Lightningtruck
S197 Newb
Let me start off by saying that I hope this helps someone.
As a few of you know, I bought my first S197 over the winter, a wrecked 2005 V6 5-speed coupe to rebuild as a daily driver. Got that done, and got it where I wanted it, except that once I started driving it, I absolutely hated that stock shifter. So I got to using the search button and found the 10,278 posts talking about the different shifter options, and most centered around Hurst. Some loved them, some hated them, etc. And now they cost about 300 bucks. Not looking real good to me, so I started wondering if I could put a Pro 5.0 shifter from a GT/3650 transmission on my 4.0L/T5 combo. I'm here to tell you that IT WORKS PERFECTLY. Here's some background and my observations.
First off, I bought a stock GT 3650 shifter to compare to my stock V6 T5 shifter. Not much difference, and the only real things I could see was that bend in the forward rod for the front mount, and maybe the pivot location is a bit taller on the V6 shifter. Check out the picture, the top one is the V6 stocker, the middle is the GT stocker, and of course the bottom is the Pro 5.0 for a GT.
GT versus V6, the forward bend:
V6 versus Pro 5.0, the forward bend. Not much difference!
More V6 versus Pro 5.0:
Top view - V6 versus Pro 5.0, this is looking too easy!
Reuse these metal sleeves from the forward mount in the stock shifter. They fit perfectly into the urethane front mount bushings of the Pro 5.0:
Sleeves installed:
Stock bolt works perfectly at the front mount. Don't forget to add a dab of blue Loctite:
I assembled this without removing the driveshaft. Obviously, it would be much easier to just install the shifter in one piece with the driveshaft out. But you can do it with the driveshaft in place by removing the red forward beam of the Pro 5.0 shifter from the rest of the body. Install both pieces separately in the car and then bolt them together. Once that was done, and I installed the shift rod itself. You'll need to pay attention to the brass bushing orientation. Here's what I mean by that:
Bushings used for the lower pivot arm in the Pro 5.0. From driver-to-passenger side of the car, the assembly is as follows: Bottom of shift arm - fat brass bushing - shift rod - thin brass bushing.
If you get the orientation wrong, you will not get the full sideways range of shifting motion. I did the trial-and-error thing with this and finally figured it out.
Almost done. I got inside the car and bolted the Pro-5.0 handle up. I installed to the left of the shifter arm sticking up, so as to get the shifter knob closer to me. Note that this gets cozy with the console and might not allow you to get it into the 1-2 gates very easy. This will be obvious if you have this issue. Solution is to install the handle on the other side of the shifter arm, or, do as I did in the final version, which is to use a thinner Hurst shifter handle. Oh, don't forget to set the positive stops. Unlike the GT's 3650 transmission, the T5 does not have positive stops, and is a main cause of failure of these transmissions. Here's a picture from inside:
After the shifter and shift rod were all physically bolted up and positive stops set, I took a razor blade to the rubber boot bottom to allow for clearance of everything:
Here's the boot installed. Like I mentioned, this was too cozy with the console on the left side, and preventing easy 1-2 engagements. So I put in a thinner Hurst handle and that gave the extra clearance I need.
Now I'm missing the most important pictures of all - the final deal with the Hurst handle installed. I'll get them soon and edit the post. I can say that there is a HUGE difference in this shifter, first in that the shift knob is at least 3 to 4 inches further back toward me now. And closer to the left. Very comfortable. And that stock rubber sensation is gone, replaced by smooth, easy, clean engagement. Best thing is that this was done using a shifter that "isn't supposed to fit" in my car. I bolted it up and modified NOTHING.
Happy shifting!
Thanks,
Kevin
As a few of you know, I bought my first S197 over the winter, a wrecked 2005 V6 5-speed coupe to rebuild as a daily driver. Got that done, and got it where I wanted it, except that once I started driving it, I absolutely hated that stock shifter. So I got to using the search button and found the 10,278 posts talking about the different shifter options, and most centered around Hurst. Some loved them, some hated them, etc. And now they cost about 300 bucks. Not looking real good to me, so I started wondering if I could put a Pro 5.0 shifter from a GT/3650 transmission on my 4.0L/T5 combo. I'm here to tell you that IT WORKS PERFECTLY. Here's some background and my observations.
First off, I bought a stock GT 3650 shifter to compare to my stock V6 T5 shifter. Not much difference, and the only real things I could see was that bend in the forward rod for the front mount, and maybe the pivot location is a bit taller on the V6 shifter. Check out the picture, the top one is the V6 stocker, the middle is the GT stocker, and of course the bottom is the Pro 5.0 for a GT.
GT versus V6, the forward bend:
V6 versus Pro 5.0, the forward bend. Not much difference!
More V6 versus Pro 5.0:
Top view - V6 versus Pro 5.0, this is looking too easy!
Reuse these metal sleeves from the forward mount in the stock shifter. They fit perfectly into the urethane front mount bushings of the Pro 5.0:
Sleeves installed:
Stock bolt works perfectly at the front mount. Don't forget to add a dab of blue Loctite:
I assembled this without removing the driveshaft. Obviously, it would be much easier to just install the shifter in one piece with the driveshaft out. But you can do it with the driveshaft in place by removing the red forward beam of the Pro 5.0 shifter from the rest of the body. Install both pieces separately in the car and then bolt them together. Once that was done, and I installed the shift rod itself. You'll need to pay attention to the brass bushing orientation. Here's what I mean by that:
Bushings used for the lower pivot arm in the Pro 5.0. From driver-to-passenger side of the car, the assembly is as follows: Bottom of shift arm - fat brass bushing - shift rod - thin brass bushing.
If you get the orientation wrong, you will not get the full sideways range of shifting motion. I did the trial-and-error thing with this and finally figured it out.
Almost done. I got inside the car and bolted the Pro-5.0 handle up. I installed to the left of the shifter arm sticking up, so as to get the shifter knob closer to me. Note that this gets cozy with the console and might not allow you to get it into the 1-2 gates very easy. This will be obvious if you have this issue. Solution is to install the handle on the other side of the shifter arm, or, do as I did in the final version, which is to use a thinner Hurst shifter handle. Oh, don't forget to set the positive stops. Unlike the GT's 3650 transmission, the T5 does not have positive stops, and is a main cause of failure of these transmissions. Here's a picture from inside:
After the shifter and shift rod were all physically bolted up and positive stops set, I took a razor blade to the rubber boot bottom to allow for clearance of everything:
Here's the boot installed. Like I mentioned, this was too cozy with the console on the left side, and preventing easy 1-2 engagements. So I put in a thinner Hurst handle and that gave the extra clearance I need.
Now I'm missing the most important pictures of all - the final deal with the Hurst handle installed. I'll get them soon and edit the post. I can say that there is a HUGE difference in this shifter, first in that the shift knob is at least 3 to 4 inches further back toward me now. And closer to the left. Very comfortable. And that stock rubber sensation is gone, replaced by smooth, easy, clean engagement. Best thing is that this was done using a shifter that "isn't supposed to fit" in my car. I bolted it up and modified NOTHING.
Happy shifting!
Thanks,
Kevin
Last edited:
