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How do you like your RIPPER in your Z?

1289 Views 19 Replies 10 Participants Last post by  fcalmes
May be putting a Ripper in the Z this weekend. (I'm going to keep trying shifters 'til I get it right! LOL!) In the meantime, I was hoping to get some feedback/insight about what you all like/don't like about the Ripper in the Z.

Also, any tips/tricks with the install? (Already read the install section @ CF a million times... Just wondering if there's anything to add.)

Thanks!

-Kirk
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Can I have all the ones you do not want? /phpBB/images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif
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You sure can, Carl! Give Zip a call... Their prices are pretty good. Be sure to specify "Kirk's old Kirban" -- I'm sure they could locate it for you.

LOL /phpBB/images/smiles/icon_wink.gif

-Kirk

PS -- Need me to babysit your jackstands and lifting pucks while you're gone? /phpBB/images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif
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I love my Ripper but the wife hates it. Springs are too strong for her.



_________________
Frank Calmes Quicksilver 2001 Z06
Vortex Rammer & Power Duct, B&B PRT's with Speedway Tips, Ripper Shifter with Momo Knob, Chrome Z06 Wheels

Sherylann Calmes Black 2001 Z06
Vortex Rammer & Power Duct, Chrome Z06 Wheels

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Frank -- I thought they lossened up over time.

...The RIPPER, I MEAN, not WIVES! Whoops!

/phpBB/images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif

Seriously, though... When you installed your Ripper, did it feel "too tough" at the time, but got better? Or, did it feel tough, but good, and still lossened up?
Thanks!

-Kirk
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(Geez --- How many times could I make a typo on "loosened" in the last post?! Sorry about that!)

Oh, one more thing... Do the Rippers let in tranny noise? The Kirban did. If so, what did you all do to minimize the noise? (I know, I know... ASIDE from adding Corsa's, putting down the windowe, and/or turning up the radio, please! /phpBB/images/smiles/icon_wink.gif )

Thanks!

-Kirk
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On 2001-05-18 11:14, fcalmes spewed forth this drivel:
I love my Ripper but the wife hates it. Springs are too strong for her.
I have the ripper in my "Z" and Blue FRC.
The one in my Z06 I just modified because it was hard to move sideways to get 5th, 6th or reverse.
I took it apart and shortened the springs and now the left and right motion takes almost half the effort.
I'm waiting on the new Hurst due out in mid June....supposed to have different strength springs.
My Ripper has about 30,000 total miles on it between the 3 cars it has been on. It hasn't loosened up at all. Shifting into first takes some effort. The rest of the shifts are firm, but not too hard. I put a piece of heater hose on the Ripper's shaft to lessen the noise. Between that and the headers, removed precats, and Corsas, I never hear the shifter make a peep. /phpBB/images/smiles/icon_wink.gif
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Like Frank said. I love it, the wife hates it. It is a little hard for 1ST and Reverse, but I don't care. The precision is worth the extra effort. It is a little noisy, maybe I'll try the heater hose, but I honestly don't care about that either.

The car is a joy to drive and the shifter really helps to create that joy. Third is my favorite gear and it is so easy to find that I feel like it just gets to third by itself.

Now for some more heel/toe practice (double clutching).
I liked it, my wife didn't.....it's gone. I removed the centering springs completely and it made NO difference.
Hmmm... Interesting stuff here.

How difficult is it to get to the centering springs on this piece anyway? Is it a matter of unbolting the case, removing springs, and rebolting?

Thanks!

-Kirk
I installed the Kirban last night. It took roughly an hour for the whole thing. What noise from the tranny are you talking about?.... a ha... I found a cheap $2 fix for that problem. Actually, I've read many posts on the Kirban and the Ripper transmitting more noise than the stock. So, for precaution I went to Pep Boys to buy some sound deadening materials as some of the guys in this forum recomended. They didn't have anything there. So, I went to home depot, and guess what I found.... a toilet tank ball.. yeah, a toilet tank ball.

As you can see, the Kirban doesn't have the center rubber cover (i don't know about the ripper) as the stock has. I also bought the heat resistance pipe shield tape. The toilet tank ball fits perfectly in the center of the kirban (you have to cut the center part of the ball out) and I use the tape to tape up the whole rubber cover of the tranny.

The Kirban rocks, I love it. Shifting distance is a lot shorter and very precise. It was a little bit rough at first, but after a few times, you'll enjoy it everytime you shift. Yes, it requires a little more effort to shift than the stock, but not much at all.

You can still hear a little whine from the shaft under heavy acceleration (I mean heavy). But, normal driving, zero noise... I think it maybe a little quieter than the stock now as I added all those noise reduction materials.

The 2K resistor CAGS bypass is next for me. I got everything already, just need to find the time to put it in.

Good luck.....
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Now wait a minute... A TOILET TANK BALL?! You mean the plastic 3" (or so) "float" ball, or the smaller, rubber "flapper" ball? I can't picture what you've done here (but it sounds interesting!)...

And what is this heat tape stuff? Is it thick and foamy? Where in Home Depot can you find this tape?

Thanks!

-Kirk
Kirk,

You are right! I forgot to mention that it is the rubber ball. I looked at the rubber flapper type and that may work too. Basically, I'm just trying to cover up the center opening of the kirban or ripper, where noise can transfer through there. As you can see, the stock shifter have a rubber boot for the center opening. I tried to take that off, but I didn't know how to remove the fat part of the stick so that I can slide the boot out.
If you can remove the boot from the stock shifter, than you don't have to worry about the rubber toilet flapper or ball. The tape is the foamy type. It's about 1/8 inch thick with the foil wrap on the outside. I don't know how good this stuff can withstand the heat. I guess, I'll find out tonight when I get home. So far, I haven't smell anything funny yet... If it doesn't work, I also have some heat resistance electrical tape where I can put it on the inside and outside of the foam tape. These tapes can withstand up to 500+ degree F. I don't know where you can get this heat resistance electrical tape. We have plenty of it here at my work place.. It's made by 3M.

Let me know if you have any problem!
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Kirk,

The Ripper, I think came with the center rubber boot, so don't worry about the toilet ball trick. The foam tape will help a lot on the noise part. You can find it in the weatherstrip section. This tape is used for wrapping pipes. you can always ask somebody at home depot.
Kirk, I do not have my jack at the house but my stands are here and the lifting pucks are as well (you only need one at a time anyway), if you want to come get them your welcome to, let me know.
fcalmes, that's an awesome Momo nob. What model is it. Also, did you install the ripper as is or were additional mods completed for noise reduction?
Thanks for your responses here, folks!

The Ripper went in on Friday, and it's STAYING IN! Wow, this IS a quality piece.

I have a Derlin shifter knob from Hardbar atop the Ripper. The combination is sweet. I'll be posting a "full report" on my shifter findings very soon.

Thanks!

-Kirk

On 2001-05-18 19:45, MARZ06 spewed forth this drivel:
fcalmes, that's an awesome Momo nob. What model is it. Also, did you install the ripper as is or were additional mods completed for noise reduction?
That is the Leather Race Air Momo.

I didn't do anything for noise reduction, and quite frankly, with the bad resonance I had with my old set of PRTs, I never noticed any noise. /phpBB/images/smiles/icon_rolleyes.gif Since I've install the new PRTs (no resonance), I've noticed an annoying buzzing noise while accelerating. I've got to do something about it, but haven't yet. I'm thinking of taking the knob off and wrapping the threads with silicon tape. Hope that works.

Frank
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