Custom Billet Shift Knob for Toyota Tacoma (2-1/4" diameter). ***Utilizes factory boot.***

Thank you, gentlemen!

I was asked to make the MT knob out of Delrin here, and I wouldn't do it for that. BUT, this AT design allows for it (at least on my end, anyway).

I would still worry about it being too easy to scratch/nick whatever ... with no good way to fix it. I suppose a heat gun could work, but that is dangerous.

So, highlighted in blue you will see the capturing diameter. This feature really isn't needed for the design to work. It is more for me, so that I have a usable interior feature that is running concentric with the outer profile.


Here is my fixture for polishing, and probably the final lathe operation. The blue diameter highlighted here will be mated with the above, and bolted down using the M8 threads of the knob. The entire outer profile will be exposed for me to either a skim or polish prior to ship.


Note the flats on the outside of the fixture. That will make it dual purpose, as those features I can use as an easy way to orient for engraving on the mill.

For the MT knob, I used this to orient. It's a pain in the ass, but it works.



Toyota really did make this a pain to reverse engineer. The internal features of the MT knob are 3mm eccentric to the outside, and for the AT it is about 2mm off.

TL;DR: Yep, I'll offer delrin for AT only. EDIT: (I can do delrin for MT as well, but it has to be the hybrid design[2pc] found later in the thread).

Side note. Stainless will be a pain in the ass with those two 6-32 threaded holes (this tap size is infamously weak), but should still be doable ... unless I start losing a bunch of them and get tired of it.

 

@OnlyTaco, do you have a short shifter kit installed? I’m trying to figure out which weight knob will compliment my URD short shifter. Mine shifts very nicely now, but I think that a little bit of added weight in the knob would be nice.

 

The quote below is from an earlier post in this thread. After he received it, was his next comment (snippet from a PM) ...

Not sure if @OnlyTaco has a short shifter, but he can certainly chime in with his thoughts.

 

Weird thing about stainless, is that I never know when I will get usable bar stock for this. We mostly get bar in the range of 4-8" diameter, loads of it. I can't justify that much wasted material, so I will not touch that inventory.

Every now and again we get some 2.5" diameter bar in, and if any is left over I can make some more. Otherwise, as stated before I will need at least 5 members interested before I make any more. I'd want to buy a 3ft bar, which would produce 10-11 parts ... which would cover all 5 orders even if shit went seriously wrong.

 

Thanks. I’ve read every single post and I’m aware of that info. I guess my thing is that I don’t have a ‘difficult reverse’ issue. My Short shifter is really smooth already, but could/would benefit from a little bit of weight behind it.

I guess my problem is that I think I want the weight of your SS knob but I also know you don’t have any plans to make any more anytime soon, so should I just get an aluminum one since it is heavier than stock? Maybe that’s enough weight to achieve what I am looking for? Of course, I don’t know when you’ll have another batch ready of the aluminum either........ Decisions, decisions.....

 

Gotcha. I do still have 2 aluminum remaining.

 

Well then, subscribed for more info and designs of the AT knobs. i assume the Aluminuim knob forATt will cost similar to MT? the Delrin option, if and when you make them will the cost be less?

 

That is the plan. I aim to offer the same pricing.

However, there are some unknowns at this point. @mesojdm was kind enough to offer printing for prototypes to enable me to prove it out, but I will have to figure out how much a production run is going to cost at some point. You see how busy he is on here, so I'm lucky he even offered that much! This is the only variable I can see that would impact the price, and I haven't looked into alternate options yet.

If I had to do the required printing ... modifications need to be done to the printer I have available, because it is not set up for ABS plastic right now (which I believe to be the proper material for this, somebody correct me if I am wrong). It is not a monetary issue either, just some labor ... shuffling things around in the cabinet, and building another wall to separate the heat sensitive electronics. Should only take a few hours for that.

Delrin is actually more expensive than aluminum, but I will get more knobs per bar when considering the overall length I need to use for the AT is shorter than the MT version. Tooling wear isn't a problem, but switching back and forth to aluminum might dull the edges enough to where I start to have issues with it melting (and new tooling required to get back on track). That's probably not going to happen, though ... I can probably mitigate that by slowing the speeds/feeds down a bit. The machining is also much less involved for the AT, so that'll help keep the price in check as well.

 

ABS is good, by my printer is high temp fused Nylon. Much stronger and better surface finish. Just let me know when and I'll make ya some.

 

Oh yeah, that's even better.

I'm going to print one with PLA tonight, just to see if I can catch any obvious errors. I should be in touch very soon. Many thanks!

 

These look great. I can have this Cerakoted in dark gray and pattern in red, will look great in my cement truck. Any chance there will be a version that weighs between aluminum and SS?

 

When this came up before, I was kicking the idea around in my head.

What I could probably do is thread the OD of an aluminum knob and screw on a stainless ring. Loctite it together. Then, machine it all together to produce the same contour that you have been seeing here. Doesn't really add all that much complexity.

What weight target are you trying to hit ... about 600g?

 

It would definitely need a coating for that method, otherwise the color difference between the two materials will be there. That is one of those things that could look cool OR shitty.

 

Well, I know @St.Germain has a short shifter and also has a knob fetish (on the heavier variety)...care to share your experiences here St.?

 

600g would seem perfect!

 

Modeled this up quick, and it only increased from 290g to 411g. I'll have to mess with it a little.

 

i have the URD short shifter. i love it. the install is a PITA somewhat but that's another topic.

that SS goes really well with a heavy knob. i have the 6 Speed Titan from Anarchy Motive: https://anarchy-motive.com/products/6-speed-goliath

that thing is 733g and tall, so it adds leverage as well as weight.

regarding shifting to reverse, the URD SS kit also increases the force required to get into R. with the kit and this knob you need good aim and a bit of muscle to enter R. but the heavy knob makes it fluid and predictable. if i unscrew this knob and put another on, then getting into R is a lot more effort. but either way is fine.

 

Here is 600g.

Stainless exterior, aluminum core. No weird color transitions this way.

 

Also, here is the first AT boot retainer. My bud Chris printed it today, and I would have picked it up on the way home from work if it wasn't storming out.

Not the best quality, but it doesn't have to be at this point. Once I can measure it, and test fit it ... we'll get the real deal printed up.

 

And how many returned customers have you had?

Cuz you may just have your FIRST!