MGW vs. B&M Ripper (F-body T-56 Shifters)
08-22-2008, 08:24 PM
#1
MGW vs. B&M Ripper (F-body T-56 Shifters) MGW shifters get a lot of hype from their owners, but they've never been available for the F-body...until now. I decided to put one up against my beloved B&M Ripper and see what I came up with.
Here's what comes in the package:
I was impressed that they actually included a small tube of RTV...it is a nice little touch that they didn't have to do. The bolts are grade 10.9 black oxide finish hex head bolts, so they'll probably end up rusting in a hurry, even in my car (garage queen), but I can deal with that. They are plenty long enough to compensate for the rather thick base as well as a washer and lock washer.
And just in case you couldn't tell the intended application, they spell it out for you:
And here's the underside:
As you'll notice in the first pic, the threads for the shifter **** are definitely not 16mm like stock...they are 12mm. This required a new shift ****, so I went with a satin finish gripper piece from them:
And here's a nice little touch:
There is a set screw to ensure that your **** will not come lose under hard shifting. I've had that happen a few times since you usually have to compromise on a tight **** vs. a straight one. In this case, you can tighten the **** as tight as you can get it, tighten the set screw, and then rotate the handle as necessary to get the alignment right where you want it.
Here is the finished handle/**** combo:
Here's my B&M...note the crooked stick to get the **** in a good position for the driver:
And presto...here's the MGW:
I wasn't sure about the rubber boot at first, but sure enough, it'll fit without trimming:
As you'll notice, though, it comes pretty close to coming into contact with the console itself, but it makes no difference. The throws are short enough, even when putting it into reverse, that this never becomes an issue.
And the final product:
I took it for a thorough test drive, and the throws are MUCH shorter than the B&M. When I first backed it out of the garage and went to put it in first, I could have sworn I was putting it in 3rd gear...it was going into 1st though. Basically, 1st gear with the MGW is in about the same spot as 3rd was with the B&M.
It does take some more effort to get it into each gear due to the shorter throws, but not enough to turn me off from shifter. I would have to agree with another assessment on here...driving is smoother due to the shortened throws, even at the expense of more effort needed to get into each gear. I actually really like how nice and solid it feels going into each gear...it has a lot of good driver feedback.
The centering springs work well, and the 2-3 shift is nicer than it ever was with the B&M IMO. I don't have enough confidence to power shift it after only one drive, but I'm hoping to get there to get that data point.
And this shifter has absolutely no noise, but neither did my B&M.
Questions? Fire away, and I'll do my best to keep up.
Here's what comes in the package:
I was impressed that they actually included a small tube of RTV...it is a nice little touch that they didn't have to do. The bolts are grade 10.9 black oxide finish hex head bolts, so they'll probably end up rusting in a hurry, even in my car (garage queen), but I can deal with that. They are plenty long enough to compensate for the rather thick base as well as a washer and lock washer.
And just in case you couldn't tell the intended application, they spell it out for you:
And here's the underside:
As you'll notice in the first pic, the threads for the shifter **** are definitely not 16mm like stock...they are 12mm. This required a new shift ****, so I went with a satin finish gripper piece from them:
And here's a nice little touch:
There is a set screw to ensure that your **** will not come lose under hard shifting. I've had that happen a few times since you usually have to compromise on a tight **** vs. a straight one. In this case, you can tighten the **** as tight as you can get it, tighten the set screw, and then rotate the handle as necessary to get the alignment right where you want it.
Here is the finished handle/**** combo:
Here's my B&M...note the crooked stick to get the **** in a good position for the driver:
And presto...here's the MGW:
I wasn't sure about the rubber boot at first, but sure enough, it'll fit without trimming:
As you'll notice, though, it comes pretty close to coming into contact with the console itself, but it makes no difference. The throws are short enough, even when putting it into reverse, that this never becomes an issue.
And the final product:
I took it for a thorough test drive, and the throws are MUCH shorter than the B&M. When I first backed it out of the garage and went to put it in first, I could have sworn I was putting it in 3rd gear...it was going into 1st though. Basically, 1st gear with the MGW is in about the same spot as 3rd was with the B&M.
It does take some more effort to get it into each gear due to the shorter throws, but not enough to turn me off from shifter. I would have to agree with another assessment on here...driving is smoother due to the shortened throws, even at the expense of more effort needed to get into each gear. I actually really like how nice and solid it feels going into each gear...it has a lot of good driver feedback.
The centering springs work well, and the 2-3 shift is nicer than it ever was with the B&M IMO. I don't have enough confidence to power shift it after only one drive, but I'm hoping to get there to get that data point.
And this shifter has absolutely no noise, but neither did my B&M.
Questions? Fire away, and I'll do my best to keep up.
08-22-2008, 09:47 PM
#3
I wondered that myself, and will keep an eye on it. My initial inclination is to say no...that stick is held in place pretty damn good, but I won't know until I put some miles on it. It looks like it has many points of failure, but this shifter is solid as a rock.
08-23-2008, 10:11 AM
#4
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Just got mine in and its exactlly as you described WOW!!!! I actually had a short stick that I had bought on ebay for my other shifter (hurst) and it fit right in the hole so I did not have to use the 12mm stick that was sent with the MGW, just a liitle input.
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08-23-2008, 01:10 PM
#10
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Any more impressions on it?
I wonder when some sponsers will start to carry it. Im looking to get it in a few months after they come out with the 16mm stick.
I wonder when some sponsers will start to carry it. Im looking to get it in a few months after they come out with the 16mm stick.
08-23-2008, 02:16 PM
#12
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Thats extra cash that I dont have to spend. MGW said that they are going to come out with a 16mm stick after August so I will just wait. Im deployed so in now hurry to get it.
08-29-2008, 06:29 PM
#15
I've owned 4 Mustangs [ no comparison to the T-56 ] but I had a Steeda Tri-Ax and a Pro 5.0 on my first one, then finally a MGW. Every Mustang after my first one got a MGW.
I could make a well worn 5.0 and a 2V chirp third no problem with this shifter. It also felt solid slamming it into gear while rowing the gears unlike other shifters.
I bet this shifter will soon become the go to shifter in the near future
08-29-2008, 06:35 PM
#16
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Actually Ive PM'd a few sponsers and one said they are trying to work out a deal to get them in stock. I was given Sept as a timeframe for what its worth. Hopefully they will do a GP soon when the 16MM thread stick comes out.
09-01-2008, 02:03 AM
#18
I think i'm in it for the GP w/ 16mm... Hopefully somebody posts in this thread if it does happen.. i'll subscribe this
09-03-2008, 04:30 PM
#19
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I just called them up and ordered one myself with a chrome accent on the **** 
If not for this post I would have went another route. I will post up some reviews as well as soon as I get mine installed.
I am going from a stock shifter and ball **** to this setup so it should be a HUGE improvement.
Here is the pic that made me go with the chrome BTW.
If not for this post I would have went another route. I will post up some reviews as well as soon as I get mine installed.I am going from a stock shifter and ball **** to this setup so it should be a HUGE improvement.
Here is the pic that made me go with the chrome BTW.
Last edited by bd mnky; 09-03-2008 at 04:46 PM.
