Correct 68 Shift Ball
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From: Delaware
St. Jude Donor '25
Billy, just want to get the answer you need here...not what I think.
Looking at the Dobbins book (I have the fourth edition), look at pages 116 and 117. They show the black chrome **** for the 69. If it gets worn, the silver shows through the black. I didn't read where he specifically mentions it and the pictures are black and white but clearly black chrome.
Still waiting for someone else to help. Again, All I can say is I bought my car from the original owner in untouched kinda rough shape and the **** is worn like the rest of the car black chrome.
Anyone else with a really orig car??
Looking at the Dobbins book (I have the fourth edition), look at pages 116 and 117. They show the black chrome **** for the 69. If it gets worn, the silver shows through the black. I didn't read where he specifically mentions it and the pictures are black and white but clearly black chrome.
Still waiting for someone else to help. Again, All I can say is I bought my car from the original owner in untouched kinda rough shape and the **** is worn like the rest of the car black chrome.
Anyone else with a really orig car??
Last edited by avalonjohn; Dec 29, 2012 at 10:41 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2006
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From: Baltimore MD
I have the third addition,mybe its black ,but it sure looks like chrome to me.Its black and white pics . And yes i would like to know for sure,im not trying to say im right about this but id like to know . My ball is not a shinny chrome ,its worn and scratched up with no hint of black on it.
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CF Community Team
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From: Delaware
St. Jude Donor '25
I have the third addition,mybe its black ,but it sure looks like chrome to me.Its black and white pics . And yes i would like to know for sure,im not trying to say im right about this but id like to know . My ball is not a shinny chrome ,its worn and scratched up with no hint of black on it.
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From: Huntersville NC
Were the 68 chrome ***** too shiny, potentially blinding the driver? So they fixed it in 69 (probably after several lawsuits and under pressure from the DOT) by dulling them down with black paint... was that how it went down? 
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From: Delaware
St. Jude Donor '25
Gosh, I've been at this shifter ball thing all day!!! Beats shopping at Bed Bath and Beyond though.
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From: Crossville TN
I have a book titled "Corvette - The Definitive Guide to the All-American Sports Car" by Andrew Montgomery. On page 197, there is a black & white inset photo of a '68 interior which appears to show a black ball on the 4-speed shifter. This photo almost looks like a 'file photo' rather than one that was specifically taken for the book. It could be that it was one of the prototype cars; perhaps the production design ball was different.
On page 199, there is a color photo of a '68 car (with black interior) having what is clearly a bright chrome ball. And on pages 204/205 there is another white car w/black interior that has a bright chrome ball on the shifter.
Page 216 shows a '69 4-speed shifter with what is clearly a black/chrome ball. That is followed by page 220 with a '70 car...also with a black/chrome ball. Page 236/237 shows a '71 [red] interior with the black/chrome ball, as well.
Given the difference in photos of the '68 cars, it could be that there were more than one type of shifter ball installed through that first year of production. But, this book seems to show that there were bright chrome ***** in '68 and black/chrome ***** in '69 thru '71 (at least).
On page 199, there is a color photo of a '68 car (with black interior) having what is clearly a bright chrome ball. And on pages 204/205 there is another white car w/black interior that has a bright chrome ball on the shifter.
Page 216 shows a '69 4-speed shifter with what is clearly a black/chrome ball. That is followed by page 220 with a '70 car...also with a black/chrome ball. Page 236/237 shows a '71 [red] interior with the black/chrome ball, as well.
Given the difference in photos of the '68 cars, it could be that there were more than one type of shifter ball installed through that first year of production. But, this book seems to show that there were bright chrome ***** in '68 and black/chrome ***** in '69 thru '71 (at least).
Last edited by 7T1vette; Dec 30, 2012 at 02:47 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2012
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From: myrtle beach sc
Army
My 68 coupe is mid production, 14,800. It has an original heavy chrome plated ball. I have 111,000 miles on it and the chrome is still good. Maybe there was a different version of the chrome ball on early production models. This is the first time that I have heard why GM went to the pebbled finish on the gauge and shifter plate. I have never had any glare problem with mine, with 40 years of ownership. I have had glare with the dash pad and have a Corvette Central black dash pad cover for this. Lou.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2001
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From: May help you? You can sure as hell try!
Still got my original '68 shift ball (at least I'm 99% certain it's original--my car was put away in '78 never to see the light of day until I rescued it in '98). It's bright chrome with a brass threaded insert where it screws onto the shift lever. The chrome is rather dinged up and it is thin on the bottom side, which is why I replaced it. I wouldn't call it lightweight or cheap feeling, although it's definitely not as heavy as a ball bearing of that size or a billiard ball. The Paragon repop I replaced it with is pretty true to the original right down to the brass insert but the chrome is much better.
I have read in numerous guides that say the '68 shift ***** were bright chrome and the '69's were black chrome. Although, I bet if they had some leftovers from '68 they probably got used on some early '69's.
You know your wife's gonna make you pay for staying home discussing shift lever ***** and not going shopping with her. Just wait till you see how she spent all your Christmas money!
I have read in numerous guides that say the '68 shift ***** were bright chrome and the '69's were black chrome. Although, I bet if they had some leftovers from '68 they probably got used on some early '69's.
You know your wife's gonna make you pay for staying home discussing shift lever ***** and not going shopping with her. Just wait till you see how she spent all your Christmas money!
