Gen 1 Shift Knob Removal

[jbelcourt]

I pulled a black shift knob from a 96 parts car but had a really hard time getting it out. I want to swap it into my 93 in place of my cracked/faded tan one.

Can anyone explain how to properly remove and swap it please?

 

[Alexander B. Sonin]

Install shift knob Mark VIII 93-96

I pulled a black shift knob from a 96 parts car but had a really hard time getting it out. I want to swap it into my 93 in place of my cracked/faded tan one.

Can anyone explain how to properly remove and swap it please?

Hi
For the Mark VIII 93-96 it's important to change the OD button first because of the way the electrical contacts work:
1. Carefully take out the O/D button.
2. Take out the shift knob fastening;
3. Carefully remove the shift knob;

To install a new shift knob do these steps in reverse order because of the O/D button contacts! (It is possible to damage contacts of the O/D button!)

I make Custom wooden Shift Knobs and Steering Wheels.
If you want to see examples of my work, made from real exotic wood, you can look at my album:
https://picasaweb.google.com/102374517780485476514/MyWork

Thanks,
Alexander.
Lincoln MARK VIII Collector’s Edition #979
https://picasaweb.google.com/102374517780485476514/MyWork
alsonin@yandex.ru
Staten Island, NY

 

[jbelcourt]

Yeah, I've seen your work on the Enthusiast page on Facebook. You do amazing work!

As for the removal. The one I pulled from the parts car did not have that white plastic shaft, or whatever that is I see in the picture, attached to it. I assume it is broken then and the shifter is junk?

 

[FrankAZ]

Yeah, I've seen your work on the Enthusiast page on Facebook. You do amazing work!

As for the removal. The one I pulled from the parts car did not have that white plastic shaft, or whatever that is I see in the picture, attached to it. I assume it is broken then and the shifter is junk?

The white plastic shaft are the electrical connectors for the OD button.

 

[jbelcourt]

****, so it'll still work but I won't have OD if I switch this one in then I would assume. Correct?

That's weird, when I pulled this one out there was nothing attached. I wonder if it was broken off previously.

 

[FrankAZ]

I have a Gen2 Mark VIII, so I'm not sure how different it is. I did switch the shift knob out in my tBird I believe I also swapped over the wiring. You might also be able to use the OD connector thats existing on your car in the new knob.

The knobs come out pretty easy once you know how - use a small flat bladed screwdriver to pop the C clip out, and then it should simply slide up. If you already have the black one from the 96 - you could carefully remove the one thats on the car now, and see if the parts might be compatable. I'm going to assume its the same or similar as the tBird one - and the OD connector slides into a groove in the shifter itself.

 

[Spree]

Mine doesn't have the white plastic thing either. Just has a +/- wire for OD button. The shifter handle you pulled sounds like a good one. just pull your's and replace.

 

[jbelcourt]

When you look up into the shifter pulled from the 96 i can see two small copper prongs, but there are no wires or anything attached or ripped from it. I'll propably give it a whirl and see what happens. Worried of breaking mine though and not being able to shift from park.

 

[jbelcourt]

 

[Spree]

Got a pic of the shifter without the handle attached? Gen 1 should have a wire coming out with the handle. It looks like the wire is missing.

 

[jbelcourt]

Got a pic of the shifter without the handle attached? Gen 1 should have a wire coming out with the handle. It looks like the wire is missing.

I didn't pull the one out of my car yet. I'm worried I'm going to break it and with this one possibly being broken, that would suck.

This is how the one looked that I pulled from the parts car I bought. I pulled the retaining "C" clip, after the buttons of course, and I heard a HELL of a time getting it out. It didn't simply pull out, I was trying to pull it out for a good 10 minutes then my brother tried. I gave up but when the tow truck was on the way to pick up the shell, I jumped in the car one last time and went to cut the shifter cable so I could put it to the side and attempt to take it off later and when I grabbed it, it just slid right out like nothing.