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How do i remove the shift knob on my 85 z28 5 speed it does not twist off i dont think i have tried everything!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
If you have the eight ball looking shift knob, pop the button out and look inside the knob. You will see a large C-clip in there, remove the C-clip and pull the knob off.
Yup, just twist the hell out of it. If it hasn't been off before, its gonna be a real bitch to break loose.
Be aware though, you might also end up breaking the shifter handle itself loose. It just twists onto the shifter mechanism. Not a big deal, just tighten it back up after, it just threads on. That scared the hell outta me when it happened though, I thought I broke it, LOL
i cant get mine off either, i ripped the leather where it is sewn together trying so hard... is it hard to replace the shifter with a hurst shifter? How do you do it, and how long should it take?
Originally posted by z28cmr83 what are the advantages of a new, hurst shifter?
the major advantage is shorter throws. also it has a more solid feel, whereas the stock shifter is rubber mounted to isolate vibration & noise, which tend to give it a very sloppy feel. another bonus is the adjustable shift stops to prevent over travel of the shifter which could result in damage to the transmission.
Originally posted by Dewey316 I had one, that I had to use a pipe wrench on the knob, and acutaly use a pair of vice grips to keep the shaft in place.
Ouch, got me beat.
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i used vice grips on the shaft and used my hand on the knob. even with a rag on the shaft i still removed all the paint. lucky for my the shifter boot on a fourth gen console is longer (hell yeah:werd: )
EDIT 07/06/05 looks like i am the final word on this one.....
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1986 base BIRD LB8_2.8L_V6 17.4@76MPH. mods:
4th-gen console, 2002 cavalier front seats, 140MPH speedo, completly de-cluttered engine bay, lots of "free" mods. complete front suspension and stearing rebuild. Custom Cold Air Intake.
1988 Trans Am GTA 5.7L TPI L98 14.3@97MPH. mods:
base model spoiler, 4th gen console, 4th gen charcol leather seats, free mods, 89+ rear disc brakes, SLP shorty headers and Y-pipe, full 3" hooker catback, WCT-5 trannsmission, centerforce dual friction clutch. COMING SOON: 4th gen doorhandles, custom transsmisssion crossmember, SFCs, 98+ front brakes.
Last edited by Xophertony; 07-06-2005 at 07:02 AM.
Some people reccomend shifting the car into fourth and getting in the back seat and pulling hard on the shift knob, I'm saying this more as a joke than to actually try it, but I have heard stories of people who do this.
That only works with an automatic where the shift knob is a press fit onto the shaft, such as a Grand Cherokee. Pulling on a shifter knob that is threaded on is only going to lead to a lot of frustration and/or pulled muscles.
Here is a tip for Hurst shifter owners-
My wife hated the hard plastic Hurst shift-ball and wanted her leather-covered OEM ball back. The Hurst unit has much smaller threads and to make the OEM ball work I "dremeled" the Hurst ball apart to get the threaded insert out, put the insert on the (electric) oven burner for a couple of minutes, then (using a pair of needle-nose pliers) jamming it into the OEM ball opening and letting it cool in there. IT WORKED PERFECTLY!!!
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for an 89 IROC, I have a 5-speed with the big, "stitched" rubber ball (looks like a baseball) that has the rubber coming off on the top due to wear. I want to upgrade this for now until I get my Hurst shifter. How is the stock knob held on, thread or tight fitted with a type of glue? If a thread, is it standard, so any store bought shifter ball will screw back on? Thanks!
There were several styles of shifter handles used on the T5's. I've had a few over the years where the shifter ball was VERY difficult to remove and I ended up taking the entire handle off (See picture below!) . Some of the handles are press fit and some of them are threaded at the bottom.
Trickster If you see a snap ring on a T5 shifter handle than do me a favor and post the image from the manual. I've never seeen such a thing. the closest I've come to that description is the T5 installed in a Berlinetta. On that style the shifter pattern trim is removed and there is a small bolt holding the shifter knob to the handle. I've seen a bolt alone and a bolt and a washer and that might be what you are seeing in the manual
didn't you just post this yesterday on another thread, and they told you that it was only for automatics?
the knob is threaded, but its a metric thread. so no, any old knob won't fit.
