Shift Knob Preference

Gautam · 02-15-2001, 10:22 PM

Hi,
Ok, lately I've been getting kinda uncomfortable with the stock shift-knob on my '89 LX. Apart from the knob, the shifter sucks too, and I don't exactly want to spend $300CDN+ on a short-throw (Pro5.0 and Steeda Tri-ax are my choice right now). Even if I could find something cheaper on eBay or something but anywho...

My dad's a machinist, and I asked him to make me a custom shift-knob. This way I can get a custom grip, and don't have to spend $50CDN-$150CDN on a knob. Hell, I'll even ask him to make one for my (shorter, older, thinner) brother. I have settled on a chrome billet piece like this (I altered a chrome cylinder piece to this):

So, back to my question: What is everyone's shift-knob (shape) preference?

A) typical ball (or anything spherical)
B) pistol grip (or any vertical stick)
C) chrome billet cylindrical (popular with ricers)
D) T-Handle (or any horizontal stick)
E) Other (screwdriver, rocks, etc.)

Bye!

------------------
Gautam N. Lad
http://www.cubicdesign.com
http://www.cubicdesign.com/mustang/

82 GT · 02-15-2001, 10:33 PM

I would have to go with the T-handle for a stick and a ball type for an automatic. Sounds silly I know but that's the way I like it.

------------------
'82 GT 351W,BBK shorties,
Comp Cam,edelbrock intake
625 cfm carter carb. c-4 tranny w/ pro stick shifter. 4 core radiator
Mallory distributor. 3:27
.........................

Five0 · 02-15-2001, 11:13 PM

I would have to say either a ball or a T handle.
Right now I have a ball with the bush button.

------------------
James Cox
nochevy@hotmail.com
1991 Mustang LX
12.565 @109.38mph 1.764 60ft

ed1371 · 02-16-2001, 01:55 AM

I really prefer a t handle...It took a little while to get used to but now everything else feels wierd!

Jaydee · 02-16-2001, 09:56 AM

T-Handle

2FastLX · 02-16-2001, 11:45 AM

I drove with the T-handle from B&M for awhile. I have since switched to a 2" diameter ball that I made at work. It is much easier to shift than the "T" was.

That bent one you have pictured there Guatam will be hard to make unless he has a press at work. Plus it will hit your stereo in 1st, 3rd, and 5th more than likely. If you go with a ball type you won't need the set screw either. Just tighten it down good and it'll never come loose until you want it to.

My shifter is the one I use on my web page if you want to see it. http://members.mustangworks.com/axemanzz/index.htm

Have your dad make you a shifter plate too. The shifter gets me a lot of compliments.

Gautam · 02-16-2001, 05:24 PM

Hi,
Yea, I asked my dad if he would be able to bend a piece of aluminum and he said he can, so I figure why not.

As for the shift-plate, I'm leavin it stock, cuz I painted it yellow. Looks ok...I'm going to avoid doing a chrome interior, unless I change my mind later.

As for it hitting a stereo, hmm...I'll have to look into that so I can get him to not put too much of an angle.

Bye!

------------------
Gautam N. Lad
http://www.cubicdesign.com
http://www.cubicdesign.com/mustang/

Bob · 02-16-2001, 08:11 PM

I like the Hurst T-handle. Just used to it I guess!

------------------
1985 Mustang GT

'85 GT 13.20 @ 105.8 / '72 Mach1
Long list...check website!!
My Website

S Howard · 02-17-2001, 05:38 AM

I prefer the ball type for the 5sp. I know it sounds rather stupid but, when I dumped the factory plastic knob for a cobra leather one I was amazed. Just the size difference and the feel of leather was far superior!!

scott93gt · 02-17-2001, 06:27 AM

I have the Hurst shifter with a ball and I really like it. It looks good in the car too. There is a picture of it in "slot 2" in user rides. Check the link below.

------------------
Scott93GT
1993 Mustang GT
Silver CC/Titanium Accent GT, Black Clothe interior.
5 speed, 3.08's, 3 chamber Flows, K&N, Hurst Competition Plus.

1991 F150 4x4 XLT Lariat
Six Stick Regular Cab LWB Tow Vehicle

RedLilPony · 02-17-2001, 01:41 PM

I got rid of the factory 99 shift knob for a 35th anniversary shift knob. It feels great to me! I have small hands and that little ball fits perfect. I have tried other spherical handles and they have all been to big. There is only one down fall... that metal ball is COLD in the winter!

------------------
Jodi
AKA PonyGirl
Red 68 GT Fastback and Black 99 GT Coupe
"Not your average Mustangs..."
http://hometown.aol.com/redlilpony/Homepage.html

2FastLX · 02-17-2001, 04:22 PM

Yeah, the metal handles suck big time in the winter because they get very cold. I am planning on having a friend of my brother make a custom leather cover for mine that will still let the chrome ball show through. Should look sweet.

[This message has been edited by 2FastLX (edited 02-17-2001).]

cobrayankee · 02-17-2001, 08:00 PM

I just replaced mine and I went with the stock one that Ford makes for the 96-98 Cobras. Very comfortable. Not too pricey either.

------------------
1997 Cobra (Black on black), C+L 80mm MAF, K+N filter, Pro 5.0 shifter, BBK Springs, Taylor Wires, 2 Chamber Flows, ASP Pulleys, BBK off road H pipe.

