I got to work early and a friend with a new 275 HP VW GTI was also rolling in so we decided to run them a little before heading inside. I let him have a small head start then would catch him by the top of 2nd. Except I missed 3rd twice. For some reason the 2nd to 3rd wasn't cooperating. Once I got it into 3rd it was night-night time for him!

Is the brace the way to go? Or does Hurst or someone make a nicer shifter or what?

 

Are you sure you just haven't gotten familiar with the way that setup likes to be shifted? When I bought an M3 years back, it would make a little grinding sound when I shifted, but after a few months of driving, I learned it was because I was putting a lot of side-pressure on the shifter. Once shifting became second nature, it was smooth and all noises went away.

I'm not saying it isn't the shifter, I'm just saying make sure it's not you before you drop some $$ on something that may not be a fix .

 

I missed a couple of shifts early on, but none since. With me, it was just a matter of getting used to it. I like it now.

 

The shifter is set up for road racing. There appear to be helper springs to help constrain the shifter to gears 2-5. With fingertip pressure it is possible to navigate the four corners of this 'box'. As far as I can tell, all that is needed for the 2-3 shift is to push the lever upwards, without applying any side pressure at all.

 

As far as I can tell, all that is needed for the 2-3 shift is to push the lever upwards, without applying any side pressure at all.[/QUOTE]
Push the shifter straight foward without any side pressure. when shifting hard you have a tendency to apply pressure to the sdie of the shifter and hitting 5'th instead of third or missing the gear. When I shift from second to third, I only have my hand behind the ball and push straight foward. The shifter will automaticlly set itself up for third gear. If you grab the ball, you will apply side pressure and miss the gear. Try it driving slow around town. You dont have to be racing to pratice shifting fast. I also hear that steeda's shifter helps get rid of that notchy feeling along with there trans mount. I'm starting to belive that the MT-82 are OK...It's the shifter that are crap.

 

I've done full throttle max rpm shifts many many times now and today was the first time I missed 3rd that I can remember. It is much easier now with 1600+ miles on it to shift into any gear, but just the same I wouldn't mind a better shifter!

 

Update: It's shifting much better now at 4400 miles. I was doing plenty of shifting, much at WOT over the weekend on the way to Lake Tahoe and back from the Bay Area. Just wanted to let all y'all know the shifter gets better with age. I do have the "kitty litter scoop", a Barton brace, and new fluid ready to go in. Just need to add a level to the ramps! I'd do it Sat but I have 10-15 Powerstroke diesels coming over for a "truck play date." From last time... and yes I will host "Boss Days I" soon!

 

10,000 Mile update: The trans works perfect and I haven't put the Barton brace in yet. Just drained and replaced MT82 with more Ford fluid. Kitty litter scoop went on several thousand miles ago. The only thing I've hit with it is an aluminum can, but I don't drive over anything more than a speed bump. Driveway's straight out and the transition into the lot at work is low with risk of splitter grind, not bottom out.

False alarm for me on the shifter. It works great now. I WILL take it out at some point, but only because I LOVE my Hurst in my '64 Falcon and would just want to try to have that positive into gear and hard stop feeling that a factory shifter just doesn't quite provide. I'll get an MGW for it.

Note to self: The Boss needs a playdate like the truck gets.

 

+1 I am at 13k and the shifter/transmission is amazing. Oh! and in cold weather ~30F i have no problems getting in the 2nd gear

People need to spend more time driving less time sitting in their car on a labtop complaining

 

Hi Fat Boss,

If you want a great shift feel with top quality may I suggest you get the MGW shifter. You can see a video of the installation process on MGW website but you need to hold one in your hands so you can fully appreciate the quality of this shifter. Don't forget to order the optional heat shield, it's great if you have the transmission cooler installed on your car as it cuts down on the NVH.
I had the Shellby shifter (I think made by Hurst) on my 2008 GT-500 and loved it but this is better.

Rob

 

Thanks Rob. You musta' missed my micro-blurb on 2/10 where I said I'll get an MGW for it. I've read about 20 threads or so covering the MGW and no one has had a bad thing to say about it yet. And, yes whenever I buy most anything I get the optional items as well.

Andy