rockstar143

iTrader: (6)

Okay, I've had spun resin monsterknobs that sat too low so I didn't feel there was enough leverage for confident shifts.

Ended up with a mishimoto tall and weighted shift knob that inspired confidence and I've loved...but the finish on it has been coming off and it is intended to be grabbed from the side, which I never did. It was kinda small to shift in my palm, but not horrible.

Tried the heavy counter sunk moddiction shift knob that came off my S2000 (sold it with the same mishi I have on the TL) and it was okay, but looked a little boy racer for such a classy interior and also sat just as low as the resin one and got hot in the sun (not really an issue with my sun visor in place).

Threw my original OEM shift knob back on and loved how it looked and how it matched the rest of the interior and especially how it FELT, save for ONE thing. It was so light. I missed the confident thunk of shifting as I'd move that weight. I have the delrin shifter bushings, slave checkvalve delete, ac delco friction modified fluid, comptech short shift kit...the car is a pleasure to drive and shift...so the icing on the cake really is the feel of the shifter.

I got to brainstorming.

I'll preface this by saying that I don't assume responsibility for any damage you do...I found out this is NOT an exact science, but I was able to achieve my goal. I had already dremeled off the bottom clips that were on the shift knob that clip into the shift boot at some point ( can't remember why...I think it was so I could drill out the inside of the boot holder to clear my other shift adapter ). I'd definitely do this on an old original OEM shift knob in case you mess up. Won't feel as badly as destroying a brand new $60 one.

Anyway, I'd say that having the bottom of the shifter dremeled flat is probably a must. I went to the local Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World and looked for finesse weights...original plan was to drill out cylinders to insert these. Glad I didn't...that wouldn't have worked as you have very little material to work with.


Ended up with 2 packs of these for a total of 20. Tungsten...like my wedding ring. Big weight bang for your buck in a little package. The ones I bought had ridges, but that doesn't matter.
Bass Pro Shops Tungsten Nail Weights | Bass Pro Shops

I drew a design, but it didn't matter, with the drill bit walking I put them in wherever I could. In the end I was just hoping all the materal would hold up and not just crack the entire thing and make it useless. The Leather on the outside is probably the saving grace. I started with too small of a bit...but that led to pressure/cracks and being able to kinda see where I put them near the surface of the outside...used a bigger one and bam, it was perfect.


I did see the threaded opening crack here and there and change shape but I crossed my fingers and it screwed right back on nice and tight and best of all. It is HEAVY now.

My little pattern that didn't end up mattering...


Drill bit, put it far enough in to be deep enough for the nail, but not too deep to go YOLOdrill through the damned thing.


This was it, with all 20 of them in.


and best of all...you can't see a darn thing!
FINISHED!
I don't have a micro scale but bottom line is I added 20 OZ of weight to the knob AKA 1.25 Pounds AKA 567 Grams
and that's in ADDITION to whatever it weighed to begin with.
For reference, most aftermarket knobs are 400-600 grams at the heaviest.

I'd love if someone could post what the OEM one weighs down to the oz or gram so I'd know what the total weight was. I didn't bother with my bathroom scale as it would just round it to the nearest 1/2 pound.



Take care,
J.

KJ TL-S

iTrader: (9)

Well done J. Retain the factory look but get the better weight. Can you show me how to do this on my 5AT?!

rockstar143

iTrader: (6)

Sure, trade it in!
Thanks, Kurt.
Yeah, nothing earth-shattering but figured I'd share in case anyone else hadn't thought of it.

314_04TL

I like this idea I might just try this. Why the hell not. Great work bro

rockstar143

iTrader: (6)

Thanks, man.

314_04TL

Not a problem. honestly im all about cost savings and stealthlyness

TacoBello

Very awesome, J. Out of curiosity, what thickness of drill bit did you use?

I'd weigh my stock shift knob, but I won't have it for about 10 days

If no one does it by then, I will

guitarplayer16

iTrader: (8)

Figure it out old school method and match up the diameter.

TacoBello

Well sure, if you want to do it the smart way...

rockstar143

iTrader: (6)

LOL...well, I'd LOVE to help you on that Adam...but it's one of those cheap titanium drill bit sets that doesn't list the actual bit size and has 5 of each one for when they break. I used the smallest one and it bulged and was hard to get the nail in...then used the next one up and it was perfect, snug but also big enough to accommodate the nail.

Thanks for the offer, yeah, if you have a precise one, I'd LOVE to know exactly what it weighs.

Driving impression this morning...night and day. I will likely not be switching back to any other shifter now that I've used this one. It feels awesome and goes into gear with minimal effort using the momentum and the weight. Yay.

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

great mod.

since my car is not being used; i'll gladly weigh the stock knob for ya.

rockstar143

iTrader: (6)

Thanks Jus! I appreciate it.

