Billet aluminum short throw shifter for the Tremec T56 six-speed in 1993-2002 Camaro and Firebird, cutting shift travel with base plate and knob included.
If you drive a fourth-generation Camaro Z28 or SS, or a Firebird Formula or Trans Am with the six-speed, you already know the factory shifter's reputation: long throws, a rubbery gate, and more wobble every year as the bushings age. This bolt-in short throw shifter is made for the Borg-Warner/Tremec T56 used in 1993-2002 F-body V8 cars, LT1 and LS1 alike. The lever and base are machined billet aluminum with a black anodized finish, and the kit includes the base plate, a shift knob and mounting hardware. The throw is cut by roughly 35 to 40 percent compared with stock.
On the F-body T56 the shifter bolts straight to the top of the transmission's rear housing with four screws. There are no cables or external rods; the lower end of the stick is a ball that sits in a plastic bushing inside the transmission and moves the internal shift rails directly. That short, direct path is why the feel of the whole car depends so much on the shifter assembly. When the factory pivot and bushings wear, the stick moves before the rails do, and the gate gets vague. A short throw unit relocates the pivot so the knob travels less to move the rails the same distance. The T56 itself has internal stops on the shift mechanism, which is why external stop bolts on aftermarket shifters are generally considered unnecessary on this gearbox.
Pull the shift boot and trim plate with the engine off and rock the stick in neutral. If the upper lever moves noticeably while the base stays put, the shifter assembly is worn. Keep in mind what a shifter cannot fix. Grinding on a shift with the pedal on the floor points at clutch release, hydraulics or synchros. A forced first-to-fourth shift at light throttle is the factory skip-shift feature on these cars, not a shifter fault. If you are trying to decide between parts and a full transmission job, our breakdown of automatic vs manual transmission repair cost lays out what internal manual work usually involves.
This kit is listed for the factory T56 six-speed in 1993-2002 Chevrolet Camaro and Pontiac Firebird. In those years the T56 went in the V8 cars (Z28, SS, Formula, Trans Am); V6 F-bodies with a manual used a different gearbox and are not covered. It is not listed for the GTO, Corvette, Viper or the aftermarket T56 Magnum used in swaps, which have different shifter mounts. Confirm the car is a factory six-speed, and if you want a second check, send us the year and VIN before ordering. More manual transmission hardware is in our hard parts section.
| Transmission | Tremec/Borg-Warner T56 6-speed manual |
| Vehicles | 1993-2002 Chevrolet Camaro, Pontiac Firebird (F-body) |
| Material | Billet aluminum, black anodized |
| Throw reduction | Approximately 35-40 percent |
| Includes | Shifter, mounting base plate, shift knob, hardware |
Doing this repair right usually means replacing these at the same time. Same transmission, ships together.
No. It is for the T56 six-speed, which was used in the 1993-2002 V8 cars. V6 manual cars used a different transmission with a different shifter mount.
Yes, it is listed for the 1993-2002 F-body T56 across both engine generations. The shifter mounts to the transmission, not the engine, so the engine does not change fitment.
A knob is included. If you would rather keep your factory knob, check its thread against the new lever before you install it. B&M's F-body instructions list the stock GM knob thread as M16-1.50.
Yes. The factory shifter is sealed to the transmission with RTV. Clean the old sealer off completely and use a fresh bead so fluid stays in and dirt stays out.
No. Grinding with the clutch fully depressed is a clutch release, hydraulic or synchro problem. The shifter fixes slop and long throws, not internal wear.
