Ebay Knockoff Shifters. Anyone Ever Try?

[JohnnyK81]

Hey guys, going to pull the T5 from my 1967 to do a little work and got thinking, while it's out, maybe I'd replace the shifter with a knockoff I saw on ebay (Well, I saw many of them). I think they are pro-5.0 shifter knockoffs but can't be sure, not familiar with them really.

Anyone used one (random example, http://www.ebay.com/itm/MUSTANG-T5-...CING-MANUAL-SHORT-THROW-SHIFTER-/301053343979 .. There are different types.. Probably same factory), and if so, problems, praises?

Any engineering deficiencies you encountered? Although there isn't much you can screw up on a shifter, really I suppose, as long as they get the pivot in the correct place, which I hope they did. haha I THOUGHT I read once that someone said the 'pin' was too small and caused a little play, but that can easily be machined.. I'm not sure what they meant by pin, but I can only assume they meant the pivot point that shifter handle rotates about?

Thanks guys!

edit: My mistake, maybe it's a B&M knockoff, not pro?

 

[7upstang91]

Save yourself the headache and buy the real thing, trust me. Cheap shifters are not ideal, been there and done that.

 

[JohnnyK81]

What one did you buy? What was wrong with it specifically?

 

[7991LXnSHO]

Some folks break the real shifters; why bust your knuckles and your tranny with a knock off? If they are as good as the knock off control arms, the shifters will break too.

 

[JohnnyK81]

Not racing, just looking for opinions on those who have owned them. Just considering this since the tranny is out.

 

[85SVOGUY]

They do suck. I've tried upr blue thunder, eBay brand, bbk, Mac. They all have a notchy shift pattern and the 1-2 2-3 is never quite right. Go with a higher dollar one and you'll love it. Or buy a cheap ass one, get tired of it feeling worse than a stock shifter, then buy a real shifter!

Not trying to be a dick, but everyone here has had their share of crap shifters and experience tells that a good shifter isn't something to skimp on. Even for daily driving.

I have a pro 5.0 right now. Got it for 80 on the corral.

 

[7upstang91]

Go with the Pro 5.0. trust me.

 

[A5literMan]

Just an fwiw I bought an American Muscle "brand" shifter a couple years ago. It works pretty well. Shorty with adj stops. Better than stock but I recommend either MGW or Pro 5.0. I've had a Pro 5.0 before in another car and it's a very good product(I went cheap on this one)

 

[larrym1961]

I love my Pr0 5.0. Shifter. The only other brand that would be on top of my Tremec would be a MGW.

 

[smkshw]

ya i wouldnt do it....felt some name brand ones and they were notchy and tight....can only imagine what the knock offs are like...

 

[JohnnyK81]

Thanks for the replies guys,

A5liter: The ones they sell ARE the same as the eBay ones I believe. I haven't fiddled much with the shifter, but how can they create notchiness. that's all in the ball and spring, no? The shifter, as far as I remember (could be wrong) just pivots around a central pin. Could notchiness be caused by improper machining/pin not fitting correctly.

I'll probably stick with the stock shifter for now then, this was more of a 'while I'm at it' type thing and not in the budget (and doesn't the MGW have a large 'adapter' mounted on top above the boot? Yeah, that's not going in the 1967. )

 

[jetmech807]

No, it doesn't. Only thing on my MGW that sticks out of the boot is the threads for the knob.