Hey does anyone know the difference between the Hurst shifters that came ordered in the 96-02 SS's when compaired to the aftermarket Hurst shifters you can get from Hurst??? I have heard that the "factory" ones, are still round black bar, but if it has a kink in it, its a Hurst shifter? I have found a couple and am just not sure if this was true. Just dont wanna spend the money if its a fake. Thanks for any help!!

 

Hurst Shifters on factory cars are just that.They didn't put the Hurst linkage in the factory cars. If you want the true setup,get the Hurst shifter and linkage setup.My 02.

 

Hurst has a website that has more info on this, or just call them.Hope this helps.

 

The "factory" Hurst shifter on the 96-97 SS cars consisted of a steel plate and cast aluminum shift mechanism--essentially a cup containing springs and the shifter arm which shortened the shift throws. It mounts to the trans case. The stick was the same rubber isolated stick that was used with the stock shifter. These all have a kink in them. It also had a unique leather shift **** with an embossed H. The same shifter was sold aftermarket as the Competiton Plus. It could be had without a stick, or with a chrome stick or a black stick and any manner of Hurst *****. It was replaced with the Billet Plus in the aftermarket which is all aluminum and has adjustable external stop bolts (which are redundant since the T-56 had internal stops for overtravel). All of the T-56 shift linkage is internal and rail mounted and is the same regardless of the shifter. AFIAIK the factory Hurst continued to be the same post '98. Eventually SLP marketed an aftermarket shifter that was identiical to the Comp Plus under their own brand.
Any of these Hurst shifters ( or any aftermarket shifter) are going to SIGNIFICANTLY improve shift feel and shorten the throws. They are also much more precise. The stock shifter would consistantly let me miss 3rd and grab 5th instead. No more. I've had the Comp Plus for 14 years and can vouch for its durability. A shifter and CAGS bypass are the first mods that any 4th gen owner with an M6 should make. HTH
Tim

 

I had a factory Hurst and my Competition Plus (from 1995) side by side. The factory plate was stamped steel, gold tinted. The Comp Plus plate was fairly thick aluminum (not billet), anodized black. I just posted a pic of the Hurst Comp Plus, with Lou's Short Stick and an LG Motorpsorts shift **** on another site:

 

The standard shifter had a stamped steel base. The shifter lever was half-circle shaped where the stick bolts on.

The OEM / SLP installed Hurst had a billet base. The shifter lever was flat steel where the stick bolts on. The lever was canted to the driver.

Hurst sold an aftermarket shifter nearly identical to that, but the lever is not canted and some of the colour / anodizing / stick are different.

The factory installed Hurst did not have a stamped base plate, it was billet or plate.

The stamped steel base plate base F-body shifter was supplied by GHSP to Borg-Warner and then Tremec.

 

I had a factry Hus shifter ordered with my 97. It had alot of deflection. Went to a Pro_5. Quite alot better. I machined a new close tollerance bushing to fit the T56. Better. Ended with a UMI short handle on a pro_5 base and machined my own short ****.

 

The factory Hurst shifter I had came out of one of the 100 manual trans 30th SS convertibles. I see if I can find pictures of that one.