Topic: Pool Ball shift knob

So, a driving buddy wants to use a pool ball for a shift knob.
I'm ok with the idea, but what's it going to take to mount it properly so it doesn't pop off while out on the track.

I'm thinking drilling into the ball and putting in an insert that has the same thread pattern as the stick.
Are pool balls even "drillable"? And if so, where's a good place to buy inserts?

1991 VW Jetta #38 - cuz Whoopie Pie!

Re: Pool Ball shift knob

https://www.speedwaymotors.com/-Origina … NwQAvD_BwE

Make your life easy.

Manny

Re: Pool Ball shift knob

dungeonracer wrote:

So, a driving buddy wants to use a pool ball for a shift knob.
I'm ok with the idea, but what's it going to take to mount it properly so it doesn't pop off while out on the track.

I'm thinking drilling into the ball and putting in an insert that has the same thread pattern as the stick.
Are pool balls even "drillable"? And if so, where's a good place to buy inserts?

My old teammate made a pool-ball shifter for the Nixon car. I found the blog post, but the gallery is dead: http://www.sentimentalmechanic.com/2010 … -knob.html

I will say that the weight of an actual pool ball gives shifts a pretty satisfying feeling, even when there's a couple inches of slop in the shifter.

Eric Rood
Everything Bagel, 24 Hours of Lemons
eric@24hoursoflemons.com

4 (edited by Guildenstern 2021-08-27 07:11 PM)

Re: Pool Ball shift knob

https://www.americanshifter.com/catalog … hift-knobs


Any one you like. Much easier and cheaper than trying to clamp and drill a sphere to put a bung in it.

And yea it seems dumb, but a big round ball is a really nice shift knob for a road race car.

Mistake By The Lake Racing (MBTL)
88 Thunderbird "THUNDERBIRDS ARE GO!", Ex Astris, Rubigo / Semper Fracti
A&D: 2014 Sebrings at Sebring (NSF), 2014 NJMP2 Jurassic Park (SpeedyCop), 2012 Summit Point J30 (PiNuts)
2018 Route Sucky-Suck Rally Miata, 2019 World Tour Of Texas 64 Newport

Re: Pool Ball shift knob

And we have a winner!!! Thanks Guildenstern!!!

1991 VW Jetta #38 - cuz Whoopie Pie!

Re: Pool Ball shift knob

dungeonracer wrote:

And we have a winner!!! Thanks Guildenstern!!!

This one(?):
https://www.americanshifter.com/assets/product-images/493720/600.png

Re: Pool Ball shift knob

Nooooo, not that one.....lol

This one smile

https://www.americanshifter.com/assets/product-images/237372/250.png

1991 VW Jetta #38 - cuz Whoopie Pie!

Re: Pool Ball shift knob

If only there was one that said "N" on it to represent when you blow the input shaft out of the housing in a few hundred pieces.

Eric Rood
Everything Bagel, 24 Hours of Lemons
eric@24hoursoflemons.com

Re: Pool Ball shift knob

therood wrote:

If only there was one that said "N" on it to represent when you blow the input shaft out of the housing in a few hundred pieces.

Or one that says "Where's 3rd?"