There once was a time when driving a manual transmission meant a little bit of work. It wasn't long ago that manuals were known as a "man's car," something that took a little work to get right and a little firmness to operate correctly. With the new age of automobiles for everyone, it seems that GM has slowly been taking all of the fun out of shifting, making each generation of shifter more and more disconnected from the actual transmission, leaving us with a mushy unit that feels more like an approximation than an actual precision instrument. Unfortunately, in this process of "refinement," transmission manufacturers have been forced to build much more complicated shifter units, with multiple pieces bolted together, each one flimsier than the last to help reduce NVH (Noise, Vibration, Harshness). The problem then, is how can this be fixed?
Enter MGW and its full replacement shifter assembly for the 2010 Camaro. Knowing that a short-throw stick alone couldn't solve this problem, MGW has taken the time to build a complete replacement, addressing not only the long throws, but also the vague, rubbery feeling of the stock design. This all starts with a brand-new billet shifter base, which is internally sprung to allow for quick 2-3 upshifts and smooth 5-4 downshifts. Of course, MGW also took the time to reduce the throw, making it 33 percent shorter for each shift, which results in much quicker and more accurate shifts. In order to further eliminate slop, MGW built a new mounting system for the shifter, which uses two CNC-machined front support arms and a new rear bushing mount to reduce deflection. In a really nice touch, MGW also spent time reducing noise and vibration inside the cabin, first with a patented sound dampening center shaft and then with three separate sound dampening pads, which are cut to fit around the shifter once installed.
With all of those impressive features, we needed to see how it all worked. A quick call to MGW had a shifter headed our way and from the minute we opened the box we were impressed. MGW had taken a ton of time to package and label everything really well and they even included all of the hardware and Allen wrenches we would need to install the shifter. With everything ready to go, we called up Greg Lovell of AntiVenom Racing and set up some install time. Our test subject would be his own 2010 Camaro SS, which could really use a better shifter. Follow along with us as we watch AntiVenom work and put the new shifter to good use.
 There are many ways to describe...  There are many ways to describe the stock fifth-gen shifter, but I believe Greg said it best, "It feels like a boat oar stuck in a bucket of ball bearings." |  The first step to installing...  The first step to installing a new shifter is a bit barbaric, but just trust us. The stock shift knob is held on by friction, so just pull straight up to remove it. |  The factory four-pack gauge...  The factory four-pack gauge cluster and shifter surround is held in by eight small clips, which just snap right out of place. Don't worry about disconnecting anything, you can just lay the cluster near the passenger seat. |
 Four Phillips head screws...  Four Phillips head screws hold the boot in place. Once removed, head underneath your Camaro to access the rest of the shifter assembly. |  In order to make room for...  In order to make room for your hand and the new shifter, you will need to remove the stock transmission crossmember and the rear exhaust crossmember. Once removed, you can slide the rear heat shield back to give yourself some extra room. |  Using a long flathead screwdriver,...  Using a long flathead screwdriver, you will need to remove the two clips that hold the stock linkage pin in place. |