Correct shifter ball question

[priariecanary]

Hello all,

Question 1 - Was a chrome shifter ball original to a '65 GS with a 4 speed? I  have seen photos of cars with either chrome or black shifter balls, not sure which one is correct.

Question 2 - Does anyone know a source for a new, correct 65 GS shifter ball?

Thanks,

Stacey

[Mark Ascher]

Hi Stacey,

I don't think there were any chrome shift knobs in 65.
Black knob with shift pattern on non console cars; black knob, no shift pattern on consolette cars.

Mark

[priariecanary]

Thanks Mark - black ball without shift pattern it is then.

[gs spoken here]

Fusick Olds 442, lists black shift balls with and without shift pattern, on page 89, on line catalog. Not sure of the thread mounting or diameter of the ball, but I was thinking someone had stated these could be used as replacements.

[Robk]

I bought a Fusick ball and it was too big and had incorrect threads.  My wife ended up painting in my pattern with testers paint on my original ball (which had worn off).

Rob

[dsags]

http://www.show-cars.com/cgi-bin/commerce.cgi?preadd=action&key=5353

This is incorrect but can be used for a shift ball with no pattern. Another alternative is to buy a chrome ball and sand it and paint with satin black.

The original shift balls had an allen head set screw. An original without pattern is extremely difficult to find.

Dan

[gs spoken here]

Rob and Dan, thanks for the info. Dan, in what way is the show-cars one incorrect? Ball size, incorrect threads. I would assume it does not have the set screw, I think that was a Buick only thing. Thanks Bill.

[dsags]

Bill,

Its metal, not plastic, and will set a bit low on the handle so that the reverse lockout lever won't completely function. Using a properly sized rubber O ring will solve that issue though.

Dan

[priariecanary]

So does any company make a black-only shift ball with the right thread at the appropriate ball diameter? I can live without the set screw but would like it to look about right once it is installed.

[Brian]

Only the non-console shifter balls with the pattern on them had the set screw--it was there so it could be tightened up once the pattern was oriented correctly.  The plain black balls for a console shifter did not have the setscrew--no need for it since orientation of the ball did not matter. 

[Buick_65]

Can the Hurst 1630103 be modified to work?  Looks like wrong threads, but size and appearance seem right.

[Brian]

You would have to have a lathe to modify a hurst knob to work, and it would be difficult at best to do.  Hard to chuck a sphere in the lathe without leaving marks on it.   Good news is that some Chevy models with 4-speeds had the black plastic knob, so they can be found at swap meets every now and then.  I have managed to find three in the years I have owned my GS--one is in my 65GS, one in a friends car, and the other went with the 4-speed setup I sold on here earlier in the year.

[Buick_65]

You would have to have a lathe to modify a hurst knob to work, and it would be difficult at best to do.  Hard to chuck a sphere in the lathe without leaving marks on it.   Good news is that some Chevy models with 4-speeds had the black plastic knob, so they can be found at swap meets every now and then.  I have managed to find three in the years I have owned my GS--one is in my 65GS, one in a friends car, and the other went with the 4-speed setup I sold on here earlier in the year.

Hmmm.  I think i'm going to order one and try to modify it.  Will report back on success or lack there of.

[gs spoken here]

Brian, good info on the ball and set screw, always learning something.

I spent some tome looking at both shift balls, the OEM one for my non console 66 and the black steel on I am using on my 67, with the T lift handle conversion to Hurst shifter, Dan I see what you mean buy the depth of the steel knob, but for my use it will not matter, the T lift will not be used, only for looks on the Hurst shifter.

Here are some pictures of the two shift balls and measurements. the Allen screw is 5/32.

[priariecanary]

My car has a Hurst shifter at the moment although I do have the original shifter stashed away in a box. The Hurst shifter has a white shifter ball with the shift pattern on it, which is redundant since I have a consolette with shift pattern on it as well. I am going to buy a plain black ball from here:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1-7-8-Black-Shift-Knob-3-8-16-thread-U-S-Made-/222070583378

It's about the right diameter, and has the right threads for my current shifter. I will also post something if they have a shifter ball that is close to the original as well.