What would you do, re: broken shifter

NYSpeed Automotive
1

So I’m sure a lot of you saw this thread:
http://69.175.22.26/~nyspeedc/forums/showthread.php?t=75227

So I’m getting my options this morning and have narrowed it down to two.

Option 1, stock.
The stock replacement part from GM is $188 and of course no one stocks it. $188 and it hasn’t be revised so this will probably happen again… yeah, GM can kiss my ass.

Option 2, Lou’s Short Stick.
http://www.afterthoughtsauto.com/gto-short-stick.html
It comes in two versions, threaded that will work with a ton of aftermarket shift knobs since it uses the standard fbody shift knobs and a non-threaded that will work with my stock GTO knob but pretty much nothing else. To make it a little more complicated the one that works with my stock knob is out of stock until early September.

Option 3, Stock, used.
Post a WTB thread on ls1gto.com and try to find a stock shifter cheap.

Option 4, entire aftermarket shift unit.
GMM, B&M and Billet all make full shifter replacements. They’re not real easy to install (the “easy” how to for the GMM involves lowering the trans) and after seeing how little side to side travel the B&M has that one is definitely off my list. Way too easy to grab 1st when going for 3rd. The GMM is the one people rave about but it’s $350+ and the street version reuses your stock shifter that is broken in my case. The race version has it’s own solid steel shifter but a lot of people complain about the noise it generates. Billet is $400+.

Right now I’m really leaning toward option 2 with the threaded stick and using this shift knob:
http://www.afterthoughtsauto.com/hurst-shift-knob1.html

Better throws, no more rubbery shifts, I can get before the weekend and it won’t break again with normal use.

2

Time for upgrades…go short shifter.

3

Lous short stick with an aftermarket shift knob…I am sure you can find a nice tasteful leather knob

4

I know JT76 is using my stock shifter with the short stick and he likes it alot. I dont know if there’s after market shifters that are worth trying you have a T-56 just like us f-body guys. you should have the same options as us i believe.

5

I vote option 2 with the Hurst knob. Anytime something breaks/wears out on my car I always try to upgrade to better parts than OEM if it makes sense.

6

Lou’s is a great option if you don’t want to do the entire unit. Personally I’d go for the whole unit, a Pro 5.0 if they offer one…

7

If they had the Lou’s short stick that works with the stock shift knob this wouldn’t even be a debate because I’d buy it in a heartbeat. I’m just not sure I want to give up the stock shift knob that fits so well with the rest of the interior.

8

Unless I were unhappy with the way the stocker shifted to begin with, if I were you I’d just do the aftermarket shift shaft with whatever knob tickles your fancy. Spend the hundo you’d save over the GM shaft on a big hunk of meat to dry age or something, or the $300 you’d save over a short-throw on a pair of magnaflows and some fuzzy dice.

EDIT: This is going to sound ghetto as hell, but if the ID of your stock knob is bigger than the OD of Lou’s threaded shaft, you could just JB Weld the stock knob onto the threaded shaft…

9

2 with a aftermarket knob.