02-15-2001, 10:22 PM	#1
Gautam Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Brampton, ON, Canada Posts: 298	Shift Knob Preference Hi, Ok, lately I've been getting kinda uncomfortable with the stock shift-knob on my '89 LX. Apart from the knob, the shifter sucks too, and I don't exactly want to spend $300CDN+ on a short-throw (Pro5.0 and Steeda Tri-ax are my choice right now). Even if I could find something cheaper on eBay or something but anywho... My dad's a machinist, and I asked him to make me a custom shift-knob. This way I can get a custom grip, and don't have to spend $50CDN-$150CDN on a knob. Hell, I'll even ask him to make one for my (shorter, older, thinner) brother. I have settled on a chrome billet piece like this (I altered a chrome cylinder piece to this): So, back to my question: What is everyone's shift-knob (shape) preference? A) typical ball (or anything spherical) B) pistol grip (or any vertical stick) C) chrome billet cylindrical (popular with ricers) D) T-Handle (or any horizontal stick) E) Other (screwdriver, rocks, etc.) Bye! ------------------ Gautam N. Lad http://www.cubicdesign.com http://www.cubicdesign.com/mustang/

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02-15-2001, 10:33 PM	#2
82 GT Import Slayer Join Date: May 1999 Posts: 2,241	I would have to go with the T-handle for a stick and a ball type for an automatic. Sounds silly I know but that's the way I like it. ------------------ '82 GT 351W,BBK shorties, Comp Cam,edelbrock intake 625 cfm carter carb. c-4 tranny w/ pro stick shifter. 4 core radiator Mallory distributor. 3:27 .........................

02-15-2001, 11:13 PM	#3
Five0 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: middleburg, fl, usa Posts: 1,134	I would have to say either a ball or a T handle. Right now I have a ball with the bush button. ------------------ James Cox nochevy@hotmail.com 1991 Mustang LX 12.565 @109.38mph 1.764 60ft

02-16-2001, 01:55 AM	#4
ed1371 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2000 Posts: 469	I really prefer a t handle...It took a little while to get used to but now everything else feels wierd!

02-16-2001, 09:56 AM	#5
Jaydee Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Conn. Posts: 220	T-Handle

02-16-2001, 11:45 AM	#6
2FastLX The Photoshop Guru Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Mecca, Indiana Posts: 1,419	I drove with the T-handle from B&M for awhile. I have since switched to a 2" diameter ball that I made at work. It is much easier to shift than the "T" was. That bent one you have pictured there Guatam will be hard to make unless he has a press at work. Plus it will hit your stereo in 1st, 3rd, and 5th more than likely. If you go with a ball type you won't need the set screw either. Just tighten it down good and it'll never come loose until you want it to. My shifter is the one I use on my web page if you want to see it. http://members.mustangworks.com/axemanzz/index.htm Have your dad make you a shifter plate too. The shifter gets me a lot of compliments.

02-16-2001, 05:24 PM	#7
Gautam Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Brampton, ON, Canada Posts: 298	Hi, Yea, I asked my dad if he would be able to bend a piece of aluminum and he said he can, so I figure why not. As for the shift-plate, I'm leavin it stock, cuz I painted it yellow. Looks ok...I'm going to avoid doing a chrome interior, unless I change my mind later. As for it hitting a stereo, hmm...I'll have to look into that so I can get him to not put too much of an angle. Bye! ------------------ Gautam N. Lad http://www.cubicdesign.com http://www.cubicdesign.com/mustang/

02-16-2001, 08:11 PM	#8
Bob "Old School Gearhead" Join Date: Oct 1998 Location: Peru, Illinois Posts: 617	I like the Hurst T-handle. Just used to it I guess! ------------------ 1985 Mustang GT '85 GT 13.20 @ 105.8 / '72 Mach1 Long list...check website!! My Website

02-17-2001, 05:38 AM	#9
S Howard Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 195	I prefer the ball type for the 5sp. I know it sounds rather stupid but, when I dumped the factory plastic knob for a cobra leather one I was amazed. Just the size difference and the feel of leather was far superior!!

02-17-2001, 06:27 AM	#10
scott93gt Registered Member Join Date: Oct 1999 Location: Saltsburg, PA USA Posts: 468	I have the Hurst shifter with a ball and I really like it. It looks good in the car too. There is a picture of it in "slot 2" in user rides. Check the link below. ------------------ Scott93GT 1993 Mustang GT Silver CC/Titanium Accent GT, Black Clothe interior. 5 speed, 3.08's, 3 chamber Flows, K&N, Hurst Competition Plus. 1991 F150 4x4 XLT Lariat Six Stick Regular Cab LWB Tow Vehicle

02-17-2001, 01:41 PM	#11
RedLilPony It's been awhile, huh? Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: I'm from Texas, Bitch! Posts: 505	I got rid of the factory 99 shift knob for a 35th anniversary shift knob. It feels great to me! I have small hands and that little ball fits perfect. I have tried other spherical handles and they have all been to big. There is only one down fall... that metal ball is COLD in the winter! ------------------ Jodi AKA PonyGirl Red 68 GT Fastback and Black 99 GT Coupe "Not your average Mustangs..." http://hometown.aol.com/redlilpony/Homepage.html

02-17-2001, 04:22 PM	#12
2FastLX The Photoshop Guru Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Mecca, Indiana Posts: 1,419	Yeah, the metal handles suck big time in the winter because they get very cold. I am planning on having a friend of my brother make a custom leather cover for mine that will still let the chrome ball show through. Should look sweet. [This message has been edited by 2FastLX (edited 02-17-2001).]

02-17-2001, 08:00 PM	#13
cobrayankee Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Baltimore, MD Posts: 516	I just replaced mine and I went with the stock one that Ford makes for the 96-98 Cobras. Very comfortable. Not too pricey either. ------------------ 1997 Cobra (Black on black), C+L 80mm MAF, K+N filter, Pro 5.0 shifter, BBK Springs, Taylor Wires, 2 Chamber Flows, ASP Pulleys, BBK off road H pipe.