I have an automatic transmission, and the shift **** is the ball (non-leather wrapped) with the button on the top. I have tried to twist it off, thinking it screwed on, I've looked for a tab but found nothing. How is this removed?

I even have the Chilton's manual and it doesn't tell me either. Is there a hidden tab I need to pop with a screwdriver or something?

I'd put a picture up but I am out of batteries for my camera. If needed, I'll try to get one up tonight.

The Camaro is an '84 Automatic V6 if that helps.

Thanks for the helps cats and kittens.

 

I don't have a pic to show you how, but hopefully I can explain! You have to pop the button out from the center of the shifter ball. Inside, there should be a c-clip type of deal that you pop out. Good luck!

 

yeah slide the ball down the stick and theres a clip that you pop out

 

Not to say you guys are lying, but it didn't work.
The button goes down, but the ball stays still. It won't twist, go up, down or otherwise.

Is there a C-clip in the ball just below the lip of the hole the button is in? I didn't see one...

 

it sounds like someone glued the ball on or something in the ball itself theres a hole the button sinks into its right at the bottom of that but if the ball dont move your probably not going to get it off without breaking it i cant see there being a big difference between our cars cuz mines an 84 auto wit a v8 but my ball is leather wrapped

 

I'll take a closer look. Since I've found drywall screws holding in my interior trim ( ) the possibility that the ball is glued could be a very real idea.

It could also be that my garage isn't lit very well, and I need to look closer. I got frustrated when the ball wasn't moving at all. Does the button pop out seperately? I know you need to depress it to shift, but can you pull up and twist and it comes out? I tried doing it, but it really wasn't budging, and I didn't want to break it...

I'll look again today.

Just to know what I am looking for, is the ball or button supposed to move at all? Or just down?

 

when i did mine the button pulled right off theres a plastic rod that goes down through the middle of the shifter and theres a metal clip on that with the button over the clip and my ball moves up and down and spins if you can post a picture of your shifter yours may be completly different then mine because i had no troubles

 

heres a pic of mine with the ball slid down so you can see the clip and the plastic rod the button is on i hope this helps

 

The c clip is mounted around the top of the shift lever.When you pull the button out of the shift ball look inside and you should see it.Then all you need to do is use a thin flat blade screwdriver to pry it out and the ball should slide right off
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If the metal tabs are still intact inside the ball you wont be able to slide it down

 

I'll take another look today and let you know how it turns out.

 

i never knew that any ideas on how to fix it and remove without breaking it so i dont hijack lol

 

just grab the button and pull up firmly. It should pull right off. Then look down inside the hole. There is a little snap ring clip in there, it can be frustrating to remove, but a pair of narrow snap ring pliers or a couple of small screwdrivers works. Once you get the snap ring off the **** pulls straight off. Installation is in reverse order, just be careful to line up the button when you put it back on.

If you have broken tabs and the ball spins around and what not, there isnt really much you can do to fix it. But, the auto shifter ***** are usually easy to find. $26 new I think.

 

Okay you guys were right. What I wasn't doing was pulling hard enough on the button to force the dimples out of the holes in the plastic rod. I wasn't pulling it before because I was afraid I was going to snap something.

I must have misunderstood before. I pulled the button out, and then pulled the c-ring (happily, I have very small needle nose pliers for the job) and the ball slid right off.

Much easier than the cutting I had to do to get the front fascia and fenders off.

I took pictures. Maybe I will take the time later to do a little write up on the entire build...hmmm...

Anyway, thanks a lot for the help guys!