Shifter Knob

[ToonMan]

I want to build a Shift knob for my Pickup. I want it to be KOOL,
and Unique!! I don't want to buy one from the local parts store.
Does any one have any ideas of what I can make it out of???? When I
draw I can come up with just about anything, but on this, I am
drawing a blank!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks so much!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rob The ToonMan
www.chevytrucks.org/squatch-art

[bigblock73]

How about a flamed 8-ball?

A small piston out of?

A logo beer tap?

[Jonboy]

They sell the piston ones in Summit. I think those are pretty cool. John Milner had one, you know.

[Grim Reaper]

Here are some ideas.

http://www.flameball.com/
http://www.go-kat-go.com/skeydeshkn.html
http://www.baylornet.com/research/Sk...m121/1467.html
http://www.mongoose.net/drw/d77-3370...uto-Trans.html
http://www.ratfink.org/shifter_knobs/


There is one site that I can't find now. It had these really cool skull knobs with the Skull wearing this old style army helmet.

[Grim Reaper]

Found it.
http://shop.store.yahoo.com/oddballp...iftknobs1.html

[PHOENIX]

Originally Posted by ToonMan

I want to build a Shift knob for my Pickup. I want it to be KOOL,
and Unique!! I don't want to buy one from the local parts store.

Aluminum:
If you have access to a lathe you can buy a block of aluminum and make your own pretty easy, then have a machine shop or someone with a cnc machine carve something custom into the top (or face). You would have to drill and tap the bottom to screw on.

Ceramic:
Ever tried ceramic molds? With time and skill you can make your own mold then make a shifter knob from the mold and then finish it. It would be very custom and you could make more for others if youd like. The problem with this one would be setting a nut in the finish product so you can install it. I played with ceramic molds a long time ago in school and with my mother and grand mother. If you know what you're doing you can make some pretty cool sh*t and it can be pretty damn strong too.

Plastic:
If you can sculpt you can buy a block of plastic and scuplt something out of it. It would not be easy and would take a ton of time, but would be totally custom. You could buy a nut and seat it into the bottom when your finish and it would screw right on.

Wood:
If you like you can carve something out of wood. My uncle was so good at carving pencils into something. I mean it was amazing, I am still shocked today at how skilled he was. Anyway you can go down to lowes or home depot and buy a round wood ball and carve the crap out of it then stain it and clear finish it. I think if you are skilled enough (your drawings kick arse) I think you could pull it off and have a tricked out piece you can keep forever.

Clay:
One more thought. My mother does crafts and stuff and sometimes uses this molding clay (buy at craft store) that you can mold how ever you like (like kids clay but holds together better) then you put it in the oven and it hardens. Make sure you put a nut in the bottom before you harden it. Then you can paint it how ever you like, then just clear it and your good to go.

Are these more along the ideas of what you are looking for?

[85Silverado]

Well, i wont do this....just out of respect and decency but there's a decomissioned us coast guard chopper near my house that's serves as a memorial that's been there for a few years and i pulled up the path to it the other day to show it to my mother and i hopped out to look in the windows and it's pretty well stripped out and i looked in one of the back windows and the sliding door on the other side was open. so i hopped in and looked around. man these things are huge.

anyways...to the shifter....the pilot stick is still in it and i thought it would be cool to have it as a shifter for my truck, it's got all the buttons on it and everything and the stick that it's on in the chopper looks damn near just like the stick in my truck..lol would be a perfect fit. would be sweet to get it but i won't. be funny to have the buttons on the stick to work and shoot like squirters out the grill of the truck or something..lol would definately be a unique piece on the truck then.

[bigblock73]

Feeding off Pauls idea...how about a grenade for a shifter?

Of course, it would have to be dead or a fake...but it'd be unique!

[PHOENIX]

Fake/Dummy Grenades are cheap and plentyful.

I have delt with these guys and they sell them for a fair price:
http://www.imsplus.com
http://www.imsplus.com/ims35.html
They come with a hole drilled into the bottom already that you can use to insert something to screw it onto the shifter. If you dont want the grenade to be the upright way you can plug the hole and drill your own in the side and tap or insert something threaded. You can get it to work very easily, I would like to see it done. I think I have a couple of dummy grenades sitting around, maybe Ill try it.

[plumbcut]

put a grenade and make it so you have to pull the pin to start the engine

pc

[ToonMan]

I Did the grenade on my 77 GMC Jimmy!!!! It is really cool!!!!!
One problem I may face is that my truck is a 3 in the tree!!!
I do really like the Coast Guard Idea, That would be SWEET!!!!!!!!!
Thanks for the great Ideas guys!!!!!
I appreciate it!!!!!
Rob