I have the Pro 5.0 and I agree with Turbo Z. It is kinda notchy, but like putting the pieces of a puzzle together notchy. I like the sound it makes when you shift gears, very positive, definitely very solid. MUST remember to tighten the handle screws though. I do think, however, that its quieter than the old Hurst shifter I had on another car. Also, I really wanted the straight handle over the offset one like on the Ripper. Overall, I love it. I'd love to drive cars with the Ripper and the Billet Hurst just for comparision.

 

My vote goes to the ripper i love it! I got the ripper with a hammer head handle

 

Pro 5.0 with Lou's Short Stick here. Absolutely love it . Haven't missed a shift yet and its been on the car over a year .

Bryan

 

I also agree with Turbo_Z i have driven his car and mine an i prefer the hurst to the pro 5.0 along with him. Hurst was king in the 60's and they still are today.

 

B&M Ripper shifter here courtesy of the girlfriend, and I have to say I'll never own another F-Body with the stock shifter in it for long.

 

Tell me why.

So what are the attributes that persuade you in that direction?

 

I use the Pro 5.0. It's a quality piece. Most either chop and inch or two off the top or use lou's short stick (do a search).

The Pro 5.0 was a good mod that many over look.. well worth it IMO.

 

I have the old skool ripper (adjustable stops) and it's the best shifter I have felt in any car... I have felt all sorts of import shifters they are all wack, I have drove the steeda triax on stangs, hursts, and one of my close friends has a Pro 5.0 and a LS short stick (mike95z28) and I still prefer mine the best. My friend's pro 5.0 is way too notchy for me and I don't like that angled stick BS... To really find out your preference you would have to drive em all... Me, Ripper!

 

Personally I like the Pro 5.0 the best. Another option would the B&M Ripper.

 

pleased with my hurst billet plus with chrome stick and alluminum (polished by me) t-handle. Kind of has a metalic feel but i like that

 

I have the B&M Ripper, It was one of my first mods I got five years ago. It's a nice shifter, it was a huge improvement over stock. I only knew of that one and the Hurst when I bought it, had never heard of the Pro 5.0 then. If I were buying one now I'd probably get the 5.0 from all the good things I've heard about it.

 

I've driven Fbodies with these shifters:
Hurst Competition Plus (can't find it anymore)
Hurst Billet Plus
Pro 5.0

I have a friend's Billet Plus in my car now. While it's a great improvement over stock...I'm not too fond of it, as in if I had bought it myself.

From there, it's a close call to the Competition Plus and the Pro 5.0. First off, the Comp Plus feels great, clockwork movement and precision. The things I did not like were the angled stick and reverse was a little knotchy and often hard to engage.

The Pro 5.0 is really stiff. To me, it felt like a slightly longer shift, but was precise and just clinked right in. It was a little clinky...but to me, that felt good.

I'm going Pro 5.0...unless I find a KILLER deal on a used Comp Plus.

 

I have a 97 SS, it has the leather **** with the H in the top. the guy i bought it from said it was just a **** and not the shifter. how can i tell if it is the stock shifter and not a Hurst?

 

The base of the shifter should say HURST if it's in fact a Hurst. Remove the shifter panel and check it out.

 

I have the old school B&M Ripper, it kicks butt. I like the feel of the shifts, short & precise. I also like the billet aluminum shaft. the B&M shaft on mine is straight as well. It kicks butt, looks great, I can't complain.