[KMeloney]

Hey folks,

Some good and bad out of my recent Kirban shifter install:
Good -- I can get the console apart and back together again in no time now... I could probably do it in my sleep. /phpBB/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif
Bad -- The reason I'm so good at this now is because I went through it a few times in a short amount ot time, and am right back to having the stock shifter in there. /phpBB/images/smiles/icon_frown.gif

The intent of the Kirban is very good -- the throw is much shorter, and the stops are very possitive. Also, the 2nd-to-3rd shift is EFFORTLESS (feels like you're just shifting forward, with no effort to get it over into 3rd). That being said, the feel is VERY notchy, it takes a good amount of effort to get it into 1st, and it's a lot noisier (both the clink-clank of shifting, and transmitted tranny noise) than stock. I'm sure that some insulating could be done to solve the noise issue, though.

Now, the weather's miserable here in PA, and so I didn't spend a whole beautiful afternoon driving around the countryside with the Kirban, so I don't "know" that I'll not put it back in sometime, and give it another shot. It's not THAT bad -- just very different from stock. But let me ask about some other shifters...

Is the Hurst out yet? If so, anyone report his findings on it yet? It's great in my Mustang...

Is anyone using the "Corvette Concepts" shifter? It's a modified STOCK shifter, but looks shorter, and (in theory) sounds like the VERY thing I'm looking for (shorter throw with a stockish feel). I'd really like some thoughts on THIS shifter!

Thanks, folks!!!

-Kirk

 

[Z06fever]

Kirk,
I'm in the same situation as you. I had the Kirban in my 99 Coupe and, while I didn't remove it, I was never quite satisfied. It will get better with time though.

I currently have a Hurst on backorder for the Z and have also considered the modified stock shifter you mentioned. I've heard good things about it but have no first hand knowledge. I'm hoping to try one or both at the Birthday Bash in April.

 

[fcalmes]

<B>
On 2001-03-21 08:47, KMeloney spewed forth this drivel:
Is anyone using the "Corvette Concepts" shifter? It's a modified STOCK shifter, but looks shorter, and (in theory) sounds like the VERY thing I'm looking for (shorter throw with a stockish feel). I'd really like some thoughts on THIS shifter!

</B>

Kirk,

FRC Tom has a Corvette Concepts shifter. I rode in Tom's Z and the shifter seem sweet. As I understand it, they chopped the stock shifter down 1 1/2", and rethreaded the shaft. Not sure if they did anything else to it, but I've been thinking about taking the stock shifter that I took out of my Z and cutting it down and putting it in the wife's Z. (I have free access to Toolmakers that will do the job for me for a cup of coffee.) /phpBB/images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif She hates my Ripper, but I hate the feel of the stock shifter.

Contact FRC Tom and he can supply you more info on the Corvette Concepts shifter.

 

[hcvone]

Kirk, I have tried several different shifters like Kirban, B&M, Mallett and even a reworked stock shifter and for my car the Kirban was the best by far. After I added Dynomat I have probably less noise than stock, I do have a convertible too. My car started shifting much easier when I put Red Line fluid in the trans, sorry you do not like the Kirban but I do not think you will like anything better unless the Hurst is different and from what I have seen it's a little like the Kirban and the B&M, a little of each. As said the Kirban or B&M will get better after driving for some time./phpBB/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif

 

[KMeloney]

"...KMeloney spewed forth this drivel"??? LOL!

Thanks for the replies! Again, I'm not throwing out the Kirban, or returning it, or anything like that at the moment. And, hearing that it "breaks in" over time is another compelling argument for keeping it. I guess I just figured it would feel "different" than it does -- and since I have a Hurst in a Mustang to compare it to, I just can't say that I LIKE the feel of the Kirban right now. I'd like to like the shifter, not just "deal" with it, or try to comvince myself that the benefits of the shorter throw outweigh the probblematic points...

We'll see! Since I'm a pro at the installation now, I can throw it back in at anytime!

Thanks!

-Kirk

 

[HarleyB]

KM... sorry you did not have a great (good?) experience with your Kirban. I had the exact opposite experience. This turned the Shark into a real precision driving instrument. The shifting transformed the daily drive into a day at the track. Just going to get coffee was more fun. It also drove the wife out of the Vette... she like the feeling of moving a coat hanger through a box of foam "peanuts"(the SLK shifter) the Kirban, on the other hand, is more like moving a stainless steel rod through a CNC milled channel.

HarleyB

_________________
'73 Silver Roadster -gone
'89 Red Coupe -gone
'01 SLK320 Silver 6-Speed -Wife's vert/coupe
'01 Quicksilver/Black Z06 •SilverShark•

Throttle Depressed. Driver Very Happy.