Shifter question

Hey guys new to the forum. I recently completed a 6 speed manual conversion in my 2002 lightning. The trans I used and all of the hydraulics r from an srt10 ram. So far its running pretty good. Haven't put much miles on it yet because I'm waiting on tuning but I'm having an issue with the shifter. Ive got a venom short shifter. When I first got everything together the shifter wouldn't allow me to access reverse. The trans just got completely rebuilt and it goes into reverse perfectly fine if I use a ratchet extension. I found one of the springs on the shifter was too far adjusted so I backed it off and put the shifter back on. Worked great for 2 days. Went to drive the truck again yesterday and couldn't access reverse again. Pulled the shifter off and actually took it apart. Nothing looked broken but the shifter just feels worn out. I readjusted to springs again and put it back on the truck and everything is working fine again. It goes into every gear fine but still a tiny bit notchy and the shifter has never really felt that great. Is there something I should know about these venom shifters? I'm thinking of looking for a different shifter all entirely but don't want to spend $500 for a shifter. How r some of the other shifters out there comparable? Don't want to have to keep pulling the shifter apart and adjusting it just to get it in reverse. The reverse lockout solenoid is wired up and works fine. The trans fluid is new synchromesh, and as I said the trans just got a full rebuild. Thanks for all of the info.

I converted my 2005 Quad cab to the 6 speed also.

I had difficulty getting into reverse after a few drives. I removed the spring inside the reverse lockout solenoid and can go right into reverse now no problem.

Be aware that you can go into reverse at any forward speed with that spring removed... Be careful with 5th!

Thanks so much for the response. So maybe its the lockout solenoid not the shifter?

The Dodge transmission is actually rejecting the Ford parts that it is attached to!!

The venom shifter does take some adjusting to get used to it. If your problem is not resolved by adjustment, give Tony a call at JTSVP. He can get you fixed up.

Lol! I was waiting for that on haha! Thanks I appreciate it. For now its working ok. I'll see how it goes the more I drive it. Just in case, what other shifter r some of u guys using?

Factory Hurst (not so good), B&M (out of production), JTSVP Gen 1 (out of production), JTSVP Gen 2.

I have had them all, Gen 2 has been the best IMO.

I have the Gen 1 JTSVP and Love it. I see no need to upgrade. You may have a faulty shifter, but I doubt it. Good luck.

Thanks guys. I'll keep playing with this one and see how it goes. Not sure if its a gen 1 or gen 2 piece. How can u tell?

I have JTSVP number 2 shifter FYI.

For sale or u just have one in general?

If you keep having problems you can try throwing a stock hurst shifter. There are few on sell on fleabay. Im not gonna say the stock is the best or is the worse since I have nothing to compare it to hell this truck was my first manual so I have no problem with it though.

Yea everything I read about the stock shifters for these transmissions was negative lol. I always thought Hurst made a good shifter.

No its not for sale. It is an exceptional shifter though. The stock one is absolutely awful.

JTSVP Gen 2 here also. Night and day from the original!!!

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SANTEEN said:

JTSVP Gen 2 here also. Night and day from the original!!!

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Night and day is an under statement.

My truck as an absolute joy to drive with that shifter. Its the best feeling shifter i have ever felt. Even better than my Viper with the T6060 transmission.

I put steel bushings and removed all the rubber on my first truck and the shifter was a lot better and its a cheap and easy fix

^^^ what he said. You can get a bronze bushing for the end of the shifter that goes in the trans. Then on a factory shifter I took out the rubber and installed a nylon spacer and my stick shifter is fine, I can bang every gear no problem. Everyone complains about the stock shifter and all I have to say is my fathers 57 Chevy with a cast iron sag and stock shifter was 100x worse. People just need to man up and shift like you mean it!

I put the bronze pushing in my truck, and it wasnt a magical thing that made a noticeable difference.

I tried the venom gen 1 shifter for a day. Took that junk out and went back to the b&m.

I hear the b&m is the way to go or Tony's new one but I wanted to keep the stock one. For parts to make the shifter right you need the following, 1.5" square tube with one side cut, 2 11/16 outside diameter 7/16 hole and 5/16 thick chrome Harley spacers (eBay), 2 3/8x7/16 Yukon Axel sleeves(Amazon.) a piece of nylon and some button head bolts (I think 2-1/2 3/8 bolts). My set-up is the same width as the stock rubber set-up so the factory leather sleeve fits over it to protect the boot. Since I did this I have no problem banging 3rd. The throw is long but it's more reliable.

99% of missing gears is the driver. A shifter isnt some magical device. People just cant drive. I know because im one of those people. but i went back auto a few months ago. Screw trying to launch 4700lbs and braking.