Rethreading a shifter... - Zilvia.net Forums | Nissan 240SX (Silvia) and Z (Fairlady) Car Forum

*nismo270r* · 11-30-2001, 01:54 AM

Hey all...as some of you might know, my shifter does not have threads, due to them being cut off.  Well, is there a way to rethread it so it can accept thread knobs, like the factory?  Any info would be great...TIA.

misnomer · 11-30-2001, 02:16 AM

ouch, yer looking at much fun poking at the metal to get it rethreaded. I'd prolly look into a short throw shifter <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':p'>

*nismo270r* · 11-30-2001, 03:46 AM

That's the thing...it IS a short shifter...a #### C's at that...That's why if I can't rethread it, I'll probably sell it to someone who likes Momo knobs, cause that's all it can use!

whateverjames · 11-30-2001, 08:24 AM

you may be able to take it to a machine shop, i remember in high school i had a shop class and we had a machine that could make threads.

burgy240 · 11-30-2001, 09:01 AM

I can be done!!!  But it probably needs to be done by a machine shop.  If you know anyone with those connection it may not cost that much!  Good Luck

vancouvers14 · 11-30-2001, 11:08 AM

go to home depot.  they thread a lot of metal rods, and i'm sure if you toss the guy a few dollars he'll do it

yenpit · 11-30-2001, 11:23 AM

ive used a Dremel tool with a grinding stone. most shifters taper WIDER as they go down (i dont have my car here to see). u need to grind down the diameter of the shaft to approx the original diameter of the original threads, grind evenly down about 1 inch (measure the outside edges of the original threads!!). get ur hands on a thread tapping kit (looks like a bunch of big nuts with sharp threads inside em and vertical grooves, each with different thread pitches, Sears sells the kit). if ur using the stock knob or a knob pre-threaded for Nissan, u need to know the size and pitch of the threads (i think the kit comes with a measuring tool..?) and choose the correct tap. OR if your aftermarket knob is universal and uses a plastic insert, just choose a size that fits tightly into the plastic insert! hope this helps. its actually easy....just labor intensive!

thewholefnshow · 12-02-2001, 05:16 AM

Why not get a shifter knob that in not threaded? Seems cheaper and easier than most things here so far.

*nismo270r* · 12-02-2001, 11:24 AM

I already have a shift knob that doesn't require threads...That's just the thing...I want to get a Nismo shift knob, but they screw on like the factory knob does. Good thing is, I found the threaded end that was cut off of the C's shifter...I may be able to just weld it back on. Anyone see a problem with this? Anyone think that it wouldn't be strong enough, maybe snap? Because, I think if it was welded, there shouldn't be a problem...:confused:

gfisch · 12-02-2001, 04:59 PM

Yeah, If you know the thread size/type, just get a die set from home depot or your local hardware store. they ususally look like a round piece with a hole for the right sized die and two rods sticking out which screw in to hold it in place. You just twist it around the shaft and it'll cut the threads. Should work unless the shaft is harded steel or something like that.

Greg

240racer · 12-02-2001, 07:17 PM

welding the shifter is fine, I haven't done it to my car yet, but plan on it.  my friend welded his shifter on his supra and it is just fine.  make sure that it is welded by somebody who can do a good job, if not they may get too much heat into it and make it brittle

11-30-2001, 01:54 AM	#1
nismo270r Premium Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Lafayette, IN Age: 44 Posts: 715 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Hey all...as some of you might know, my shifter does not have threads, due to them being cut off.  Well, is there a way to rethread it so it can accept thread knobs, like the factory?  Any info would be great...TIA.

11-30-2001, 02:16 AM	#2
misnomer Nissanaholic! Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Nevada Posts: 2,293 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	ouch, yer looking at much fun poking at the metal to get it rethreaded. I'd prolly look into a short throw shifter <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':p'>

11-30-2001, 03:46 AM	#3
nismo270r Premium Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Lafayette, IN Age: 44 Posts: 715 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	That's the thing...it IS a short shifter...a #### C's at that...That's why if I can't rethread it, I'll probably sell it to someone who likes Momo knobs, cause that's all it can use!

11-30-2001, 08:24 AM	#4
whateverjames Nissanaholic! Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: St. Louis Age: 44 Posts: 2,263 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	you may be able to take it to a machine shop, i remember in high school i had a shop class and we had a machine that could make threads.

11-30-2001, 09:01 AM	#5
burgy240 Nissanaholic! Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Tampa Age: 48 Posts: 2,151 Trader Rating: (2) Feedback Score: 2 reviews	I can be done!!!  But it probably needs to be done by a machine shop.  If you know anyone with those connection it may not cost that much!  Good Luck

11-30-2001, 11:08 AM	#6
vancouvers14 Zilvia Addict Join Date: Jul 2001 Posts: 868 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	go to home depot.  they thread a lot of metal rods, and i'm sure if you toss the guy a few dollars he'll do it

11-30-2001, 11:23 AM	#7
yenpit Zilvia Addict Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Holland Michigan Posts: 798 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	ive used a Dremel tool with a grinding stone. most shifters taper WIDER as they go down (i dont have my car here to see). u need to grind down the diameter of the shaft to approx the original diameter of the original threads, grind evenly down about 1 inch (measure the outside edges of the original threads!!). get ur hands on a thread tapping kit (looks like a bunch of big nuts with sharp threads inside em and vertical grooves, each with different thread pitches, Sears sells the kit). if ur using the stock knob or a knob pre-threaded for Nissan, u need to know the size and pitch of the threads (i think the kit comes with a measuring tool..?) and choose the correct tap. OR if your aftermarket knob is universal and uses a plastic insert, just choose a size that fits tightly into the plastic insert! hope this helps. its actually easy....just labor intensive!

12-02-2001, 05:16 AM	#8
thewholefnshow Zilvia Addict Join Date: Nov 2001 Posts: 672 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Why not get a shifter knob that in not threaded? Seems cheaper and easier than most things here so far.

12-02-2001, 11:24 AM	#9
nismo270r Premium Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Lafayette, IN Age: 44 Posts: 715 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	I already have a shift knob that doesn't require threads...That's just the thing...I want to get a Nismo shift knob, but they screw on like the factory knob does. Good thing is, I found the threaded end that was cut off of the C's shifter...I may be able to just weld it back on. Anyone see a problem with this? Anyone think that it wouldn't be strong enough, maybe snap? Because, I think if it was welded, there shouldn't be a problem...:confused:

12-02-2001, 04:59 PM	#10
gfisch Zilvia Junkie Join Date: May 2001 Location: Warren,NJ / Baltimore,MD Age: 43 Posts: 576 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Yeah, If you know the thread size/type, just get a die set from home depot or your local hardware store. they ususally look like a round piece with a hole for the right sized die and two rods sticking out which screw in to hold it in place. You just twist it around the shaft and it'll cut the threads. Should work unless the shaft is harded steel or something like that. Greg

12-02-2001, 07:17 PM	#11
240racer Zilvia Junkie Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Minneapolis, MN Age: 45 Posts: 574 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	welding the shifter is fine, I haven't done it to my car yet, but plan on it.  my friend welded his shifter on his supra and it is just fine.  make sure that it is welded by somebody who can do a good job, if not they may get too much heat into it and make it brittle