Titanium
19-10-2007, 09:57 PM
Went out to Billet Products yesterday and picked up a billet shifter for the VE.
Nice bit of kit I must say.
Got the low down on how to put it in, things to look out for and just to give them a call if any issues. Was also pointed to the 6 page installation step by step guide with photos on their web site. Should take about 60 -90 minutes I was told.
Went down sout east to catch up with Curtis for lunch, we ended up a Chevs where he just happend to have a spare hoist for the afternoon. Funny that because he always has a spare hoist for the boys! Cheers Chev.
Started off inside the car, removed the required trim and shifter boot, gear knob (nearly had a tuffy here), switches and unscrewed the shifter mechanisim from the tunnel. Shifter then was free to drop down with the gear box.
Up on the hoist, remove the catback, drive shaft shield, undid the 3 bolts and dropped down the drive shaft.
Got the gearbox jack, supported the box, undid the four bolts on the bracket and lowered the box down a good 100 mm.
Had very easy access to the OE shifter mechanisim and the required fixing points.
Was surprised at how far back the shifter was in relation to the gear box.
Had a bit of trouble with a couple of the clips, the instructions could be a bit more detailed here (will let BP know) and after about 15 minutes of no progress and some skinned knickles and grazed palm made a quick call to BP, bit of a technique change and hey presto OE shifter droped free from the box.
Time elapsed about 40 minutes.
Fitted up the new shifter as per instructions and installed all the gear box, drive shaft, catback etc.
Time elapsed about 60 minutes.
Back in the car, tightened up the Billet Shifter to the tunnel with required scews and set up the positive stops, engine running, took it for a test drive, with the windows down (no switches installed at this stage) all good, impressed with the action and shift.
Replace gear shift knob, attached plugs and trim.
Time elapsed about 75 minutes.
On the way home noticed a little chatter on the positive stops under accceleration, just a quick adjustment in the morning will fix this.
Overall.
Quality of product 9/10 - had a broken plastic bush which I will discuss with BP and supplied with an OEM part not used in instalation.
Quality of fitting instructions 9/10
Ease of instalation 10/10 - hoist helped this. An experienced shop would fit and set this up in an hour (after the first 1)
Price 10/10 - got a discount for being a LS1 forum member, took payment by credit card.
Performance over OEM 20/10.
I have not tried any other shifter on the market for a VE and chose the BP one as it was on the market, in stock and had had a drive of Uncle Tones GTS with shifter installed a couple of weeks ago.
Cheers
Peter
Nice bit of kit I must say.
Got the low down on how to put it in, things to look out for and just to give them a call if any issues. Was also pointed to the 6 page installation step by step guide with photos on their web site. Should take about 60 -90 minutes I was told.
Went down sout east to catch up with Curtis for lunch, we ended up a Chevs where he just happend to have a spare hoist for the afternoon. Funny that because he always has a spare hoist for the boys! Cheers Chev.
Started off inside the car, removed the required trim and shifter boot, gear knob (nearly had a tuffy here), switches and unscrewed the shifter mechanisim from the tunnel. Shifter then was free to drop down with the gear box.
Up on the hoist, remove the catback, drive shaft shield, undid the 3 bolts and dropped down the drive shaft.
Got the gearbox jack, supported the box, undid the four bolts on the bracket and lowered the box down a good 100 mm.
Had very easy access to the OE shifter mechanisim and the required fixing points.
Was surprised at how far back the shifter was in relation to the gear box.
Had a bit of trouble with a couple of the clips, the instructions could be a bit more detailed here (will let BP know) and after about 15 minutes of no progress and some skinned knickles and grazed palm made a quick call to BP, bit of a technique change and hey presto OE shifter droped free from the box.
Time elapsed about 40 minutes.
Fitted up the new shifter as per instructions and installed all the gear box, drive shaft, catback etc.
Time elapsed about 60 minutes.
Back in the car, tightened up the Billet Shifter to the tunnel with required scews and set up the positive stops, engine running, took it for a test drive, with the windows down (no switches installed at this stage) all good, impressed with the action and shift.
Replace gear shift knob, attached plugs and trim.
Time elapsed about 75 minutes.
On the way home noticed a little chatter on the positive stops under accceleration, just a quick adjustment in the morning will fix this.
Overall.
Quality of product 9/10 - had a broken plastic bush which I will discuss with BP and supplied with an OEM part not used in instalation.
Quality of fitting instructions 9/10
Ease of instalation 10/10 - hoist helped this. An experienced shop would fit and set this up in an hour (after the first 1)
Price 10/10 - got a discount for being a LS1 forum member, took payment by credit card.
Performance over OEM 20/10.
I have not tried any other shifter on the market for a VE and chose the BP one as it was on the market, in stock and had had a drive of Uncle Tones GTS with shifter installed a couple of weeks ago.
Cheers
Peter