SVSI vs. B&M vs. Woodhouse Modded Shifter

[ROCKET62]

Looking to replace the stock SHIFTER in my 93. Note I did say that I want to replace the shifter (not the shaft or knob - which have already been taken care of). My stock shifter is BRUTAL - especially going from 2 - 3, and hope to get some candid feedback ASAP.

Thanks in advance for your thoughts.

 

[99 R/T 10]

I have the B&M and like it very much. Better feel and more positive shifts. Check summit for the best prices($249 I think).

 

[Tom Welch]

Check the Billet Aluminum pistol grip shifter that we offer. Pics are available at our website..click on the link below.

Thanks,

Tom

 

[PhilC]

I have the b&m and like it. I still have the stock shaft and knob and dont like those very much. What did you go with on the shaft and knob

 

[Bob Woodhouse]

Hey Rocket, just caught your note. What is it you want to improve? You said the 2-3 shift is brutal, that makes me think it does not make the transition rapidly which could be that your transmission is getting some wear in the blocker rings or the nylon shift fork tips. The Woodhouse shifter will not help in this regard. It is intended to reduce the 3 - 2 versus intended 3 - 4 shifts by adding spring load to the left side of the gate. I have used the others and can offer comment if needed.

 

[SapphireGTS]

I did the B&M for a while but the 2nd to third was still an easy miss. I took the top half off the B&M and screwed the stock piece back on, coupled with a MGW knob and I like it alot. Id say get the B&M, if its too close do what I did.

Good luck.

 

[1TONY1]

I don't like my b&m.....but like Bob said my tranny may be old.

 

[99 R/T 10]

I have the b&m and like it. I still have the stock shaft and knob and dont like those very much. What did you go with on the shaft and knob

MGW, what else?

 

[Joel]

Just fitted the Woodhouse shifter, it has transformed the gearchange on my GTS. I use it in conjuction with a Rich Detert shortened lever and a Gen 1 gearknob. My 3rd to 4th change was the big scare for me since I have hit 2nd a couple of times and that does not feel good I'm still a bit careful of that gearchange (probably due to years changing with my left hand) but its a lot better than before. One downside but not a problem for me was that I had to remove part of the ashtray reciever in the chassis. Plated it over and glued the top of the ashtray into place.
I would reccommend the Woodhouse shifter
BTW I did try a short shifter before and the reduced gate made the gearchange awful

 

[Moundir]

the more I read about these shifters I am even more confused I have the same problem as you Rocket62, my 2-3 shifts usually take a day or two to complete

 

[FE 065]

Once in awhile the 3-4 shift on my 2002 seems to like to head either to 6th or 2nd unless a direct effort is made to pull straight back into 4th. Maybe it's something to do with the taller shift lever. It's only now and then, usually when under medium throttle or more, but I never noticed it on my '96GTS. Any more info on making the 3-4 shift more of a done deal?

 

[Joel]

Yes........get the Woodhouse shifter

 

[ROCKET62]

Thanks for the feedback. Anyone have the SVS shifter?

 

[Jerry Scott[CO]]

I had the SVSI unit about 2 years ago. Since the ratios are reduced and the springs for the gates are very weak, I found it to be very dangerous for the dreaded 3-2 mistake. It might be ok for the street, but not at all usable on the track, at least for me.

 

[Joel]

Suspect my short shifter might have been an SVSI unit, it was all machined from billet aluminium and anodised black ( but came in a plain box through a vendor ). I agree with Gerry in that the spring was weak and the movement reduced which made the change even more tricky. The Woodhouse changer increases the spring rate to bias the lever firmly away from the 1/2 slots thereby making mistakes less likely.

 

[RSNAKE]

I have the B&M shifter and a short shaft from SVS and am still using the stock '99 shift knob. I really like this combo a lot. I have yet to miss a shift using it. The throws are very short, but have excellent feel. I can feel the gates very well, yet it does not feel too notchey. I think it would be perfect with a Momo super anatomic knob, and would be close to perfect if the shaft were just about 1/4" longer using the stock knob. I am going to keep it as is for now though as I like the look of the stock knob, particularly in my cognac interior and I don't want to mess with cutting the longer shaft that SVS offers down.

I have not driven a car with the SVS shifter, but this set up does not have the problem described by others here. The springs feel just right. They are strong enough that the 2-3 shift is very natural and I have never hit 2 instead of 4 on a downshift. They are not so strong how ever that it feels like a chore to move the shifter side to side.

When I first got my Viper and it had the completely stock shifter set up, I was disappointed in the feel and thought that it was very poor for a sports car. Long, slow, sloppy throws. The set up I have now honestly makes it the best feeling shifter I have ever used.

Special thanks to John, the tech at SVS that helped me with the install and was very patient with my indecisiveness on what exactly I wanted.

 

[Moundir]

RSSNAKE do you feel that the shorter shaft helped with toning down the notchiness of the B&M shifter?? I've driven a car with one and it felt like you are actually ripping through the tranny

 

[RSNAKE]

Yes, I think it did reduce the notchey feeling of the B&M. I don't have a picture of the B&M shaft or the SVS shaft so a description will have to due.

The B&M shaft is much heavier than the SVS. It has a very large diameter tapered section just above where it threads into the shifter mechanism. I am not quite sure why it is designed that way, whether for strength or to add a feeling of weight to the shift. The SVS piece is machined from solid stock with threads on both ends and is basically the same diameter throughout the length of the shaft. It still feels plenty strong (and I shift very aggressively), but is much lighter and more precise feeling than the B&M shaft. The SVS shaft also happens to have exactly the same threads as the B&M shaft so there is no difficulty screwing it into the B&M shifter.

 

[Snakester]

Another vote here for the B&M shifter. I have it combined with a lowered shift knob and the shifting feels MUCH more precise than stock, less isolated.

-Dean.

 

[HOLD TYTE]

I run the stock shifter but removed the rubber isolator and lowered it a bit with a shorter shaft. Shifts really fast and the gears are easier to locate. Another viper buddy here in Chicago is disgusted with his SVS shifter for drag racing. I'd imagine for normal driving it would be fine. Can't shift it fast and loses car lengths on each shift. He wants it gone so if you're interested I'm sure he'll sell it cheap if not give it away.. If interested let me know.