Corvette Parts Blog

Shift Knob - 6 Speed Pattern

You may have read our recent post about new B&M Six Speed Shifters for the C6 Corvette. If so here are a few C6 Corvette shifter knobs that will install easily on that shifter, other aftermarket shifters and the stock setup as well.

Zip Corvette’s new 2.25″ C6 Corvette Shifter Knobs will give you that feeling and a touch of unique flair for your Corvette.

Shift Knob - Corvette Logo

These new Corvette Parts have been designed specifically for the C6 Corvette, so they not only reduce the height of your Corvette’s shifter by 1″ but will they also allow you to continue to use the factory shift boot mounting points. Something no other aftermarket knobs can boast! Say goodbye to merely “dressing up” your Corvette’s aftermarket shifter!

Knob - Grand Sport Stripe

Manufactured of a composite material, the C6 Corvette patterns, logos and scripts are embedded into the knob and you’ll never have to worry about those graphics disappearing. Choose from several different knob and script color combinations. Knobs are available in white or black and scripts are available in white, black or red. These C6 Corvette shifter knobs mount to the shifter just like the OEM knob and will fit all C6 Corvettes including the Z06, ZR1 and Grand Sport. Each shifter knob is 100% GM Licensed therefor quality will not be an issue.

C5 & C6 Shifter Housing Bushings

An Exclusive from Zip Corvette Parts! These polyurethane 1997-2012 C5 & C6 Corvette Shifter Lower Housing Bushings were designed in-house by Zip’s Vice-President of Product and Development in response to rubber bushings that break down after just a few years.

If you are tired of rubber bushings or would like to add some performance to your Corvette, then polyurethane is the way to go. Replace your torn stock shifter housing rubber bushing with Zip’s polyurethane replacements; eliminating movement of the C5 or C6 Corvette Shifter when banging between gears. Not only do they increase performance level, they last much longer than their rubber counterparts.

These bushings fit all 1997-2012 Corvette 6 speed shifters except for C6 Z06, ZR1 and GrandSport models.

6-Speed B&M Shifter for 2008-2011 C6

Just introduced – a B&M replacement short-throw shifter for your 2008 and later Corvette that allows you to use the factory shift knob. The Corvette 6-Speed Shifter by B&M for 2008-2011 C6 is CNC engineered to reduce shifter throw by 33%. CNC machined from 303 stainless steel and 6061T-6 aluminum, this shifter provides the type of performance you demand from your Corvette. Features include Billet 303 stainless steel stick, bearing assembly mounted in a 6061-T6 aluminum housing and adjustable throw stops to eliminate over-travel while being fully isolated to eliminate vibrations. Designed to fit all 2008-2011 Corvette applications while utilizing the stock shift knob or aftermarket knobs.

Corvette Ripper Shifters by B&M are backed by a 1 Million Mile Warranty.

Get your C5 or C6 Corvette shifter installed at Zip Corvette for $99.00. Call a Zip Corvette sales representative at 1.800.962.9632 for more information.

Console Tab Locations

A loose or flimsy shifter console trim plate is one annoyance that every 1968-1976 C3 Corvette owner will likely encounter due to normal wear and tear. Think about how many times you rest your arm or lean on the shifter console to grab something out of the passenger seat. Well under the trim plate itself are small inward tapered tabs that the trim plate attaches to. Being made out of the same material as the console itself, as opposed to aluminum or another durable material, the tabs grow weak and break over time.

You can spend time trying to rig a temporary fix, or even purchase a complete replacement console for well over $100; or you could just purchase a 1968-1976 Corvette Shifter Console Trim Plate Repair Kit from Zip Products.

With a new trim plate repair kit from Zip you will get new aluminum tabs that hot glue to the console in each of its four corners, screws and U-nuts for the  Corvette’s shifter plate.

In approximately 1-2 hours and a little over $30 you will be able to repair your Corvette’s lower shifter console housing by adding aluminum tabs that will far outlast the originals.

By Justin McNeer – Zip Sales Representative

Have you rebuilt your early Corvette shifter only to find the same problems banging gears? Or are you installing a new shifter and need help making sure the shifter linkage is properly adjusted? Zip Corvette has a simple tool that can make a shifter linkage adjustment easy. These Corvette 4-Speed Shifter Linkage Adjustment Tools allow you to set the proper distances and locations for your Corvette shift mechanism while installing it. Zip Corvette offers these tools for 1957-1962 Corvettes with Borg-Warner T-10 transmissions (part # ST-404), 1963 BW & Muncie transmissions (part # ST-405) and 1964-1981 Muncie and late Super T-10 transmissions (part # ST-406).

