Looking for a different gear knob not the original

BILL WILLIAMSON said:
If the knob hole is TOO BIG, fill it with JB Weld, rub Vaseline on the shifter threads, "screw" it on & wipe off the excess, let it harden, then it will screw off, easily.
Bill W.
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Hmmmmm... ANOTHER great tip from Mr. Bill! Keep it up and you'll get promoted to THE Guru of Stuff!

Mike
 
In high school I welded a nut to the wrist pin installed in a small engine piston and used that for my shift knob. I also made a clear plastic skull shift knob by pouring resin into a hollow skull shape. I then tapped it for my shift knob.
 
Tom Wesenberg said:
In high school I welded a nut to the wrist pin installed in a small engine piston and used that for my shift knob. I also made a clear plastic skull shift knob by pouring resin into a hollow skull shape. I then tapped it for my shift knob.
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We laminated circles of 1/4" plexiglass together with different colors of laminating cement, shaped it into a knob & polished it. It makes WILD COLORS in the sunlight.
Bill W.
 
Ii plan to wood turn my own, once I get around to it. Find a local woodturner, I'm sure they would have fun doing it. There might be a woodturner's club in your area, check for American Association of Woodturner to find a local chapter.

In trying to find a 5/16 -24 insert, I ended up buying a 5/16 coars thread threaded rod link at the hardware store and re-tapped it to fine thread. it will work just fine. Need to bore out a hole on a woodturned knob and insert this link and epoxy it in place. At least this is how I'll do my first one as an experiment.

If you try and fill with an epoxy as suggested and let it harden then unscrew , a suggestion is to buy a 5/16 - 24 bolt and use it to do the epoxy bit with rather than take a chance and mess up your gear shift lever and threads.
 
31ma said:
I want to change the gear knob of my 31 Ford Model A for a different knob style but without the need of an adapter. I will like a bigger or rare shape of knob. At this moment I have only the mushroom option. Anyone have an idea of what kind of knob can fit the model a? I mean from any other car, make or year? I just want it to look a bit different.
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The walnut knob with the blue Ford medallion is very attractive. Snyders used to sell them as did Brattons. Wayne
 
Knobs & shift lever modifications were a BIG DEAL, to add your own PERSONAL touch. I wish I could remember more of the designs. I remember that BEER dispenser handles were used & I saw one made from the small end of a BASEBALL bat. I have one of those cast aluminum, horizontal, HAND GRIP ones, I've used it on several cars. During High School, chopped off SHORT shift levers were popular. Some would bend their levers to the right, so they could FONDLE their sweeties' KNEE!
On my '32 Coupe, I left the steering wheel nut finger tight & could pop it off & screw out the shifter, for MAKIN' OUT!!! (oo-la-la)
Bill W.
 
Toss that 5/16 - 24 bolt in your pocket, and carry it to swap meets to test the fit if you want a vintage knob. I have had a few, most recently bought a real nice bakelite (or "Catilin" carmel colored knob that is jeweled in the center @ Hershey. It cost a small fortune but is really cool. Of course I did not have my bolt with me but bought it on his word, and tested it on a shift tower sitting in a booth a couple aisles over - Shazam!

The nice woman from Indiana I think - BJ's Model A, in heart of Chocolate field, had a few at pretty reasonable prices this year, sometimes you see those short extensions which is another cool item if you want something unusual to go with the knob.
 
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If you need a metal thread for a wood knob, just go to Menards or a hardware store and buy a thread-sert. It has a gripper thread for wood, and whatever size machine thread on the inside. I just bought a couple for my wood park bench slats.
 
Tom Wesenberg said:
If you need a metal thread for a wood knob, just go to Menards or a hardware store and buy a thread-sert. It has a gripper thread for wood, and whatever size machine thread on the inside. I just bought a couple for my wood park bench slats.
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Vern uses those in the wood posts, for the hinge bolts on his '29 Chev. Some of those inserts have BARBS on the outside. I've even found them in hardware stores.
Bill W.
 
My local ACE didn't carry any fine thread inserts, just coarse threads. A threaded insert for wood would be the best way to go in making your own.
 
My glass knob from my Grandmother house. I've had it ~45 years...

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I use the AA knob, just because I like the way it feels. My first vehicle was an AA, and the little A knobs just didn't feel right.
 
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