B & M Shifter Review

[Shandon]

I got my B&M Shifter from JohnB. The install was slow but straight forward. The only problem I ran into was not having a 3/4" bit.

My opinion as a fellow viper owner is:

1. The shifts are truly a bit shorter
2. The height is a lot lower than Oem even with the MGW First Strike knob
3. The feel is sharper finding the gates when shifting

I took the car out Monday and put 30 miles on it running through the gears just to be sure I actually could tell a difference. It's hard to know if things like a shifter realy make much change or not. Just because it looks cool doesn't mean it's a functional upgrade. So anyway I did a lot of stop lights and hard freeway driving . There realy is a difference and the best description I can give is that all the gates feel a lot cleaner/sharper. The 3rd to 4th shift is way improved!! I never had problems before with 2nd to 3rd as some have mentioned but 3rd to 4th especially at high RPM when the engine/trans torques over hard alsmost cought me before at the track. I took the car up to 5200rpm and dropped into 4th and the shifter realy makes it feel like a cleaner engagment over OEM. If there is any downside to the shifter its that it vibrates a little more but frankly who cares. So anyway I feel this was money well spent and if you have ever missed a shift I can attest that this will help with the feel!!

Give JohnB a call and pick one up!

 

[goldcup]

The difference in before and after was amazing.There is more vibration ,but you really feel like you are attached to a precision instrument.

 

[mike & juli]

Shandon: Knew you'd like the shifter~~! Good write-up, thanx! ~juli

 

[redtanrt10]

Shandon, now that you've experienced this, this will be one of your first mods if you ever get a new viper!

 

[Shandon]

Yea shifter and psII tires

 

[SnakeEye]

Nice review on a great mod.

 

[DII]

I had my B&M Shifter installed by Tators last week and I share the same sentiments as you. The reduced height is a big plus for me. And the more defined gates as well.

Another thing that I noticed last night is that I can shift more by rolling my wrist than moving my entire arm. This is especially true on 3-to-1 downshifting or 5-to-3 downshifting.

I notice I can match revs a bit better as well. Maybe its because its going in gear a bit faster to catch the revs coming down.

 

[Jeff Lemke]

Cool. I got one from Jon B as well but did not plan to install it until the spring. I'm looking forward to it.

Jeff

 

[dave6666]

I got my B&M Shifter from JohnB. The install was slow but straight forward. The only problem I ran into was not having a 3/4" bit.

What was the 3/4 bit for?

 

[Shandon]

You have to drill two holes to the right of the shifter so you can get a socket down and unscrew the oem shifter and tighten the last two bolts that hold the new one on. The instructions walk you through it fairly well. I had about every drill bit except a 3/4" and thats a big bit and a paddle bit wont work. Anyway there are two vinyl covers included to put over the holes when you are done.

 

[Canyon707]

Great shifter There is another post on this. I left some interesting info on after I installed mine. I thought the hardest was getting in the car sideways to do it. The other thing was removing and installing the two bolts through the 3/4" holes you had to drill. I used a dremal tool to cut mine. My tip of the day is to remove and not drop the two bolts I put a small magnet in my socket to remove and install those bolts. It took awhile but, I always take my time on this car. The factory directions are not for 2003 up. More screws to remove the cover in the counsel box to remove. Its all good.......

 

[Shandon]

yea VERY good point!! When lowering the new screws through those holes I used a small wire wrapped around the top of the bolt. (strong magnetic socket would have been best). Once I began to thread them in I pulled the wire off. If you were to drop one if those bolts it will end up sitting on the metal skid plate/ undercarriage cover.

That would **** if you didin't have a lift because that metal sheet has a bunch of screws holding it on and it would take longer to jack the car up on all 4 to get that thing off.
glad that didn't happen.

 

[Canyon707]

yea VERY good point!! When lowering the new screws through those holes I used a small wire wrapped around the top of the bolt. (strong magnetic socket would have been best). Once I began to thread them in I pulled the wire off. If you were to drop one if those bolts it will end up sitting on the metal skid plate/ undercarriage cover.

That would **** if you didin't have a lift because that metal sheet has a bunch of screws holding it on and it would take longer to jack the car up on all 4 to get that thing off.
glad that didn't happen.

I just had a ceramic magnet so I broke it into a piece that would fit inside the socket. Once I got it out and in I was feeling very good. Like you said if you drop it the project takes on another dimension.