Adam2001WS6

iTrader: (1)

What is it that makes a shifter feel "notchy"?? I hate the feeling. If any has driven any Japanese or German car, the shifter feels effortless to get into any of the gears. How can you achieve that on an F-body?

Thanks,

Adam

MeentSS02

iTrader: (11)

Get rid of the T-56.

Adam2001WS6

iTrader: (1)

That's not an option right now. Is that seriously the only remedy?

MeentSS02

iTrader: (11)

It's a big part of the problem...the T-56 is notoriously notchy. I understand where you are coming from...if my Camaro could shift as smoothly as my wife's 6-speed Celica, I'd do it in a heartbeat. Then again, that Celica transmission most likely couldn't handle the torque that a stock (much less modded) LS1 puts out.

The shifter is a small part of the problem - people seem to complain about the Pro 5.0 the most. I have had the stock Hurst, a B&M Ripper, and now an MGW - they are all somewhat notchy. Cold weather makes it even worse.

qwikz28

iTrader: (12)

A buddy of mine had a Rockland Standard Gear T56 and it was very smooth shifting. That being said, I have had the same shifters as Meents and my car is also super notchy.

Adam2001WS6

iTrader: (1)

I wasn't trying to pin point the shifter in and of itself, but more WHAT is it that make the T-56 shifter so finicky. Is there something internally that wears that makes it so or is it just the nature of this type of trans?

qwikz28

iTrader: (12)

That's a great question actually. I'd like to know that as well.

Jwright41

iTrader: (2)

Same here!!

Jwright41

iTrader: (2)

Happen to have an idea of what he paid for it? Saw the site and read but didnt see any prices.

therealcreeper

iTrader: (37)

some people have good luck with this:
https://ls1tech.com/forums/manual-tr...-feel-mod.html

my car also responded very well to synchromesh, ATF shifted like garbage since day 1 of my rebuild. I don't care what GM recommends, I really don't think the transmission would have lasted more than 20k miles with how bad it felt. (I wouldn't recommend it unless you have the updated blocker rings though)

beyond that I think the stock shifter stick helps reduce some of the notch since you have more leverage, but other than that I really don't know what more you can do

Jwright41

iTrader: (2)

Thanks for the help. Going to try it this weekend and see.

Mike454SS

iTrader: (4)

Get Kirban to put their F-Body T56 shifter back into production...I have worn out a few of their shifters in my time, and have since made my own for my car basically exacly the same as their design (yes, I only made 1 for myself, no I won't make one for you)...and it feels VERY smooth, you basically can't miss a gear with it, and the throws aren't ridiculously unnecessarilly short...anyone who thinks they can shift a wicked short throw shifter faster than I can shift my Kirban stuff...needs to stop sniffing glue.

My friend has an MGW in his TA...I tried to drive it last week, on friday night, and the first thing I said to him as I put the car in gear was "wow, I hate your shifter...no offense...I just hate it"...I felt bad...but if my transmission felt like that, I wouldn't drive my car...and I KNOW his car with a stock shifter, felt exactly the same as mine did when it had a stock shifter, and I'm sure there's nothing actually wrong with his transmission.

Another means of making a T56 feel better, is the newer style synchro's used in the vette's and SSR's and such.

Jwright41

iTrader: (2)

Mike454SS - which synchros would you recommend for a 2002 M6? Want to make my shift as smooth as I can.

killagt

iTrader: (3)

I drive many friend T56, and none is smooth. btw ( when u say smooth, u mean butter knife cut ? ). Cause u wont get butter knife cut feel on any t56.

Jimmy P

iTrader: (177)

I am also interested which synchros can make a M6 shift smoother. Does "upgrading" the trans make it shift notchier? Like using billet keys and all that good stuff?

Mike454SS

iTrader: (4)

Not true at all, if you were sitting in my Camaro's drivers seat you'd see exactly what I mean...there is NO notchiness.

Mike454SS

iTrader: (4)

It's really not as simple as just changing synchro's, the triple cone style synchro's that the newer T56's use require other modofications to work...they CAN work, in an F-Body, but it will be a very expensive overhaul of your cars gearbox using mostly C5 or C6 T56 internals, a bump in mainshaft size/spline count, and a new slipyoke for your driveshaft to fit that new mainshaft.

However, like I said, find a 93-2002 T56 F-Body with a Kirban shifter on it, and see how it feels...it's AWESOME...get them to go back into production, or get another aftermarket company to realize...it's not always about having the shifter only move half an inch between gears...some of us prefer a longer throw if it can be really smooth and precise.

I've actually had one friend (who's used to external rail transmissions) sit in my car, and say "it moves so easily and smoothly it feels like it's broken"...but there's NO slop in it at all, and there's nothing wrong with my transmission at all, nothing ever grinds, no synchro's ever fight to go into a gear, I can shift it as fast as I want, and I'm never ever unsure which gear I'm putting it into...which is really nice when I'm about to bounce off the rev limiter on a drag strip...as long as it's not EXTREMELY cold.

When the car is very very cold, like snow on the ground, and everything is frozen, and you feel your nose hairs freeze as you breath in...yeah, it shifts a little funky for the first half a mile...and then after that it's completely normal again.

Jwright41

iTrader: (2)

Wow that sounds like fun...will be looking for that shifter then. Sounds a lot easier and cheaper than the overhaul.

Mike454SS

iTrader: (4)

I hope you find one...I've let a LOT of people drive my cars (or at least sit in the drivers seats...yes I've used this shifter in multiple cars) and have never had anyone ever have anything negative to say about the shifter feel...I've heard people say they thought it was too far forward in a Caprice...which it is...they all are...but never anything negative about the feel...especially after driving it.

Jimmy P

iTrader: (177)

One of my buddys has a 31,000 mileage 2001 SS and even with a Pro 5.0 his shifts like butter..It puts my T56 to shame..Mine is super notchy to the point I feel something isnt right with it. I might have to contact TDP for a rebuild soon.