Aftermarket Gear Shift Knob

This instructable is how to change a gear shift knob the heavy duty way, but be able to change to a different gear shift knob or easily remove this one.

 The first step is to remove the old shift knob. Once you find the thread pattern of the factory shifter buy 2 nuts that will fit on the shifter from your local hardware store. I used Ace Hardware. Put one nut on the shifter and tighten it all the way down for right now.

  Grind down the second nut until it fits inside your shift knob of choice. It will look like a ring once you are finished.  Remember to wear your PPE (Personal Protective Equipment). Safety glasses and gloves is what I used.

After grinding the nut down, mix some JB Weld and apply it all over the outside of the nut and on the inside of your shift knob of choice. Make sure you DO NOT get JB Weld on the threads of the nut. I also used latex gloves while performing this step because this stuff gets messy.

 This was my shift knob of choice which I picked up at Autozone. I will have to be honest and say that this was an "Impulse Buy" and if I had to buy the shift knob over again I would buy one a little more conservative.   It originally came with 3 tiny set screws to attache it to the shifter. I didn't really trust the set screws and after about a month of re-tightening every week it was time for something more durable. The shift knob also came off while I was shifting a few times. Keep in mind that I am not JB welding this shift knob permanently to the shifter.

In this picture I have added the JB Weld to the nut and on the inside of the shift knob. I inserted the nut into the bottom of the shift knob. It fit really snug into the shift knob and I ended up tapping the bottom of the shift knob on the garage floor so the nut would be flush with the bottom of the shift knob.

Once the JB Weld is dry, screw the shift knob onto the shifter as far as you can go. Adjust the shift knob so it looks straight and even then tighten the first nut you put on the shifter against the shift knob.

I have been shifting with this shift knob for about a year now and it has not been loose or wobbily once.  I don't do any "Fast & Furious" driving, but this knob can take some man handling.