precision shifting

[varanus]

I just got a 97 gts a few weeks ago and have really been enjoying the car. I am finding that shifting is hard for me as I seem to miss gears. A few times on downshifting I''ve gone into the wrong gate eg 6th to 4th but really going from 6th to 2nd. For some reason out of all the manual shifts I've owned, I am having the hardest time with this one. Does any one have any suggestions before I scatter my motor?

 

[HSSSTOY]

Buddy relax you are excited, no reason not to be, you are driving a Viper.
There is a slight spring load on the shifter.Make sure to lay in NEUTRAL when downshifting,and this is the key,as the brain is oriented,and will co-ordinate with the arm movement. keep the Adrino.under controll as it will stiffen your muscles... Good luck, Viper Tranny is bullet proof.

 

[Mike H]

definitely move to a B/M ripper shifter, shift pattern shorter and moves in and out of gear smoothly. Someone like Jegs is the best price I found. 5th and 6th gears are usually harder gears and you need to push over towards the passenger side more, but give it time you will get the hang of it. I do beg to differ the Viper tranny is not indestructible and 5th/6th gear cluster is the weak link of the trans.

 

[ACR Joe]

Topic: precision shifting ..... an oxymoron with a Viper.

I installed an SVSi short throw shifter which is a 90% improvement over stock.

 

[Jerry Scott[CO]]

I was having the same problem on the track, and tried the SVSI shifter. In my opinion the springs were too weak and allowed even more mis-shifts, especially the 3 to 2 when you want 3 to 4. This can over-rev the engine and cause damage.

I like the modification that K&P (303-697-5821) makes to the stock shifter. Here's a picture. He increases the spring pressure on the left side so that it is more difficult to do the erroneous 3 to 2 shift. In addition to this modification, use the SVSI solid stud which eliminates the spongy feel of the shift lever.

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[Dion Fisher]

Yep, elbow position really helps to make the right shifts if it's tucked into your side you're shifting into second if it's up you're shifting into fourth and if it's up and out you're pulling her into sixth..

Familiarize yourself with your elbow positions when shifting and ((don't tense up when you're under the gun)) that's a second gear grab for sure...

 

[Jay Herbert]

I've heard many positive things about the K&P modified shifter. I called them up and chatted with them for a while, If I recall the conversation correctly, they actually preferred that folks buy the shifter through Woodhouse, he likes making them, but preferred that the retail end be done through a quality service organization like Woodhouse

 

[Vip-RT10]

It seems to me that the stick shifts that you were used to had longer throws compared to the Viper, so that is why IMHO. You still drive like it's a stick shift to a old truck that the throw is about 12 inches. Once you recalibrate your brain, the problem will be gone.