Joined
·
6,389 Posts
I commented on this item in another thread but I now that I've had more time in the car with this piece in place I feel compelled to start a thread specific to this item. I'm talking about the Tick bronze shifter cup. This well made item (don't fall for the knockoffs please) replaces the small plastic cup in the shifter arm inside the transmission into which your shifter handle goes so you have control from the shifter to the tranmsission lever.
www.tickperformance.com
It was a whole lot of PITA to get the shifter out just to get at where the cup goes. Personally, I would suggest just waiting to install this item for the next time you have a need to either drop the transmission or will be replacing the shifter or have some other reason to be in there. What a PITA it is to drop the trans enough to be able to get the boot bolted to the floor off and to be able to reach the bolts that hold the shifter to the top of the transmission.
Anyway, I had a bit of a challenge in getting the OEM plastic cup out of the shifter lever, but a judicious tap with a long wide flat blade screwdriver got it started and then I could wiggle it out. The new bronze cup was very snug, I had to get it started very straight and then lightly tap it in with a block of wood and a hammer. Don't get carried away, bronze can be more brittle than steel and one over zealous off center whack with a hammer and you'll be reinstalling the plastic up until your replacement bronze cup arrives.
Once in place it was the PITA process of putting things back together. Be sure to put a little lithium grease on the cup where the ball of the shifter goes so it doesn't go in dry and start wearing prematurely. I'm sure once driven the transmission fluid lubricates it well enough. The OEM plastic cup as covered in transmission fluid.
I honestly expected not much of a result and I expected to get more shifter noise and vibration for my trouble. I was very wrong. No additional noise, no additional vibration. What I did get is a noticeable improvement in shift feel. I can now feel exactly where I'm at with each shift and it is ever so easy to tell if I am fully in gear yet or not. I feel every distinct step of the way to disengaging and engaging each gear. It isn't easier to shift, just feels much more precise and communicative. I have a Pro Billet (a remote shifter like the stock shifter but much, much better) which probably feels different than a direct shifter, but I'll bet the feel would be even better with a direct shifter.
Regardless, this seemingly minor upgrade is well worth the $25 for the bushing cup. I'll just not comment if it was worth the PITA of getting the shifter off and on...but it is in there now and I'm glad I installed it.
Tick Performance Bronze Shifter/Isolator Cup Bushing for Tremec T56 Transmissions, Part #95B
Shop now! Late model GM LSx & LTx performance specialists, offering parts at competitive prices, professional installs & expert computer tuning! LS1 LS2 LS3 LS6 LS7 LS9
www.tickperformance.com
It was a whole lot of PITA to get the shifter out just to get at where the cup goes. Personally, I would suggest just waiting to install this item for the next time you have a need to either drop the transmission or will be replacing the shifter or have some other reason to be in there. What a PITA it is to drop the trans enough to be able to get the boot bolted to the floor off and to be able to reach the bolts that hold the shifter to the top of the transmission.
Anyway, I had a bit of a challenge in getting the OEM plastic cup out of the shifter lever, but a judicious tap with a long wide flat blade screwdriver got it started and then I could wiggle it out. The new bronze cup was very snug, I had to get it started very straight and then lightly tap it in with a block of wood and a hammer. Don't get carried away, bronze can be more brittle than steel and one over zealous off center whack with a hammer and you'll be reinstalling the plastic up until your replacement bronze cup arrives.
Once in place it was the PITA process of putting things back together. Be sure to put a little lithium grease on the cup where the ball of the shifter goes so it doesn't go in dry and start wearing prematurely. I'm sure once driven the transmission fluid lubricates it well enough. The OEM plastic cup as covered in transmission fluid.
I honestly expected not much of a result and I expected to get more shifter noise and vibration for my trouble. I was very wrong. No additional noise, no additional vibration. What I did get is a noticeable improvement in shift feel. I can now feel exactly where I'm at with each shift and it is ever so easy to tell if I am fully in gear yet or not. I feel every distinct step of the way to disengaging and engaging each gear. It isn't easier to shift, just feels much more precise and communicative. I have a Pro Billet (a remote shifter like the stock shifter but much, much better) which probably feels different than a direct shifter, but I'll bet the feel would be even better with a direct shifter.
Regardless, this seemingly minor upgrade is well worth the $25 for the bushing cup. I'll just not comment if it was worth the PITA of getting the shifter off and on...but it is in there now and I'm glad I installed it.