TacoBello

He was referring to the stock shifter, but please, do so regardless

rockstar143

iTrader: (6)

I'd actually like the weight of that too please.

I won't even ask why Justin has an ounce scale

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

Baking soda; Ive got Baking soda.

polobunny

Pfff. Clearly the wifey cooks for you. If you did, you'd know the real thing is to go by weight instead of volume.




For your meth.

TacoBello

Im sure Justin's dentist can tell you why

rockstar143

iTrader: (6)

Whip it in the glass nukka...


We cook, but we ballpark measurements unless baking.

mzilvar

iTrader: (3)

uhm.. anyone go fishing? Do they measure the amount of metal used in the fishing weights by volume or weight? Must be by weight, after all they are weights...

If by weight, then 20 x 1/16th oz = 20/16th ozs = 1.25 OZs not LBS

Since 16 OZ = 1 LB = 453.592 grams

then

1.25OZ = .078125 LBS = 35.436875 grams


Am I missing something here?

screaminz28

iTrader: (1)

I didn't do the math to begin with, but I thought 1.25lbs was exceptionally heavy with the amount of tungsten added.

A 2 cubic inch cube of tungsten weighs 630 grams. Doesn't look like there is that much tungsten.

Not to take anything away from this mod though. Very innovative way to add some weight!

rockstar143

iTrader: (6)

Damn...back to being the dumb rockstar!

Now I REALLY wanna weigh the damned thing!

guitarplayer16

iTrader: (8)

Do they still carry scales at grocery stores to weigh produce?

Take the shift knob there

CrazyEights

iTrader: (1)

If the day ever arrives where you really track what you're eating...

rockstar143

iTrader: (6)

I was actually looking at those...

I really do feel like a moron...don't know why in my mind I switched from 1/16 of an ounce to each one being an ounce and when I hit 16 ounces it'd be a pound etc.

rockstar143

iTrader: (6)

Okay...stopped by fedex to weigh it...only 159 grams.

Fk...math owned the shit out of me on that one. Sorry.

guitarplayer16

iTrader: (8)

someone get my friend here a math refresher course

rockstar143

iTrader: (6)

...I'm so dumb.

I felt like a real moron for this, trust me.

Slpr04UA6

^we all make mistakes! Lol!


Good idea tho!

Silva95teg

I just weighed my stock one and it is 132 grams.

Stickey

How do you get the boot to stay up once the tabs are gone?

rockstar143

iTrader: (6)

So a gain of less than 30 grams...
Placebo effect bit me in the ass. Sorry folks...
There might be a more dense/heavier metal that'd make this more viable.

I'm back to the mishimoto...I love it.

2 tie wraps and a garden hose washer hold it up.

screaminz28

iTrader: (1)

Nothing more dense than tungsten unless you go to gold really, and they are so close its not funny. Lots of fake gold bullion is really hollowed out and filled with tungsten.

The densest metal is osmium, it's 4g/cm3 denser than tungsten, so not much more of a win. That, combined with its toxicity and high cost, ($800 per ounce) doesn't make it of much use.

To digress, we've all heard of Osram, the company that makes bulbs. The name comes from Osmium and Wolfram (now known as Tungsten) - materials used for filaments years ago.

Cue NBC's "The more you know..."

rockstar143

iTrader: (6)

Hey...I love knowing stuff like that!
Thanks, man!

Well...I guess this idea is shit then...there's really no way to fit too much more material without messing things up, given that I only gained a few grams. I'd say this thread is a fail. I'm sorry. I really feel like a boob.

Silva95teg

If you had some larger diameter tungsten rod it might be more successful. Maybe 1/4 or 3/8. As big as you could still leaving material for support. Then epoxy the rods in place for strength.

rockstar143

iTrader: (6)

That's a great idea...just be sure to measure properly to see if it's worth the hassle before hand!

fsttyms1

I dont have pics, but in the past i hollowed out a few shift knobs, poured in a little epoxy,inserted a thin plastic tube (slightly larger than the shaft of the shift lever)in the center, poured sand 3/4 the way up then topped off with epoxy (filling the plastic tube as well). After it was set up i drilled out the center just large enough to allow the shift knob to thread itself over the shaft. Another option is to do something similar with washers (will have to drill out the center to make the hole larger) stack as many as you can fit in the shift knob and pour epoxy in and around them to hold them in place. drill out the center and thread it on.

rockstar143

iTrader: (6)

Great ideas! Thanks for sharing, man.

LoneRonin

Next time I'm over at my buddy's place I'll weigh my stock one on his weed scale, it should work...

rockstar143

iTrader: (6)

Thanks, man...but it's already been done. The one Silva used was meant for coke though, but I think it's tare'd the same.

LoneRonin

Cool...got any pics of a link to that Mishimoto? The silver paint is flaking off of mine and I'm looking to either take it all off and paint it again or an aftermarket one. Only half decent one I found is a Skunk2 one.