Hot Rods Need Some Tips.

Guys,

I have a shift knob that was done by a friend a number of years ago for me. I would like to use it on my 31 roadster but it has no threads in it. Any ideas or tips on drilling one of these and taping it for the required thread without destroying the knob. It already has a couple of small scratches from sitting in the tool box for years I would hate to make it worse. Here is a couple shots of what I am working with.

 

Easy way would to find a junk ball with correct insert. Break the ball remove the insert. Then drill yours. Wrap it in rubber and gently clamp it in the drill press vice. Get after it. Might find an insert at the Ace hardware. I drilled some plastic knobs and added inserts. Put a dab of JB weld in first.

 

I might see what I can dig up at the boneyard for a threaded insert and try that. Thanks.

Gordon

 

Look for br*** bushings in the plumbing or hardware section of a big box store or older smaller hardware place. Also some auto parts stores may have them.

It is a piece that has threads both inside and outside with a hex nut shape on one end. It is normally used to resize a female pipe thread to the next smaller size.

Ray

 

Instead of using a br*** insert, try a Heli-Coil kit. With this kit, you drill the hole with the supplied drill, use the supplied tap and then the supplied tool to install the helical insert. They are designed to repair stripped threads. Should be more than strong enough for your shifter ball.

Another thread repair is Keensert.

To hold the ball in the vice without scratching it, try using rubber on the jaws of the vice. Drill slowly so the bit doesn't suddenly bite and so the plastic doesn't get hot and stick to the bit.

Or, another way to hold the ball without scratching it may be to find a thick drinking gl*** that is tapered - bigger at the top than the bottom. Find one that won't let the knob fall all the way to the bottom but stops it about midway. Evenly coat the inside of the gl*** with liquid electrical tape, rubbery adhesive, form-a-gasket or some other such thing and let it dry. Set the gl*** on your drill press table and position the knob in it.

To accurately position the flat spot so the drill will hit it squarely, set a short piece of pipe on end on top of the flat spot as the knob sits in the gl*** (or in the vice). The length of pipe will exaggerate any misalignment and help you see it better.

If you don't have a drill press and you want to accurately drill it by hand, set your knob in a gl***, pour hot wax (paraffin) over it, set your short pipe squarely on the flat spot of the knob. Let it all cool until it's solid. Let the pipe guide your drill bit. Now you've got a bit of a waxy mess to clean up.

Good luck!

 

Masonary anchors have a threaded insert which can be removed and epoxied in place.

 

I just took a long nut, threw it in the spindle of my mill and a reground chunk of old broken drill bit in the vise and used it as a lathe to turn the nut to fit a already drilled billard ball. The same concept can be applied to a drill press too.

As for the hole in the ball, like was mentioned before, wrap it and drill it, be careful and go slow

 

Why not send a conversation to saxman and see if he can help you out,,he makes custom knobs and he knows how to do it correctly. HRP

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/members/saxman.98888/

 

Drill a hole in it, run a tap in it, use thread lock and screw it on the shift lever. Ya might want a self locking nut under it so as to have it face the desired direction. Works for me on many a knob.

 

Thanks for all the info guys. I don't think the threaded part, either taping or doing an insert, or whatever, will be that hard. Holding it for drilling was the part that had me a little concerned. I have enough tips to at least give it a try! Thanks again all!

Gordon