On 1957-1963 Corvettes the alignment block is inserted in the top of the levers. Locate the shift fork levers on the side of the Corvette’s Transmission in their neutral positions. Install the shifter without any rods attached. Insert the block with the groove over the tab and into the slots at the top levers. Once all are in position you can hook up your shift rods and begin any fine adjustments you may need to make.

On 1964-1981 Corvettes with the Muncie or late 1970′s T-10 Corvette Transmission the procedure is slightly different. The alignment tool is a small metal plate inserted into the side of the shifter levers. Begin by locating the transmissions lever in neutral. Locate the small slot in the lower portion of the shifter levers. Slowly insert the plate through the slot and through each of the shifter levers. The plate will not come through, but instead will bottom out once all the levers are aligned. Once all are in position you can hook up your shift rods and make any fine adjustments that may be needed. These tools prove invaluable when installing a Corvette Shifter, allowing you to quickly and easily get your Corvette shifting smoothly again.

By Tom Richardson – Zip Sales Representative

Corvette Park Brake Slide/Seal

Often times the Park Brake Slide/Seal is either missing from your C3 Corvette’s console or is broken and doesn’t slide properly, leaving an ugly gap deep into the abyss. A simple part, the park brake slide/seal has and even simpler function: To keep dirt and dust out of the park brake mechanism or better yet, keep your french fries from falling into the park brake assembly. The console seal literally “slides” forward and backward when engaging the park brake handle, keeping the area sealed at all times. Often times when getting the part, we hear complaints about the “crack” or ‘slit” in the seal… “Hey, you sent me a broken one”. But in reality this Corvette Part comes with the “slit “so that you can install it around the handle making for an easy installation.

By Bobby Norris – Zip Sales Representative

Corvette Accessories by Speed Lingerie

The colors used in Corvette interiors are designed to appeal to a very wide variety of tastes. Problem is, in trying to appeal to the lowest common denominator as far as color, the result may seem bland and uninspiring to those who like colorful surfaces in their Corvette’s interior.

For example, no matter what a Corvette’s exterior color might be, shifter and parking brake boots are always black, but, to some, on a Corvette which is, say…Torch Red, a bright red shift boot or parking brake boot might look really cool.

That’s where our C5 and C6 Corvette Interior Accessories by Speed Lingerie come in. They are designed and manufactured by Speed Lingerie to add a splash of color to surfaces and shapes which catch your eye in the interior of C5 & C6 Corvettes.

For 1997-2004 C5 and C6 Corvettes, we have shifter boots for 6-speed manuals and automatics, parking brake handle boots, door handle covers and head rest covers. In addition, for C5 Corvettes, we have a grab bar cover.

All of these items are made by Speed Lingerie from three-layer leather of which the middle layer is a moisture-wicking material. The leather is trimmed with elegant French-stitched seams. This type of construction results in a very durable surface which is important because shifters, parking brake handles, door handles and headrest covers must withstand a fair amount of contact with moisture or oils from human hands and hair.

Each of these products can be ordered in all production interior and exterior colors to match your Corvette’s predominate inside or outside color. Each comes with a set of easy-to-follow directions and can be installed by any do-it-yourselfer. In cases were tools are needed during the installation, they are common hand tools.

The C5 & C6 Corvette Hurst 6-Speed Classic Shift Knob is the perfect compliment to our 1997-2007 Hurst Billet Plus 6-Speed Shifters or any other C5 or C6 Corvette shifter that accepts a threaded shift knob. The Hurst shift ball features the correct 6-speed shift pattern and a Hurst logo printed on the side.

Hurst Corvette Shift Knob

When you purchase a Hurst Corvette Shifter, you are receiving a piece of legendary Hurst heritage and quality. From drag racing to street rods, circle track to street machines, Hurst manufactures quality engineered shifters, accessories and transmission controls to fit the needs of the performance minded Corvette driver.

Hurst Billet Plus Corvette Shifter

If you are tired of missed shifts or you are just looking to upgrade your C5 Corvette’s Shifter consider the Hurst Billet Plus C5 Corvette Shifter from Zip Corvette. The particular design of the billet plus enhances the positive precise feel when shifting while reducing shifter throw at the same time. Self centering alignment of the Hurst shifter improves 2nd to 3rd up-shift gear changes, which will considerably help eliminate missed shifts. The CNC machined 6061 billet aluminum base and stop collar offer the ultimate in strength and durability. With a high strength steel stick this shifter is sure to perform under even the most strenuous situations. The Hurst Billet Plus Corvette Shifter installs without any modifications; click here to view the Hurst Billet Plus Corvette Shifter installation instructions.