Actually I posted that information about the automatic over a year ago when I had been working way to many hours and missed the part about the five speed. Now that the subject has been brought up again and I goofed again, I decided to go to the illustrated parts manual that I have. In 1982 - 1984 the knob was threaded onto the control lever. In 1984, there was also a knob that was attached with a special bolt (see pictures about two posts up from this one unless someone else chimes in). After that all the manual knobs were threaded on and the boots went through several changes. Incidentally, the snap ring I mentioned in my earlier post is a ring to hold the shift boot in place.
Last edited by Trickster; 08-16-2007 at 10:06 PM.
Reason: typo error
Trickster? If im correct your talking about an automatic but does it have to be in a specific gear such as Neutral and how would i pop the top button out. Can i also put any shift knob on or do i have to go buy another auto shift knob? thanks
Last edited by morellimd; 04-25-2009 at 04:29 AM.
Reason: To Trickster
Mods so far: MSD Cap and rotor, MSD ignition coil, Accel 8.8mm ignition wires, Hooker Super Comp Shortie Headers, Flowmaster 3in catback, underdrive crank pulley, custom cold air intake, NOS wet 125 shot, air foil and a lead foot! no E/T's yet. ...TURBO COMING SOON...Other mods include keyless entry and remote start, and Sequential Turn Signals.
This board hasn't been touched in a while but I'm desperate, I'm trying to get the shifter knob off of my automatic 82 camaro, its the worn leather 8ball type, and I'm scared to try anything else with it. If anyone has prior experience on this it would be greatly appreciated thank you.
Go up to my first post on 11-22-04 and click on the attachment there and it will bring up a picture of the two automatic shifter knobs for that year which should help you. On most of the later years starting around about 1985 or so, there is a little clip that looks like an oversized staple located at the base of the shifter knob in the front facing the dash. Automatics only. Pull the clip put and pull the knob off. Yes HCR13, I am still around. Just been real busy at work and recovering my computer from a massive hard drive crash.
Mods so far: MSD Cap and rotor, MSD ignition coil, Accel 8.8mm ignition wires, Hooker Super Comp Shortie Headers, Flowmaster 3in catback, underdrive crank pulley, custom cold air intake, NOS wet 125 shot, air foil and a lead foot! no E/T's yet. ...TURBO COMING SOON...Other mods include keyless entry and remote start, and Sequential Turn Signals.
Yes, still active and busier than a two legged cat with diarrea. In addition to my regular job and all the honey-do lists. I have been working to fix up a house that I own so that I can sell it. I also have been doing some side work recently fixing my co-workers computers when they get that dreaded blue screen of death or no screen at all. On top of all this, (and I know it isn't a third gen) I am currently in the process of restoring a 1972 chevy nova for my grandson. It has a 350 2 barrel carb engine in it and was a special order item. Not the engine but the car itself. It also has a retractable moon roof from the factory and is not a convertible. It is my understanding that there were only a few that had this option. He wants to drop a 396 in it.
Sounds like you have your hands full! Good luck on everything, that Nova sounds pretty nice, I'll have to look up some pics of this moonroof option. I think a 396 would be better than a smog 350...
Mods so far: MSD Cap and rotor, MSD ignition coil, Accel 8.8mm ignition wires, Hooker Super Comp Shortie Headers, Flowmaster 3in catback, underdrive crank pulley, custom cold air intake, NOS wet 125 shot, air foil and a lead foot! no E/T's yet. ...TURBO COMING SOON...Other mods include keyless entry and remote start, and Sequential Turn Signals.
I listened to the C-clip advice, pulled the middle out, used needle noses to pop the clip out, and the knob came right off. That diagram was a big help, felt like an idiot twisting the knob around around and around to no avail.
i have an 87 trans am with the 5 speed and mine just twisted right off- it has threads inside of it that screw on to threads on the "shifter shaft"
i tok mine off cuz im trying to get the threaded part out, drill a hole in a # 8 pool ball, and glue the threaded metal peice into the 8 ball to use as a shifter knob haha
