Compare the B&M shifter (left)...
Compare the B&M shifter (left) with the OEM Corvette unit, and thedifferences are apparent. The B&M's CNC-machined billet pieces stand insharp contrast to the flimsy factory stampings.
By all accounts the C6 is the best of the breed. The motoring press hasheaped accolade after accolade on the car, praising its "awesome power,""superb handling," and "excellent creature comforts." Yet for all thatis good, there is one area that has caused many a C6 owner to grouse:the manner in which the six-speed manual transmission goes through itsgears.
For openers, most every Vette owner takes issue with its 1-4 "skipshift" feature. There's nothing more annoying to a reasonably proficientdriver who's endeavoring to nurse his or her car away from a stoplightthan to have it unceremoniously dumped into Fourth at the gear change,causing an obnoxious bog.
Secondly, the shifting mechanism itself leaves a lot to be desired.While it gets through the gears OK, there are hints ofuncertainty--particularly on downshifts--that more demanding driversfind unacceptable. Did it wallow from Fifth to Fourth or to Second?
Fortunately, there are ready cures for these two minor annoyances thatwill make the C6 a pure joy to drive in all situations. The forced 1-4shift is easily overcome by installing a Skip Shift Eliminator from SLPPerformance Parts (PN 21008). A true "plug 'n' play" product, nothingmore is required of the installation than to elevate the rear end of thecar, crawl underneath it, and plug the unit into its appropriate placebetween the tranny and loom.
SLP's Skip-Shift Eliminator...
SLP's Skip-Shift Eliminator enables 1-2 shifts under all conditions,regardless of throttle input. Installation is as simple as raising thecar, crawling underneath, and plugging the unit in between the trannyand loom.
When it came to selecting a shifter, the nod went to B&M. The companyhas expanded its product line greatly in its 50-plus years and now ranksas one of the world's leading manufacturers of shifters. In fact B&Mmakes shifters on an OEM basis for some pretty discerning marques,including Porsche. Having already earned a reputation for its C5shifter, the company recently expanded the model-year coverage of thispopular kit (PN 45044) to include C6 applications. When you compare theB&M unit with the OEM Corvette shifter, the differences are apparent.CNC-machined billet pieces stand in sharp contrast to factory stampings.
The installation isn't quite as simple as plugging in a Skip ShiftEliminator, but the whole operation should take a competentdo-it-yourselfer no more than two hours, using commonly availablehandtools.
To its credit, B&M has done a nice job chronicling the installation bymeans of a fully illustrated 16-page instruction manual. As for tools,you'll need Phillips and flat-blade screwdrivers; channel locks; ratchetwrenches with extensions and 7mm, 10mm, 11/32-, and 7/16-inch sockets;T15, T20, and T40 bits and a driver; a punch; and a small hammer/mallet.A floor jack and a pair of jackstands are needed for the Skip Shiftinstallation. And you'll find that a small flashlight will come inhandy.
So, is the time and effort you'll spend on installing the B&M PrecisionSport Shift and SLP Skip Shift worth it? You bet! The first thing you'llnotice is that that shift throw is about one third shorter than stock,which will obviously contribute to faster shifts. But the real benefitto switching to the B&M shifter is its precise operation. It's apleasure to work your way through the gears, whether it's just puttingdown the street (with that damned forced 1-4 shift a thing of the past),accelerating briskly, or winding through a canyon road. Life is good.
 The opening act of the shifter...  The opening act of the shifter install is to take a flat-blade screwdriver and pop open the plastic plate that houses the traction controls and airbag switch. After unplugging the modules and removing the cover, use a 10mm socket to loosen some of the bolts that hold the console in place. |  Remove the padded armrest...  Remove the padded armrest lid with a T-15 to ease access. With that outof the way, you can remove the two screws (7mm) that are exposed withthe airbag panel removed. Pull up the sleeve that covers theemergency-brake handle, which will expose additional bolts (7mm) thatserve to attach the console. |  Carefully unplug about five...  Carefully unplug about five wires/looms and lift the console out of theway. Then, remove the insulating foam, which will give you access to atwo-layer rubber cover. Remove the nuts and the first layer, then theothers using a 10mm socket/extension/ratchet combo. |
 Next, remove the passenger-side...  Next, remove the passenger-side panel of the console (a wee bit of brutestrength is required, but no tools), then pull the leather shifter bootout of the console. After that, remove the OEM shift knob using a T-20bit with a ratchet. Next, pull out the console. This may seem a taddaunting at first, but the console is well made, flexible enough, and itwill come out with a little bit of effort. |  The OEM shifter stands ready...  The OEM shifter stands ready to be plucked. Remove four 10mm bolts, andit's outta there! Note that the 10mm bolts will be replaced by 7/16-headbolts in the B&M kit. Next, remove the two bolts holding the shifter base tothe vehicle (use a T-40/extension/ratchet combo), then pry out the stockrubber bushings using a small flat-blade screwdriver. This is anoptional step, for while the supplied B&M aluminum bushings are designedto provide a more "solid" feel, they also transmit more noise andvibration than the factory rubber bushing. |  Carefully take the pivot cup...  Carefully take the pivot cup from the bottom of the shifter (channellocks are the appropriate tool), and install it on the B&M shifter. |
 Now comes the moment you've...  Now comes the moment you've been waiting for: installing the B&Mshifter. But because the basic kit fits both C5 and C6 models, you'llfirst have to set it up for the C6. This involves loosening the boltthat secures the lever (use an 11/32 socket and Phillips-headscrewdriver), popping out the collar (it may require a nudge from apunch), rotating the lever 180 degrees, and reinstalling the collar andbolt. Put the unit in place (the B&M logo will be facing toward thefront) and install using the supplied bolts (7/16-inch head). |  Tap the aluminum bushings...  Tap the aluminum bushings in place and reinstall the shifter base in thevehicle. Remove the factory rubber gasket from the shifter (scraping thesurface clean if required) and install the new nylon gasket from B&M. |  Last, but not least, is the...  Last, but not least, is the shift knob. While the OEM Corvette knob canbe reinstalled, for this installation a racier carbon-fiber-style knobwas employed (B&M PN 80745). Other compatible styles offered by B&Minclude tall leather, short leather, and billet-look aluminum.Shift-knob installation consists of removing the collar from the bottomof the knob and sliding it over the lever, selecting the correct threadinsert and installing it in the knob, screwing the knob into the desiredlocation, and tightening up the collar. |