what kind of shifter should i get?

[04gtdrop]

Hey guys I have been told that a shift throw shift will help me shift quicker and help with my times a bit. Is this true? Also what kind should I get? Does anyone out there have one? Is there a negative side to having one? What’s a good price or deal on a brand new one? Let me know what you think. Ohhh I have a 2004 GT convert.

 

[HoustonGT]

Hey guys I have been told that a shift throw shift will help me shift quicker and help with my times a bit. Is this true? Also what kind should I get? Does anyone out there have one? Is there a negative side to having one? What’s a good price or deal on a brand new one? Let me know what you think. Ohhh I have a 2004 GT convert.

Yes it is true and apparently the MGW shifter seems to be the best on the market. Thats the one that i will be going with and ill be getting the race handle

 

[Aerosi665]

MGW with the blue handle, it's awesome.

 

[04gtdrop]

sorry for the dumb question, but which is MGW?

 

[Crzyhrse]

mgwltd.com
You got two choices, the red cruiser and the blue sportsman.

 

[jmk97GT]

my MGW blue rocks

 

[5.0_GT_kid]

I have "sampled" BBK, Hurst, Pro 5.0, Mac Steeda and MGW on the T-5 trannies, and they each are good in their own ways.

I think it's a matter of opinion really. I like the "notchy" feeling of the Steeda best, and it's what I use on my car. Some people like the smoother Pro 5.0 and MGW ones.

My advice is too find people who have these shifters and see which one you like best. As long as it has the adjustable stops, it's worth considering.

 

[04gtdrop]

then its settled, MGW with the blue handle. thanks guys..... i hope i like it.

 

[HoustonGT]

Good choice

 

[BooWFO]

I have "sampled" BBK, Hurst, Pro 5.0, Mac Steeda and MGW on the T-5 trannies, and they each are good in their own ways.

I think it's a matter of opinion really. I like the "notchy" feeling of the Steeda best, and it's what I use on my car. Some people like the smoother Pro 5.0 and MGW ones.

My advice is too find people who have these shifters and see which one you like best. As long as it has the adjustable stops, it's worth considering.

Tried all the above on a t5 Hurst was great in the day (before anyone else made one) other than that try as many before you buy.
I like the MGW because I could sit the shifter where I wanted it and I went withthe red handle. Throws are short enough for me. ALso I like the fact I didn't have to cut factory shift boot.
Adjustable stops be careful if you don't know how to adjust them you will damage the tranny. Also I'm pretty sure the 3650 has internal stops. I put mine in but made sure the stops were not touching the handle.

 

[Fast02]

egads!

I have the blue and wish I went with the red...If you sit with the seat all the way back and reclined then you may want to go with the red handle as its longer then the blue. With the blue handle it requires a bit of effort to shift into fifth.


If your looking for a race car type shifter then MGW all the way. Tight gates, progressive springs and built to withstand a M1 sabot round.

 

[04gtdrop]

ahh man, i was for sure set on the blue, but now that i think about it, maybe red? i do sit with the seat all the way leaned back. but its pretty close to the pedels since i'm a short lil guy. ahh man.....is the only diff between the red & blue the length? from what i read online thats what it seems.

also boowfo, you said that i could dmg the tranny? how? i have never messed with the shifter before, anyone have a tech article that would show me how to do it?

i have done all of my own exhaust and intake stuff. is this harder than that stuff? should i have a shop do it? let me know thanks.....

 

[edbo]

ahh man, i was for sure set on the blue, but now that i think about it, maybe red? i do sit with the seat all the way leaned back. but its pretty close to the pedels since i'm a short lil guy. ahh man.....is the only diff between the red & blue the length? from what i read online thats what it seems.

also boowfo, you said that i could dmg the tranny? how? i have never messed with the shifter before, anyone have a tech article that would show me how to do it?

i have done all of my own exhaust and intake stuff. is this harder than that stuff? should i have a shop do it? let me know thanks.....

Not a problem.. Try This Article for MGW Shifter Installation

 

[Fast02]

lets see...

Remove stock shifter knob. remove plastic and shift boot housing from stock shifter just snaps out no screws. Remove the four bolts from the steel ring that holds down that rubber boot. Remove the four base bolts give the shifter a slap from left to right to unseat it from the tranny. Make sure not to break the plastic cup. Install in reverse order but with the MGW you have shift stop screws which will prevent you from bending your shift forks. MGW installation instructions are very user friendly. Its about as hard as installing say a CAI or Driveshaft. You can easily do this mod.

I think the red handle is 1" longer then the blue handle.

 

[HoustonGT]

So would the red handle equate to a Steeda Tri-Ax or Pro5.0? And the blue is even shorter? Im fairly short so i don't sit too far away so i think blue would be alright

 

[BooWFO]

04gt If you adjust the old school way of having the stops touch the shifter you may not always have the tranny in gear causing undo gear damage from them not been fully seated. I believe Tremec has said they will not cover 3650 which have had a shifter with shift stops or it could just be an urban legend.
Install if you can read you can put an MGW in they provide the most detailed instructions I have ever seen. The shifter looks so pretty you almost don't want to put the cover back on too.
If you can afford it you may want to order both handles at the time you order the shifter and try them both then sell which ever you don't like. I believe extra handles are 40.
The Blue is supposely the shortest throw out right now.
Several local people have tried my MGW since I got it and all seem to prefer it over what they currently have. Only people I have seen bash it are ones you haven't tried it and beleive the handle will come off from bangin gears. Will I'm over 250 lbs and shift mine like I'm tring to pull the tranny into the car with me and it hasn't done anything but put the car into the gear. But if you feel better with a known product with a known track record the pro 5.0.
For me the price, customer support, finish quality of the product, and adjustablity make the MGW the winner.

 

[KronicRacer]

if i ever get the mgw shifter im tempeted of not having the shifter boot on. (just to show it off )

 

[04gtdrop]

hey guys, just curious. do you know about how much shoter the blue and red MGW's are VS. the stock one? i hate to buy things/do them twice. i would rather do it once and be done. i'm really tempted to get the blue, but i wouldnt want it to be TOO short or stiff. any thoughts??? thanks

 

[V_Eight]

MGW race is where i'm headed.

I liked my Tri-Ax, but the MGW changes it more from stock, and the more the better.

 

[langod]

I put in a MGW with the red handle a couple of months ago. I love it.
I measured the shift throw length before and after:
Stock 1-2 shift throw was about 8.5 inches
With MGW, the 1-2 shift throw is about 4.5 inches. (And it doesn't feel even that long) It's almost like flipping a toggle switch.

Also, if you have a 3650 Tranny, REMOVE THE SHIFTER STOPS from the shifter. You can really F**K your tranny if you leave them in. The 3650 has internal stops. MGW's instructions recommend removing the the stops or backing them all the way out.