Hurst Billet/Plus 2 Shifter install - Grab Another

The new generation Dodge Challenger's platform gives us a chance to relive the horsepower wars of the '70s. There are many of us who were not around to see those days and now have a chance of owning a modern-day muscle car. In the Sept. '11 issue of Mopar Muscle, we went into detail about how to install a replacement shifter handle for the automatic-equipped Challenger, Charger, Magnum, or 300 to mimic the classic look of a Pistol Grip shifter. One thing that owners cherish most is the ability to have full control of the way the car shifts at any given time. In this issue, we show some love to the owners who have a six-speed manual transmission. Our '10 Challenger comes with a 6.1-liter V-8 and a Tremec TR-6060 six-speed manual.

We decided to step it up a bit, and went for a shifter upgrade made by our friends at Hurst Shifters. Their products have a proven track record, and are known for producing quality aftermarket replacement manual transmission shifters, as well as other automotive performance enhancing parts for old and new Mopars. We got a hold of their Hurst Billet/Plus 2 Shifter performance short shifter kit, part number 3916020. It is precision engineered and CNC-machined, and also comes with a chromed Hurst stick with a white knob. The great thing about this upgrade is that you have the option to use either the Hurst stick with white knob combination, or the factory stock shifter handle. We took our installation a step further and threw in Hurst's recently released HardDrive stick with Black Delrin upper handle, part number 5388651.

All that you need are a few hand tools for a seamless installation. That's a bonus for those who hate to get their hands dirty each time a project gets too involved. Disassembly of the center console involves taking off a few screws and bolts, unsnapping a couple of wiring harnesses, and removing the metal tunnel cover to gain access to the stock shifter. Then, it is just a matter of removing two front locking pins and the lower bolt on the connection rod. We made good use of a telescoping magnetic pen, so the locking pins didn't fall down onto the floor.

As we got to this point of removing the stock shifter, we couldn't help but notice how much more robust the Hurst shifter was compared to the stock one. Not only was it made with a lot more attention to detail, but also comes engraved with a Hurst logo on the shifter. Next, just transfer the rubber boot from the stock shifter over to the Hurst shifter, making sure the upper rubber boot seals fit in the bracket grooves of the new shifter. The kit comes with all the hardware you will need like new screws and washers, a boot support, and a zip tie to piece everything together should you want to use the supplied upper stick and Classic knob. For this article, we put the HardDrive stick together and positioned the billet aluminum boot support just low enough to show the quality of the polished handle. The good thing is that it is adjustable, depending where you want the boot to rest, with a small hex wrench that is also supplied with this kit.

Overall, the installation of the Hurst shifter with HardDrive takes less than an hour, and we can't see why we didn't do this sooner, as the results are pretty dramatic compared to stock. The shift throw is reduced significantly, giving you quicker and more precise shifts, making this muscle car that much more enjoyable. First and second gear are a breeze, and come really fast. Not to mention that the HardDrive stick and Black Delrin with polished handle fits right in with the black interior and will surely attract attention at your next car meet. After it's all said and done, this upgrade gives you a good excuse to go out and enjoy shifting gears on the street or the track.

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