Maple Shift knob restoration... anyone have one with unbroken plastic gear map

[MetalZ240]

Hello folks,

So here is the deal. I have TWO original maple shift knobs for the 240z. The wood is good on both (lick of varnish and they would look new), and the bottom 'fake chrome' part on both is even unbroken... but (yes, you guessed it) they both have broken center "gear map" caps. I actually still have part of the last one that broke, and its about 80 percent left. I actually need the five speed map, but would settle for the four speed one at this point (which is what the broken one is/was).. i may even end up putting a non-stock "Datsun" logo in one.. :sick:

So the question is, to solve this horrid dilemma do i have to buy the new one for 110 dollars on ebay... or is there a way to get the plastic cap? I've looked and inquired, and can't find anyone with this part, even though it is the most common part to break... Its probably a 5 dollar part, if that... so its seems sad to have to spend 110 (plus shipping) to replace the factory original knob. Looks nice with the wood wheel and feels nice and cool in the summer.

Only other alternatives i can think of is to get someone skilled in plastic molding to fabricate one, or if by some chance someone has a ratty vinyl one that still has a good 'gear map' top, and doesn't want the moon for it, i may be able to perform complex 'gear map' replacement surgery.

Anyone else had this problem and found a fix?

[bpilati]

I thought you could still buy these knobs.

[MetalZ240]

If you don't mind shelling out about 140 dollars after shipping.... but since its the insert that breaks frequently, you'd think they would have made those available for 5 dollars.... Apparently they don't, because i have not found anyone who can find them. However i'm sure i can find someone to make something that is close enough...

[5thhorsemann]

Try hitting this guy up with the question mclapp1@att.net He calls himself plastic man, fabs headlight covers, he might be able to make the inserts in clear and polish them and you. Then you could print up the map or something to place under them.

[bpilati]

Mine has some cracks in the plastic, and I may just keep it to give the car character. All that shifting is hard on a shift knob. I'll clean up the wood and refinish that.

[MetalZ240]

Will put his address in my options list, thanks..

@bpilati Yeah, they are pretty flimsy plastic, with little to no support underneath.... I have two nice maple knobs with both having broken gear layouts. I just find it odd that nobody at Nissan considered making extra. They wouldn't even take up much shelf space, and they are a separate part, so they have dies for them somewhere.

[hls30.com]

Have you really looked?

Courtesy Nissan sells them all day every day for $54! I can't imagine $90 for shipping...even to the Great White North, Aye!

http://www.courtesyparts.com/shift-knob-wood-speed-1970-1973-240z-p-569014.html?cPath=7724_7760

[MetalZ240]

Thanks or the reply. The 90 dollar one was from a major Z supplier on Ebay...There were actually higher ones.

Even at 54, plus shipping, its a good deal of cash to spend on essentially replacing a little piece of plastic about the same size as a quarter, and probably containing less than a nickels worth of plastic pressed out of a die at the rate of 20 per minute... I just find it odd that nobody thought of producing a few thousand extra, with the understanding that everything breaks - and especially thin plastic where your hand rests a good part of the day when driving.. These inserts are/were actually a statutory requirement in vehicles in many states/provinces... etc... If my plastic choke lever breaks (which it did awhile ago) i could easily get a new one without having to buy the entire choke lever and cables.

Other issue i have is i actually have a five speed. I could be satisfied with a four speed gear layout, as the layout is essentially the same, it just has the 5th gear missing in the only place left for a gear.

Sometime this week i'm going to try a place that makes button pins, and perhaps they can reproduce something that will look good enough... perhaps even stronger than original. It shouldn't be hard to fabricate something like that, provided they have all the tools for the job. IF i get two made, i can sell one of the spare maple shift knobs i have.

[hls30.com]

I looked into making identical replacements of the original and early caps-the current ones are not as the original part was, and are made cheaper. The die is the expensive piece-not worth it for making less than 100 hundred parts...that someone expects to pay $5 for...making something that would be presentable and similar is much cheaper, but not something I think most here would want. Printing a round sticker on a laser printer and putting a plastic button top on it sounds like it would be acceptable to you and be presentable.

Here in the US, the shift pattern was a USDOT requirement and putting it on the knob ment the major parts of the interior did not have to be changed to accommodate it-something Nissan did in the some of the Datsun Roadsters.

[hls30.com]

Thanks or the reply. The 90 dollar one was from a major Z supplier on Ebay...There were actually higher ones.

Even at 54, plus shipping, its a good deal of cash to spend on essentially replacing a little piece of plastic about the same size as a quarter, and probably containing less than a nickels worth of plastic pressed out of a die at the rate of 20 per minute... I just find it odd that nobody thought of producing a few thousand extra, with the understanding that everything breaks - and especially thin plastic where your hand rests a good part of the day when driving.. These inserts are/were actually a statutory requirement in vehicles in many states/provinces... etc... If my plastic choke lever breaks (which it did awhile ago) i could easily get a new one without having to buy the entire choke lever and cables.

Other issue i have is i actually have a five speed. I could be satisfied with a four speed gear layout, as the layout is essentially the same, it just has the 5th gear missing in the only place left for a gear.

Sometime this week i'm going to try a place that makes button pins, and perhaps they can reproduce something that will look good enough... perhaps even stronger than original. It shouldn't be hard to fabricate something like that, provided they have all the tools for the job. IF i get two made, i can sell one of the spare maple shift knobs i have.

A couple of other things I should have addressed:

1) Ebay can be a great source of parts-but you either verify the sellers claims or you accept them as true...most of the sellers are actually resellers-if you don't see a part number-that is a pretty good indication they know their prices are higher than a simple search would find...If you see new packaging, and no part number....they are ordering at their local dealer and selling to those who have not done and probably will not do any due diligence-They are banking that you value convenience more than savings-that choice is up to you once you know it can be made. Using my club CD, I usually check price and availability of part numbers at www.CourtesyParts.com(don't forget to add shipping charges), and My local Dealer-via email. Between them I can get an immediate approximate price, and a verified availability.

Buying truly rare parts is a different story-those that have them are not afraid for you to verify their claims-they furnish correct part numbers, and know what research will turn up-they make it easy to verify what they tell you. They know what A parts search will turn up, a few online dealer parts/price list Macros will lead you to believe the parts are available and inexpensive because they are not connected to actual inventory, but only a part number list with the price a part was last sold at-even if it was 35 years ago. Some companies are actually interested in giving you at least some idea that just because a part number in the list at its last available price does not mean it is actually available for sale at any price. When you are in doubt, try to order it-rare parts will come back as a cancelled order due to being unavailable, sometimes you will get a follow up call to explain that just because you were allowed to order the part, does not mean the company has a legal obligation to supply it at its listed price-or any other.

2) The choke lever was made to be replaced-it mounts with a slot and a set screw. The disk in question was glued on On a $10 (back in the day)cosmetic part, it only makes sense they would expect you to buy the assembly for parts that are fused together.

[Reverend]

I wonder how valuable my original walnut 5 speed knob is... i got it cheap.

[Decoy12]

Want that knob! I'll pay you twice what you paid for it