MZ'S03Z06

I'm getting ready to buy the B&M ripper shifter and install it in my 04 Z06. Can anyone give me feedback on how they like it or dislike it? Are there better ones out there?

z06dailydriver

Do a search on "ripper" and you will find a lot of threads. I have had a ripper for three years and am totally satisfied. You have to get accustomed to the stiff shift for a while. There are others like Hurst which are fine too.

Z06-JIM

I've had my B & M Shifter for a couple of years and love it. I didn't really notice that much difference in it being any harder or stiffer to shift.

Corvette SSX

I've had mine for about 4 years in several different C5's. At first it seemed pretty stiff. Either it's loosened up or I'm just used to it now, but it shifts fairly easily. I haven't missed a shift with it or had the shifter pop out of gear since using it.

GeorgeZNJ

installed mine about a month ago, love the tight shifting over stock and the click-click sound, noise and vibration are a little above stock, buy eaisly got used to it, good luck

Matt69-ZO6

I can't offer any first hand comments on the B & M, but here is something for you to considered-A BPP Shifter:

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/showthread.php?t=917281

Paul4137

I put B&M in my 04 Z and love it. I like how it has a rubber boot over the shifter to keep noise down. When I looked at others I didnt think they came with that could be wrong. I bought a used breathless shifter first. I drove down the end of the street and came back and removed it . It made a lot of noise and didint like the way it felt. Thats just my 2 cents. B&M

saber

I recommend a B&M very positive shifts and no vibrations, I have had mine now for about 2 months.

t56gen3

Have B&M and like it alot. Only bish I have is the notchiness of the shifts. I don't think it's symptomatic of the shifter per say but more of the design and the linkage on the vettes. Either way, MUCH improved over stock and would never go back. Never missed a gear before or after, only now I know it's in gear versus the guess with the play in the stocker.

SilverBulletZ06

I haven't put it on my Corvette yet, but my SR20DET powered Nissan 240SX had one and it felt amazing. The throws were literally about 2.5 inches from gear to gear. Absolutely sold me on their quality and performance. Inspection of the Corvette vesion (which now sits in my room waiting for a nice day) shows the usual quality that B&M has.

IsItFast

It's very tight...the few people that have gotten to drive my Z always make a comment on it. Love it or hate it you will get used to it quickly. Reverse is still a pain sometimes. I put a Kirban in for a day or 2 and went back to the B&M. If you want to quiet any aftermarket shifter down then install a plunger end over the shaft.

oyealiz

had mine for several years. lots harder and tighter to shift than stock. i love it!

evelkevin

My ripping experience:

03 Z06 4k miles, the stock shifter makes it way to easy to miss 3rd gear and from some of the other posts this can be hazardous to your motor's health. Not something I care to do.

Installed B&M last weekend, love the way it works, hated the noise it generated. But I fixed the noise. It is really the stock shift **** that causes the noise but before replacing it I pulled up the boot and used some self adhesive wide weatherstrip, soft foam, to wrap the bottom and base around it. I also packed in some other foam around it. I then split a piece of 3/8th" rubber fuel line and wrapped around the shaft then cut and pushed a length of water pipe insulation over it and reinstalled the boot. This eliminated at least 50% of the noise with the stock ****. This morning fedex delivered a 2.25" billiard ball material shift **** from West Coast Vette and I installed it. WOW !!!!! The shifter looks great, shifts great, and is now even quieter than with the stock assembly. I couldn't be more pleased! This is so the way to go with these cars. GM made a big error on this one. As far as shifter ***** go, I think anything with a little weight that is not hollow is definately the trick....Happy Motoring

cjz06

I love mine!


Chris

3 Z06ZR1

I put in a Hurst billet plus with a Billet ****, very tight, and positive.
then put a piece of dynomat over the rubber,i under the boot and around the shifter,
it's the way to go and Quieter than stock,Car just got a little quicker.
I'm sure the B&m' ripper is
equal to the hurst billet.
hate the stock zo-6 shifter same as a camaro.

AFVETTE

While I own and love my Hurst, I will say this - any aftermarket shifter is better than the OEM. I'm sure the Ripper is a fine piece of engineering, designed for a single purpose and most likely at or near the top in this category of aftermarket parts.

Tom

KMeloney

I prefered the Ripper to stock, but not to the Mallett.

The Kirban was brutal. The Ripper was better than the Kirban, but still super-stiff. The Mallett is as precise as the Ripper, but without the added noise and effort. In my eyes, that's the best of all worlds.

The Mallett is also much more expensive than anything else out there -- but it makes the car the most fun to drive, IMO.

I think that most people pick a shifter and "go with it" (especially if it's better than stock). Most people haven't tried the Mallett due to its cost, but I think it's the best.

Good luck!

-Kirk

POWERTOWEIGHT

I've Had The Ripper 2 1/2 Years. I Love It. It's Harder To Shift, But Gives The Entire Car A Racecar Feel. Good Luck. It Also Looks Like You Could Shift A Peterbuilt With It. It Is Very Strong.