-mtf/

[sscamaro]

I've had the Hurst Billet shifter in my SS since I got it in 2009. Quick shifts, doesn't rattle and I like it for the nostalgia. It now has 71K miles on it.

[Arogg]

I have the hurst, put it in about 5 or 6 years ago. I dont dislike it per say but every few months i get the itch to maybe order an MGW

[demonspeed]

Originally Posted by acammer

I've driven a few MGW cars, C5Z06, couple 5th gens. I definitely don't dislike it, crisp and short is nice, but in my experience, the trans and clutch release by far more limiting factors than the shifter, especially the early 2010-2011 Camaro TR6060s - they kinda suck!

Everyone has their own technique, so perhaps that throw works perfect for your shifting and pedal modulation. It’s all in the hips, it’s all in the hips…

[acammer]

Originally Posted by demonspeed

Everyone has their own technique, so perhaps that throw works perfect for your shifting and pedal modulation. It’s all in the hips, it’s all in the hips…

For sure - she loves the hip action!