TECHNICAL EXCELLENCE

Shift Knob Installation
Posted by Joe Troutwine on Friday, 2 January 1998, at 4:46 p.m.

Several weeks ago there was a question about the availability of the Tech Equipment alum./leather shift knob. They are definetly available because I ordered and received one about a month ago. I decided to defer installation until after the holidays when more free time would be available . Having just completed the task and knowing the procedure I can safley say it can be done in about 15min.

Here are the steps:

1. Remove the black leather boot from the console. It is held in place with four plastic locking tabs that suround the boot (use the new one for reference) and two additional ones in the forward area projecting horizontally into the dash console. Use a thin metal blade (a small putty knife worked for me) to get under the boot frame and pry upward gently. Start with the rear one first and move forward until you have poped all of the base ones. Now tilt the rear up and pull back releasing the tabs in the dash console.

2. Remove the shift knob and boot assembly from the shifter stalk. This is the "fun" part. There are no clips or jam nuts holding this on, it's a press fit. I called my dealer to have them check the 6 vol. Service Manual to see what trick it said to do. They called back to say the detailed book said one word, "pull". Easier said than done! My knob would only move about a sixteenth of an inch and no more. Here is how I got it to cooperate. I applied heat with a heat gun carefully around the shaft just below the knob ( easy, you don't want to mar the original leather). I then put the shifter into the reverse position, sat in the passenger seat, braced my feet on the floorboard and pulled with both hands using my legs for leverage pushing back. Viola, off it came!

3. Install the new knob/boot. The leather/alum. knob just slips onto the shaft and is held in place with a 5mm. allen jam screw. Tighten this screw, pull the boot down, place the center console tabs in place, snap the four center tabs into place, neatly fold the leather into place and you are finished.

Now stand back and admire the difference!

Joe Troutwine

PS I didn't get the handbrake handle yet but if I do I'll share that installation with the board.

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