chevy406

I posted these shifters for sale in the C5 classified section, but I thought it might be interesting for others to see the stock C5 and stock C6 shifters side-by-side. As you can see, the bases are identical, and the shaft & ball underneath the base are identical.




The C5 shifter has some gasket material stuck on the bottom of the base, but they are identical.


Here is where the difference is - the C6 shaft is angled back and shorter, giving it less throw and a better ergonomic feel.


So if anyone is wondering if the C6 shifter will fit a C5 - why yes it sure will. The C5 boot will work on a C6 shifter if you open up the top of the boot a little. And the C6 handle is held in with a bolt while the C5 handle screws onto the shaft and is locked in place with a wedge.

So there you have it in full color... Picture > 1000 words.

blackmachdown

interesting, i went from a c5z shifter to a hurst to a c6z and i like the ergonomics of the c6z, but wish the shifts were just a tad more positive, kind of between the c6z and the hurst...maybe MGW can make a handle like the c6z...

striper

Based on those photos it makes me wonder what is the difference between the two that makes people like the C6 shifter so much more than the C5. They look identical. I've had a Hurst for several years now and I'm still satisfied with it.

Carcass

It's the shaft (the non-identical part) that makes the difference,as stated by the OP-shorter throw,and a more ergonomic feel-and it looks a hell of a lot better in the car.

Also the Shifter base on the '06Z06 model doesn't have the rubber isolators on the mounts,which eliminates a tiny bit of "slop" in the shifting.

The '09's have gone back to the rubber isolated mounts because of possible vibration problems.
I have the 06Z06 model,and it doesn't vibrate,but some of them must have.

Tigershark3

I put a C6Z shifter in last winter... much improved over the stock unit which was too high w/ a giant shifter ****. When installing make sure you have the car in neutral when you pull the locking pin up that releases the shifter mechanism otherwise the alignment will be off and it won't shift right... don't ask how I know that.

capevettes

I've had 2 C5 six speeds and prefer them to the C6 six speed. At high RPM's in the C6 the shifter would frequently go to the "unknown zone" on the 2-3 shift.

ALLEGRO

Not trying to hyjack this thread, but there was a world of diffference when I shortened my OE shifter by one inch. That make since given the vast similarities between the C5 and C6 shifters.


Good Luck everyone.