Who is hoarding all the knobs?

I was in 2 self serve junk yards today (Parts Galore for the Michiganders and Michigoosers) looking for a couple things. I could not find a single manual shift knob in either place. Every car I looked in had it missing. Who is hoarding all the danged things and why?

My guess is people are sticking them in their pockets.

Is that a shifter knob in your pocket or are you just happy to see me?

I just assume everyone self-serves themselves up a free shift knob. I'd rather get a new cheap one on ebay. That way I can say my Ranger has a Corvette "shifter".

you are doing it wrong... you need to liberate an 8 ball from a pool table in a bar and drill/tap the proper hole in it for your car...

Elton John?

Someone trying to set themselves up as a monopoly on shift knobs?

novaderrik wrote: you are doing it wrong... you need to liberate an 8 ball from a pool table in a bar and drill/tap the proper hole in it for your car...

I would rather have the Cue or some other odd ball than the 8.. too overdone

The workers probably pull them at sign in, ask at the desk.

Its Parts Galore, if it fits in your pocket its free. Which locations did you visit? The one on Warren right off Livernois is the best of the three IMHO, slower turnover and more variety than the 8 mile yard. Imports less picked over because its in a rough area that keeps the suburban white kid ricers away. Downriver seems best for american cars, but that's about all.

mad_machine wrote:

novaderrik wrote: you are doing it wrong... you need to liberate an 8 ball from a pool table in a bar and drill/tap the proper hole in it for your car...

I would rather have the Cue or some other odd ball than the 8.. too overdone

I saw a hot rod once all done up in a unique shade of orange. The shifter was a real 5-ball, and he painted the truck to match. Why the 5? 5-Speed manual swap. This had to be 15-20 years ago. It was cool.

Javelin wrote:

mad_machine wrote:

novaderrik wrote: you are doing it wrong... you need to liberate an 8 ball from a pool table in a bar and drill/tap the proper hole in it for your car...

I would rather have the Cue or some other odd ball than the 8.. too overdone

I saw a hot rod once all done up in a unique shade of orange. The shifter was a real 5-ball, and he painted the truck to match. Why the 5? 5-Speed manual swap. This had to be 15-20 years ago. It was cool.

install it so the 8 is sideways, and it's an infinity ball..

http://youtu.be/FNh7buHDfZM?t=3m21s

Kenny_McCormic wrote: Its Parts Galore, if it fits in your pocket its free. Which locations did you visit? The one on Warren right off Livernois is the best of the three IMHO, slower turnover and more variety than the 8 mile yard. Imports less picked over because its in a rough area that keeps the suburban white kid ricers away. Downriver seems best for american cars, but that's about all.

I hit both the Warren and 8 mile locations.

I think "pocket=free" at most self serve yards, just was so odd that I couldnt find a single OEM knob to replace the loose street ricer one that was on the car.

Make one. Get creative! Glass door knob, chainsaw piston, resin encapsulated bat skull, etc.

novaderrik wrote: you are doing it wrong... you need to liberate an 8 ball from a pool table in a bar and drill/tap the proper hole in it for your car...

I know it's cheating, but I bought a poolball shifter on amazon. Real poolball with a nicely installed threaded insert and it was very reasonable. The company offered any number and even snooker balls.

It's a nice size and has a really nice weight to it too. Also, my conscience is clear :D

Plenty of old B&m or Hurst T-shifters out there waiting for mullets and them to come back into style...

Old school roller skate wheels work well too.

Daggone knob-hoarders!

I wonder why my 1st gen Scion xB sports an AW11 MR2 knob...

hmmm.

Funny, when I had an AW11, I replaced the knob with a JY sourced knob from a rwd Corolla that was a perfect fit. I liked it much better than the penis shaped MR2 knob.

I did pay for the JY knob.

Here is where they are all going.

Gear shift knobs tied into a golf sock make a great Slapjack. If I remember correctly Stevie Ray used a Escort GT gearshift knob in a sock to make a Slapjack while in WCW.