Gear Knob Replacement

[Lewis's Friend]

Hi all

My s3 has the original gear knob which isn't particularly lovely and is now showing it's age. What replacements have people gone for? Most seem to need a replacement gaitor too, as otherwise the bottom of the gear knob and top of the gaitor don't meet!

I've seen the leven one, but it's a bit pricey and I don't really like it either! So what have you all gone for?

Cheers

[Scoobimax]

Nice shiny brushed ali knob

[Lewis's Friend]

Scoobimax said:

Nice shiny brushed ali knob

Liking that. Was that a new gaiter too? I bought a similar cheap eBay jobbie to be going on with, but it sits about 10mm clear of the gaiter. Which isn't the coolest...

[phillpot]

Right gear pattern but says it not suitable for the S....... wrong thread at a guess?


http://www.racetechdirect.co.uk/tvr-car-part-f0039...

[vanordinaire]

Not in a TVR I'm afraid but I've had a couple of good ones, sorry no photos.

I holed a piston in a Chevette once and after replacing it, used the old holed piston as the gear knob. I used the original piston pin to connect it to the gearstick so it swivelled like it did on the conrod which made it nice and comfortable to use. Probably the TVR pistons would be too big though.

I also had a custom made one in a Midget once. It was made from one of these off the shelf wooden knobs with an MG badge on top. I hinged the MG badge to flip up with my thumb and hollowed out the knob and fitted a red push button into it (looked like James Bond's ejector seat button). I used it for the starter, it was fun to watch friends trying to work out how to start the car after that.

[Lewis's Friend]

The thread for it is m10x1.5. A v8 s would no doubt be different. I would like to try my hand at making a simple custom one up, but sadly the lathe at work is just the worse thing and I don't have my own!

[Spanish S2]

Got mine off ebay, came under walnut gearknob, chrome and wood, universal fitting.

[S2Mike]

I have a plain chrome ball on mine by "MOMO" that is great in winter cos it gets warmth from the engine/gearbox so right hand over the eyeball vent then alternate by resting other hand on gearknob ... result no frostbite, well not yet anyway. ! You do need a small gap between the top of the gaitor and the collar on the knob to allow unscrewing to get at the retaining bolts,

Edited by S2Mike on Thursday 22 May 13:22

[RayTVR]

Gratuitous knob picture

[phillpot]

vanordinaire said:

Probably the TVR pistons would be too big though.

Got some spare ones (without holes burnt in 'em) if any one wants to try?


ETA.... only got 6 so first come first served.

Edited by phillpot on Thursday 22 May 14:00

[YOLO]

I got a nice black aluminium one on fleabay for a quid, came with all the adapters........bargain. Also got a Sierra XR4i rubber gear gaitor for a fiver to fit under the leather cover. Got to admit TVR got the driving position just right in the S Series.

[phillpot]

Keep it simple, a plain alluminium ball

[Lewis's Friend]

Have you guys cut down the rod that the knob screws onto then re-cut the thread at all? I ask as I'm pretty sure if I put a simple ball affair on, it would be left sitting proud and alone while the gaiter grovelled below it at base camp!

I think I'm going to see if one of the contractors at work will make me one up to my own design for a reasonable sum.

Edited by Lewis's Friend on Thursday 22 May 20:39

[Lewis's Friend]

Slight thread resurrection, but I thought I would show you guys the gearknob that I have just had made up. Really happy with it, so I thought I'd also name check (assuming I'm allowed to?) District Tooling in Harlow for doing a great job on it!





I ended up having to go the custom route as I seemed to struggle with off the shelf ones not really meeting the gaiter properly. My only problem now is it shames the rest of my interior!