Shift Knobs

[lucifer572]

Soooooo....prior to Turkey Day I stopped at a local shop that sells over 200 different types of wood from all over the planet. I picked up 7 different types of short boards, went home, and started fabricobling some shift knobs because I'm bored as ****. The plastic shifter in the '86 911 Coupé was staring to get boring.

All those sexy pics out there of fancy shifters I figured I'd mock one up. I noticed on pelican they sell some sort or replica made out of balsa for around $100. I made a bunch out of a mix of black walnut, purple heart, cabrueva, ipe, brazilian walnut, lace wood, and bird's eye maple. Below are the results of the first few.

Question is, is there a market out there that would buy these things?

[Oyagi]

I'd buy one, but it would have to be the type that secures with the retaining bolt on the top

[Cairo94507]

Those are very nice. I do believe a market exists for these. The shift knob is something you constantly handle when driving. Having one pleasing to the touch just enhances the entire driving experience. Good luck.

[kevin993]

There was an effort to make and sell them a few years ago via Pelican, but haven't seen much about them lately.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-914-914-6-technical-forum/810930-917-style-inspired-shift-knobs.html

[Noah930]

Originally Posted by kevin993

There was an effort to make and sell them a few years ago via Pelican, but haven't seen much about them lately.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-914-914-6-technical-forum/810930-917-style-inspired-shift-knobs.html

Slodave is still busy making those shift knobs. In fact, I was perusing a Singer on display at last spring's Rodeo Drive Fathers Day car show, and noticed that his knobs are now featured in (some of) their cars.

[kevin930t]

I will buy one,they really look nice,great job

Sent from my SM-N910T using Tapatalk

[chris_seven]

Lots of these around - we have been making them for around 5 years and they have an Aluminium insert that lets them fit onto the gear lever with the stock crush ring.

[JohnJL]

Originally Posted by kevin993

There was an effort to make and sell them a few years ago via Pelican, but haven't seen much about them lately.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-914-914-6-technical-forum/810930-917-style-inspired-shift-knobs.html

Yeah but if you order one Pelican makes you wait 5 weeks then they say discontinued..

[RichardNew]

I've had mine for about 10 years now.

Richard Newton
26 Years With a 911

[bbturbo]

Nice work!

[Jesse16]

I had a buddy make this one for me and I love it, he made a few dozen for Miata's (which he had ). He sold them on-line somehow but I can't imagine it making you money. The buddy just enjoyed woodworking challenges mixed with engineering so this dovetailed for awhile. Selling made it non-fun eventually. This one has a female threaded insert inside to receive the male thread as I remember, it stays on fine but you can break it free if you twist hard. Think you will work hard for un-appreciative strangers making them as a business. For friends, much more satisfying. The little imperfection in the grain makes it unique in the bare hand, can't remember the wood type.

[lucifer572]

These are definitely not "professionally" made. On my '86 the threaded collet is still on the shift lever. I cut off the plastic one with a dremel. I drilled out the bottom of these to approximately 22/32" and wrap a ring of paper in the hole and thread them on. I know as mentioned above some have a screw that goes from the top of the knob down to the shifter. I'd need some specific measurement to produce for different model years. It is quite true though, it wouldn't be much fun after a while.

I guess if anyone is interested send me a PM and we can work something out. Sure as **** cheaper than $100. I spent about $60 for all the wood in all the knobs above and still have more wood left.

[Jesse16]

For anyone interested, this is basically all that's inside my shift knob minus actual dimensions. Probably a M8 or 10 and a 45 chamfer to the the rod OD. A brass insert in the wood (brass is easy for lathe types to work with).
Also his offering of interesting wood types, all about the species. So go make your own! I'm not a fan of the crush ring or attaching anything with a small set screw to a shaft if can be avoided.

[Oyagi]

Originally Posted by lucifer572

These are definitely not "professionally" made. On my '86 the threaded collet is still on the shift lever. I cut off the plastic one with a dremel. I drilled out the bottom of these to approximately 22/32" and wrap a ring of paper in the hole and thread them on. I know as mentioned above some have a screw that goes from the top of the knob down to the shifter. I'd need some specific measurement to produce for different model years. It is quite true though, it wouldn't be much fun after a while.

I guess if anyone is interested send me a PM and we can work something out. Sure as **** cheaper than $100. I spent about $60 for all the wood in all the knobs above and still have more wood left.

Yah, if you can make the type that secures with the retaining screw that would be amazing, and I'd buy at least 2 since I like swapping out shift knobs to change things up. Is there anyone local to you with a 87 930 who can let you take the data you need to make them?

[Noah930]

Originally Posted by JohnJL

Yeah but if you order one Pelican makes you wait 5 weeks then they say discontinued..

I suppose if Pelican is no longer selling them, you can always try to contact slodave directly, or get the knob through TRE.

[lucifer572]

My local Pcar wrench has plenty of years/parts/variations to take measurements from. I think I have a method to make the screw type possible.

[Luccia at Pelican Parts]

Originally Posted by Noah930

I suppose if Pelican is no longer selling them, you can always try to contact slodave directly, or get the knob through TRE.

Originally Posted by kevin993

There was an effort to make and sell them a few years ago via Pelican, but haven't seen much about them lately.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-914-914-6-technical-forum/810930-917-style-inspired-shift-knobs.html

These are available for sale in our catalog here: Handmade Porsche 917 Replica Wooden Shift Knobs - PelicanParts.com.

We did a discount for them last Christmas during our 12 days of Christmas promo.

[JohnJL]

Originally Posted by Luccia at Pelican Parts

These are available for sale in our catalog here: Handmade Porsche 917 Replica Wooden Shift Knobs - PelicanParts.com.

We did a discount for them last Christmas during our 12 days of Christmas promo.

Are you quite positive those are in stock? That wasnt my experience last month.

[lucifer572]

If anyone wants one or who has a specific idea of wood combinations let me know. I'll rip one out.

[Luccia at Pelican Parts]

Originally Posted by JohnJL

Are you quite positive those are in stock? That wasnt my experience last month.

Yes, 100% sure we still sell them. We currently just shot a video installing 2 of these knobs and will be releasing the video soon on our YouTube channel. Those shift knobs are made to order so they're not stocked in our warehouse. The knobs are all made with a metal insert, which allows anyone to use the original crush sleeve, and install the knob with ease. The finish is rubbed oil, then a conservator's wax, then its polished. The balsa knob weighs 35gr with the metal insert, the insert alone weights 20gr, so the balsa is 15gr. They're all hand made with traditional power tools, no CNC machines, every knob is different. If you have any other questions, let me know.

Edit: Video uploaded on our YouTube below