the shifter knob mod

[2ndGen]

this is qualified as "the-mod-you'd-appreciate-everyday-mod", ha...ha...

my stock leather shifter knob was all messed up after 10 years of use, and it has a weird smell, too. i don't wannt an afermarket one because most of them are either aluminum or plastic, which i don't like at all. i really like the newer modle auto trans shifter knobs because they are bigger and more comfortable but the thread are different. stealers want $80-100 for a replacement leather knob, that's way too expensive for me.

here is what i did, i bought a Tacoma shifter on ebay for $25, a grade 10.9 M8 bolt for $0.80.

first, removed the shifter lever assembly, then cut the lever with a band saw.

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w38/tonniechengca/99%20SR5/DSCN0180.jpg

rounded the hex bolt to proper size using a belt sander, to it fits right in the hollow shifter lever. then tig welded them together, re-installed the lever assembly.

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w38/tonniechengca/99%20SR5/DSCN0178.jpg
http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w38/tonniechengca/99%20SR5/DSCN0181.jpg

screw the knob on

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w38/tonniechengca/99%20SR5/DSCN0183.jpg


here is the final result

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w38/tonniechengca/99%20SR5/DSCN0177.jpg
http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w38/tonniechengca/99%20SR5/DSCN0184.jpg


the whole thing took me about half an hour from start to finish, probably would be an hour if i did have a belt sander and band saw. tig welder is better but mig will do just fine, only needs more cleaning afterwards.

[corax]

:thumbup: slick

. . . I always thought the shift levers were aluminum (by the look of the raw cut) -- I might have to give this a shot, but just to shorten the lever and move it over to a more convenient spot

[2ndGen]

the shifter lever is a hollowed steel cone. i could have shortened the lever but cutting more off and grinding less on the bolt's hex head, but i forgot about it. well, i'd do that if i did it again. but so far, i'm enjoying it.

[slosurfer]

That's pretty sweet. :thumbup: So, the new tacomas have a different thread pattern than earlier model toyotas?

[4x4mike]

Cool. The knob looks quite big, almost cartoon big. My factory one is getting a little beat up.

[slosurfer]

They are kind of big, but fit the hand really nice. Our tacoma has it, which is funny that it is the auto and has such a nice shif knob.

[2ndGen]

That's pretty sweet. :thumbup: So, the new tacomas have a different thread pattern than earlier model toyotas?


yep!! older model(or manual shifter) has M10(10mm x 1.5?) vs. new model(auto shifter) has M8(8mm x 1.75??).

i only found out after i received the knob.

it's funny how the stock shifter is made, it has four layers of materials. the core is a hard PTFE(Teflon) with female thread, then is the semi hard black platic tear-drop shape main body, it's covered by a thin layer of black foam type thing which is very sticky(smells, too), finally it's the outter layer of leather.

[Cebby]

Looks good - nice mod. Hope this one smells better.

[fustercluck]

Nice! Who sniffs his shifter knob though?...... :hillbill: