Aftermarket shift knob with short throw shifter and factory boot

[m4a1mustang]

Disclaimer: As it is right now, this mod is all about improving feel. Aesthetics will be worked out later.

Long title... lol.

As some of you know, I recently installed the B&M short shifter in my Z. It's awesome, I love it, and yes, I trashed the factory shift knob during the install.

One of the big problems with short shifters and an aftermarket knob is the boot. Often times the boot is going to be too big for the new shifter and knob. Our factory boot is obviously designed to accommodate the fairly wide base of the factory knob, so this is what it first looked like when I put my aftermarket Team Voodoo knob on:



Kind of sloppy, eh?

Not to mention the feel of the boot freely slopping about...

Looking for a temporary fix I made a trip to Lowe's. I picked up a number of black rubber grommets and a 5/8 x 7/8 x 1" steel spacer.

I ended up fitting one of the larger grommets around the base of the spacer and slipped it over the shifter, then tightened the knob down as far as I could go. The knob obviously sits a little bit higher now (about 3/4" higher than before), but the end result is a better looking and better feeling shifter.

The finishes don't match but I might be able to find a spacer to better match which I would then spray with clear like the Voodoo knob. I might just paint this one silver and clear it... or just leave it as is.



Here's a shot with levels adjusted to show the grommet better...



So that's my temporary (possibly permanent) fix. Hope this is helpful for anyone in a similar predicament.

[DIGItonium]

Nice! Is summer weather going to cause issues with the shift knob? Also, does the notchiness get any worse? That's what I'm worried about... the clunk.

[racerxj17]

looked better before the jimmy of a spacer?

[Crash]

Originally Posted by DIGItonium

Nice! Is summer weather going to cause issues with the shift knob? Also, does the notchiness get any worse? That's what I'm worried about... the clunk.

Put a beanie on it.

[kgreen]

leave the spacer off

[m4a1mustang]

Originally Posted by racerxj17

looked better before the jimmy of a spacer?

Meh, I think it looks better this way... but again, still more a temp fix than anything.

The big change is in the feel. Before, when you grabbed the knob you were grabbing the boot, too. The base of the knob was smaller than the opening in the boot. Just felt awful.

I have some other stuff that I am going to try but for now this is the best solution. It provides the feel I'm looking for and IMO, doesn't look that bad. It'd be better if I could get the spacer to match the knob, which I think I can.

Originally Posted by kgreen

leave the spacer off

Again, it's all about feel. It feels like **** without it.

Originally Posted by DIGItonium

Nice! Is summer weather going to cause issues with the shift knob? Also, does the notchiness get any worse? That's what I'm worried about... the clunk.

Thanks. It was 90 degrees today and the knob was only warm when I got in the car. This one is clear coated so you're not touching bare metal. I've also got 35% tint which keeps the cabin a little bit cooler.

As far as the feel goes... it is definitely a more notchy feel, although I'm not quite sure if that's the right word for it. I'd say it feels more mechanical or more direct.

Aside from shortening the throw and allowing for more precise shifts, the short shifter eliminates the "slop" that's in the factory shifter. The factory shifter incorporates a lot of materials that absorb the feedback from the transmission. With the short throw you've got a more direct connection to the transmission, so you are getting a lot more feedback.

[theDreamer]

I understand m4a1mustang, the ball sits so close to the boot that you grab the boot when trying to shift. It is the main reason I went back to the stock shift knob for now until I find a better solution.

[AK370Z]

haha.. okay.. looks a bit weird IMO. Doesn't flow with the nice interior. Hopefully this is VERY temporary!

[m4a1mustang]

Originally Posted by theDreamer

I understand m4a1mustang, the ball sits so close to the boot that you grab the boot when trying to shift. It is the main reason I went back to the stock shift knob for now until I find a better solution.

Yup, that was the whole point of this "mod." I needed to get rid of that feel asap, and... well... I couldn't go back for the factory knob.

I have some other ideas that will look better, but for now this has the feel 100% spot on to where I want it which is the most important thing at the moment.

Originally Posted by AK370Z

haha.. okay.. looks a bit weird IMO. Doesn't flow with the nice interior. Hopefully this is VERY temporary!

I ordered the ring that you linked me to. It should be here in a week or so... we'll see how that works.

[m4a1mustang]

This is the ring I am talking about for you guys that are wondering:

Shift knob experimentation!....>>

And this is another option I'm going to try that Steve (Modshack) used with the same knob as mine:

370z shift knob question

I do really like the feel of the way I have it now, though, so I'm going to work on the aesthetics over the weekend to see if I can get some of you jokers to appreciate.

Really, though, keep the comments coming... negative or positive. The more input on how to make it better the better...

[m4a1mustang]

Photoshop if what it might look like if the spacer matched and was a little shorter.

I have the ability to raise the boot a bit as the grommet acts like a stop.

[Modshack]

Originally Posted by m4a1mustang

And this is another option I'm going to try that Steve (Modshack) used with the same knob as mine:

370z shift knob question


Really, though, keep the comments coming... negative or positive. The more input on how to make it better the better...

I improved on the initial attempts...Ordered a Redline Goods leather shiftboot. YOu can spec them shorter if neeed . Only $60 with many choices of leather color and customization. The smaller hole fits the shaft perfectly and Hugs the Knob bottom. I ordered a 350Z one and it fit with very little modification:

[m4a1mustang]

I checked Redline's site out after reading your shift knob thread, Steve. Definitely looks like a route I may be going as the factory boot is definitely a bit too much for the short shifter.

[Modshack]

Originally Posted by m4a1mustang

I checked Redline's site out after reading your shift knob thread, Steve. Definitely looks like a route I may be going as the factory boot is definitely a bit too much for the short shifter.

Well worth it. The factoy boot is so cheezy! The Redlines come out of Poland, but I had it in about 10 days from order...

I also played around with grommets, Spacers, Zip ties etc. and came up with some workable stuff, but this looks so much better.
Lends a littl splash of color to. Almost a dead wringer for the Alcantara on my Sparco seats that I hope to install....

[m4a1mustang]

Yeah, the factory boot feels like a cheap pleather jacket out of 1985.

If I don't like how the ring turns out that AK used I will probably order a Redline boot. But for now the setup I have feels really good... though it isn't winning much in the looks department.