Question. I have a cool old shifter ball I want to use in one of my cars. It has some pretty big threads in it, 1/2" I think. But the stalk I'd like to put it on has smaller threads. How would I do this? Is there some sort of insert I could get to put into it to change the thread size, or? If there is a thread adapter, where can I get one? That's not something I can get at a hardware store, is it? (I'd bet there's a simple answer here but I haven't run into this before and a search didn't turn up anything)
Someone like me would just put a 1/2" bolt in the lathe and cut, drill, and tap as needed. Might visit a local speed shop and see if they have any not-so-nifty shifter knobs that come with the adapter you need.
Some of the cheaper aftermarket shifter balls came with a couple different size adapters in the package. Maybe you can find some old stock in an older auto parts store [old Napa maybe?], or I've seen old kits at swap meets every once in a while. Also check steel and br*** bushings at parts stores or even Lowe's or Home Depot. Sometimes used for trans and brake lines, maybe something like that would work for you. Maybe even check with the shifter companies or Speedway.
Most aftermarket knobs nowdays have a plastic insert that uses set screws or different sized inserts. Plastic is ****, dont use them. If they are only 1/2" threads and trying to go to a 3/8" thread, I would take a piece of aluminum bar stock, drill/tap the right threads into it and drill out the knob and epoxy the insert in, or drill set screws for it if you have the space.
Autozone and such will have them, or the cheapie import POS glowing skull shifter will have them in the package. Worst case scenario, find the closest fastenal. Or, if you don't mind changing the shifter, find a bolt with the same threads as your trans, coat in neverseaze (sp) and cram in the shifter filled with epoxy. Once it's dry and the bolt is out you'll have epoxied threads.
I've made a couple of thread adapters using nuts from inverted flare brake line nuts. Example---3/16 brake line nut can be threaded with 1/4-20 or 1/4-28 thread and has 3/8-24 outside thread.
You're gona have to take a trip to auto zone. Hurst has threaded male/female adapters that do the job- typically in thier aluminum t-handle kits.
From the good ol daze . . . wrap masking tape around the threads, when it's about the right size, screw the shift ball on. Works better than you think....
I'm wondering if you couldn't use a helicoil and loc***e it into the ball, then screw it down onto the stud that way? The helicoil wouldn't have to fit perfectly into the ball, but it could be close, and then solve the problem. Yay or nay?
The helicoil will follow the threads that are already in the ball, and so the new smaller threads would be the wrong pitch. But a solid thread repair insert might work. Good idea.
Some excellent thoughts here, I'll check out a few of these possibilities. There's plenty of shoulder on it that I could drill it out for a set screw but I don't want to chew up the threads on the stalk, and I really want to use this ball since it's a real old one that's actual stone of some kind, all marbly looking. Thanks for the info.
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