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Author Topic: Updated Shifter Knob  (Read 5873 times)

prefervintage

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  • USA, CT, Cheshire
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  • '69 280SL,'70 280SE,'82 300D,'85 Rolls,'66 Mustang
Updated Shifter Knob
« on: May 04, 2020, 21:46:32 »
Hi all...in addition to adding a 280SL logo to my glove box, the original SL shifter knob on these cars always looked like an afterthought to me, a little ball on a spindly shaft...so after looking around, I bought a late model Mercedes leather wrapped shift knob and put it on...the shaft diameter was different, so I had to use a few concentric layers of heat shrink tube on the shift rod so that the knob could be put on...it's designed for an interference fit...again, not original, but I like it, and it's easier to manual shift through the gears...thoughts??
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DaveB

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Re: Updated Shifter Knob
« Reply #1 on: May 04, 2020, 22:46:17 »
The shaft is still too spindly..
 :)
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DaveB
'65 US 230sl 4-speed, DB190

MikeSimon

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Re: Updated Shifter Knob
« Reply #2 on: May 05, 2020, 20:38:31 »
The P.O. of my car had installed a 350SL R107 steering wheel and shift knob. I replaced the steering wheel, but the shift knob is still in. It does not have a Mercedes star and fits in place of the round ball on the shaft.
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1970/71 280SL Automatic
Sandy Beige
Parchment Leather
Power Steering
Automatic
Hardtop
Heated Tinted Rear Window
German specs
3rd owner

Benz Dr.

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Re: Updated Shifter Knob
« Reply #3 on: May 05, 2020, 22:35:53 »
Quote from: DaveB on May 04, 2020, 22:46:17
The shaft is still too spindly..
 :)

That may be the case but it's made from some sort of high quality steel. Very tough stuff that won't bend or break.
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1966 230SL 5 speed, LSD, header pipes, 300SE distributor, ported, polished and balanced, AKA  ''The Red Rocket ''
Dan Caron's SL Barn

1970  3.5 Coupe
1961  190SL
1985   300CD  Turbo Coupe
1981  300SD
2013  GMC  Sierra
1965  230SL
1967 250SL
1970 280SL
1988 560SEC

JN

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Re: Updated Shifter Knob
« Reply #4 on: May 07, 2020, 13:22:09 »
not a fan... looks out of place. to be honest
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1967 250 SL Coupe
2014 GLK 250 BlueTec
1994 Ford F 150 4wd

doitwright

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Re: Updated Shifter Knob
« Reply #5 on: May 07, 2020, 14:41:45 »
Your car, use what makes you happy. My personal preference is the original ball.

I’ve been thinking about adding curb feelers.
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Frank Koronkiewicz
Willowbrook, Illinois

1970 280SL Originally Light Ivory - Now Anthracite Gray Metallic

cfm65@me.com

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Re: Updated Shifter Knob
« Reply #6 on: May 11, 2020, 17:37:43 »
This is how I updated my 250SL
Regards
Chris
Cape Town
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28 Ford Model A Pickup
29 Chevy Phaeton
67 E Type FHC
67 250SL 5 speed
83 911SC
2015 VW T5 California Pop Top

114015

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Re: Updated Shifter Knob
« Reply #7 on: May 11, 2020, 22:23:38 »

 :)

Me too.

 :D
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Achim
(Germany)

Starkermann

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  • 1971 5-Speed 280SL Mercedes Blue 903
Re: Updated Shifter Knob
« Reply #8 on: August 04, 2020, 01:30:54 »
You gotta be kidding.  High treason...
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Steve Brooks

cfm65@me.com

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Re: Updated Shifter Knob
« Reply #9 on: August 04, 2020, 04:25:31 »
Best I ever could have hoped for. I just looove the 5 speed and wish I could fit one in my E Type as well.
Chris
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28 Ford Model A Pickup
29 Chevy Phaeton
67 E Type FHC
67 250SL 5 speed
83 911SC
2015 VW T5 California Pop Top

Atazman

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Re: Updated Shifter Knob
« Reply #10 on: August 04, 2020, 16:10:17 »
What 5-speed do you have in your SL, Chris??
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Don
67 250 Sl
(#3168) from Italy
5-speed/Posi/AC/Kinder

Bonnyboy

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Re: Updated Shifter Knob
« Reply #11 on: August 04, 2020, 16:41:24 »
I don't know about others but I find that I prefer using the shift stock rather than holding the shift knob to shift.  I get a better feel of the shifting.   

This is in part to growing up with a
 -  '70 Ford 3/4t dually flatdeck with manual Tranny
 -  '76 Ford 5 Ton Van with a stupid tranny
 -  MGB with a mangled tranny (had a Chev 350 hooked up to it for a while)
 - then driving a '38 Diamond T parade truck with the square cut gears
 - and then a 52 La France Pumper Firetruck with gears that I could only find 1/2 the time. 

The tranny in our Pagoda's is a dream. 
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Ian
69 280SL
65 F-100
73 CB750K
75 MGB
78 FLH
82 CB750SC
83 VF 1100C
94 FLHTCU
08 NPS50
12 Pro 4X

cfm65@me.com

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Re: Updated Shifter Knob
« Reply #12 on: August 04, 2020, 17:07:57 »
Atazman.
Hi Don,
I replaced my auto box with 265/6 Getrag out of a 80s BMW. This is the overdrive gearbox with a removable bell housing.
Lovit.
Cheers
Chris
« Last Edit: August 05, 2020, 18:25:28 by cfm65@me.com »
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28 Ford Model A Pickup
29 Chevy Phaeton
67 E Type FHC
67 250SL 5 speed
83 911SC
2015 VW T5 California Pop Top

Atazman

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Re: Updated Shifter Knob
« Reply #13 on: August 05, 2020, 00:54:18 »
Very nice, Chris!!  Thank you.
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Don
67 250 Sl
(#3168) from Italy
5-speed/Posi/AC/Kinder
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