I really wanted to title this "playing with my *****," but i figured the moderators would block me...

I always remembered everyone wanting those cool 8-ball shift *****, but they seemed so generic. and my truck isn't black, so it didn't fit.

I found these pool-***** rumaging through an antique store a few years back, and dickered the price down to a buck a piece. they have a really cool marbled look to them, and i just knew i had to have them for shift *****. i originally just drilled a hole in them and slid them over the shifter, but they turned and rattled, and that just wouldn't do. here is how i made them work.


Here is what i used for this project. not shown is the die i used to clean up the threads on the shifter. The original ***** were threaded with 3/8 x 24TPI. cleaning up the threads was important as they were pretty banged up.

A hole slightly larger than the outside diameter of the nuts was drilled in the pool *****. measure from corner to corner, it should just barely fit inside. i put a slight taper on the hole with a hand file to allow the nut to just barely be recessed. Mixing up some JB weld i applied a coat on the outside of the nut, and used the die to gently position it the hole. A correct sized bolt would work just as well.



placing the ball on the carpet so as to not damage the surface, i used a hammer to gently set the nut, taking care to keep the centerline of the nut passing through the center of the ball. repeat with the second ball. allow the nuts to set up inside the ***** until the JBweld is firm. Use fine steel wool to clean up along the edge of the nut from any overapplication.



let set overnight. utilize the extra set of nuts as lock nuts, screwing them onto the shifter first. screw on the *****, and clock them to taste (i prefer to be able to see the number 7 and 15 clearly). hold the ball firmly (a leather glove helped me keep a solid grip), and use a wrench to lock the locknut up tight to the ball.

I really enjoy the custom look of the *****, and no one else has something quite like it. this would also look good using other colors to match the interior (blue, green, orange, etc.).

Hope everyone enjoys!

 

Cool - Nice post & Pictures.

 

That looks great! Great write up.

 

Awesome! I wonder if this could be done for column shifters too?

(BTW, I had accidentally posted the contents of a topic I wanted to make in this topic instead of a new one. Sorry about that.)

 

Try the JB-Quuick instead of the JB-weld. It seems to work just as good and sets up in a LOT less time.

 

What trans are you putting these on? I tried unscrewing the shift **** once on my T18 and nothing happened, I believe it is splined press fit.

 

i've seen some of them with pressed on splines. it took a lot of work to get the **** off. i'd imagine you could use a die and thread the shifter. i doubt you'd get much life out of the threads if you tapped the threads themselves, you'd need to thread the rod itself.

I'll have to try the jb quick sometime.

 

my T-18 is a screwoff! LOL....great job. you could probably sell those at 20$ a pop. I'd take one!

 

way cool in a big daddy ,rat fink kinda way man
you know what i mean retro

i put a hurst handle on my snow blower i think it looks cool