I have a manual transmission on a 98 F150 and would like to change to a customized gear shift ****. But, how do I get the stock gear **** off without damaging anything. Decades ago, a simple unscrewing would work. I've tried all the magic words I can think of.....

 

I don't know if this will help you or not, but here goes. I have an 88 F-150 and I wanted to switch out the **** on it as well. You have to pull extremely hard on the **** itself, as they are a friction fit. There are only vertical splines on the shifter, there aren't any threads (unless they changed that after 96)

Right now I am working on a plan to really trick my shifter out. I bought an antique Milkglass Door **** at an outdoor flea market. The hole on it is almost big enough to go on my shifter, but I will have to enlarge it some, then I am going to either thread the shifter or use a set screw on the **** itself. I haven't decided yet. I'll try to post some pictures of it on my website, when I get around to it.


1988 F-150, SWB, 5.0 EFI (formerly 4.9 EFI), M5OD 5 speed, 3.08 gears, Summit shorty truck headers, Custom built Flowmaster exhaust system. Force 4 LP6000 lightbar, Federal signal PA-300 100 watt siren, Icom IC-V100 50 watt mobile radio.
=======================================
1965 F-100 (just purchased 1/18/01), SWB, 390, C-6 auto. Dual exhaust, Not much else to do to it.

Can see both below.

[link:www.geocities.com/hotrodford_88/|Hotrodford_88's Webpage]

 

If I pop out the shift pattern button on top, there is a small nut that has to be removed. I didn't see any other set screw. I will try to "gently" tap upwards to remove the **** since it may have the vertical fluted spine.

 

A couple of simple taps from underneath loosened the **** and bingo....off it came. No other set screws were present.

 

So it was the friction fit type then huh? I am going to try to get cracking on my custom shift **** real soon. Who knows it may go on tomorrow! What kind of **** are you planning to use on your truck? If you don't mind me asking that is.


1988 F-150, SWB, 5.0 EFI (formerly 4.9 EFI), M5OD 5 speed, 3.08 gears, Summit shorty truck headers, Custom built Flowmaster exhaust system. Force 4 LP6000 lightbar, Federal signal PA-300 100 watt siren, Icom IC-V100 50 watt mobile radio.
=======================================
1965 F-100 (just purchased 1/18/01), SWB, 390, C-6 auto. Dual exhaust, Not much else to do to it.

Can see both below.

[link:www.geocities.com/hotrodford_88/|Hotrodford_88's Webpage]

 

For now I just went with a simple friction fit with set screw type from a local auto supply store. It comes in three pieces that screw together.

Now that I know what to work with, I plan on making a customized shift **** using my father's old Caterpiller work badge (years ago Cat workers had to wear these heavy steel pin-on work badges, sorta like a police badge). I haven't figured out exactly how I'm gonna fix the badge to the shifter....without damaging the badge. That's for another day.