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Thread Starter
CF Community Team
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From: Delaware
St. Jude Donor '25
ok, wife and kids went to PA about an hour away to visit her sister and because my "on call" rotation ends tonight, unfortunately for me, I could not go and visit the SIL
So, unfortunately I have to stay home and watch Shawshank, The Patriot, History Channel, Officer and a Movie...
So, I'm back on the shifter ball. Lemans has the brass insert. Loup...what color are the threads on yours?? Also, when I say "lightweight", it's not plastic, just lighter than the paperweight ones I have handled.
Billy, post a picture of your 69 shifter ball. FYI, I have a VERY nice original shifter with original ball off a 69 if anyone needs one.
So, unfortunately I have to stay home and watch Shawshank, The Patriot, History Channel, Officer and a Movie...So, I'm back on the shifter ball. Lemans has the brass insert. Loup...what color are the threads on yours?? Also, when I say "lightweight", it's not plastic, just lighter than the paperweight ones I have handled.
Billy, post a picture of your 69 shifter ball. FYI, I have a VERY nice original shifter with original ball off a 69 if anyone needs one.
Last edited by avalonjohn; Dec 30, 2012 at 12:06 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2006
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From: Baltimore MD
ok, wife and kids went to PA about an hour away to visit her sister and because my "on call" rotation ends tonight, unfortunately for me, I could not go and visit the SIL So, unfortunately I have to stay home and watch Shawshank, The Patriot, History Channel, Officer and a Movie...
So, I'm back on the shifter ball. Lemans has the brass insert. Loup...what color are the threads on yours?? Also, when I say "lightweight", it's not plastic, just lighter than the paperweight ones I have handled.
Billy, post a picture of your 69 shifter ball. FYI, I have a VERY nice original shifter with original ball off a 69 if anyone needs one.
So, unfortunately I have to stay home and watch Shawshank, The Patriot, History Channel, Officer and a Movie...So, I'm back on the shifter ball. Lemans has the brass insert. Loup...what color are the threads on yours?? Also, when I say "lightweight", it's not plastic, just lighter than the paperweight ones I have handled.
Billy, post a picture of your 69 shifter ball. FYI, I have a VERY nice original shifter with original ball off a 69 if anyone needs one.
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CF Community Team
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From: Delaware
St. Jude Donor '25
Here are some pictures. The first is an original 69 shifter and ball in my spare parts stock. The second is what I believe to be the correct (at least original from GM in 68) shifter ball. A bit lighter than the 69, silver chrome, and brass threads.
Melting Slicks
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From: Baltimore MD
The second one definently is the one thats was my car,its just a mystery.
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CF Community Team
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From: Delaware
St. Jude Donor '25
1 question that turned into 2 discussions.
1) is the OEM 68 shifter ball silver chrome BUT kinda lightweight with brass threads? I think yes. I think later year service replacements were heavy with steel thread or maybe later years.
2) is the 69 shifter ball black chrome. I say yes.
Mike?
1) is the OEM 68 shifter ball silver chrome BUT kinda lightweight with brass threads? I think yes. I think later year service replacements were heavy with steel thread or maybe later years.
2) is the 69 shifter ball black chrome. I say yes.
Mike?
Team Owner
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From: Crossville TN
The black ball you show in your first photo (said to be a '69 ball) appears to be the same as the inset photo of the '68 interior I mentioned. Perhaps the 'black' ball was the original design which was later changed to bright chrome.
There isn't any possibility that the 'black' ball could become bright chrome with wear, is there?
The fact that some 'known' [early] '69 ***** were also black makes it seem odd that there were any bright chrome ***** put into '68 cars. Why would the factory start '68 production with black *****, then shift to bright chrome *****, only to return to black ***** in early '69? A curiosity, to be sure....
There isn't any possibility that the 'black' ball could become bright chrome with wear, is there?
The fact that some 'known' [early] '69 ***** were also black makes it seem odd that there were any bright chrome ***** put into '68 cars. Why would the factory start '68 production with black *****, then shift to bright chrome *****, only to return to black ***** in early '69? A curiosity, to be sure....
Last edited by 7T1vette; Dec 30, 2012 at 02:51 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2001
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1 question that turned into 2 discussions.
1) is the OEM 68 shifter ball silver chrome BUT kinda lightweight with brass threads? I think yes. I think later year service replacements were heavy with steel thread or maybe later years.
2) is the 69 shifter ball black chrome. I say yes.
Mike?
1) is the OEM 68 shifter ball silver chrome BUT kinda lightweight with brass threads? I think yes. I think later year service replacements were heavy with steel thread or maybe later years.
2) is the 69 shifter ball black chrome. I say yes.
Mike?
Thread Starter
CF Community Team
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From: Delaware
St. Jude Donor '25
ok, I have a couple more hours of freedom. I expect her home around 8 pm. Shawshank just ended. Going to Home Depot...Keep it going. I'll check back!
Oh, just called the Master judge buddy. According to him all 69's he has ever seen had the black chrome ball. He has 3 69's and a super early (Sept 67?) 68, which has the lighter weight chrome.
Anyone want to talk about the wider sill plates on early 68's???
Oh, just called the Master judge buddy. According to him all 69's he has ever seen had the black chrome ball. He has 3 69's and a super early (Sept 67?) 68, which has the lighter weight chrome.
Anyone want to talk about the wider sill plates on early 68's???
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2012
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From: myrtle beach sc
Army
You guy's are right! I unscrewed my chrome shifter ball and it is fairly light weight and has a brass insert glued into it.
I never heard anything about wider sill plates on 68's. Unfortunately, mine has been changed a couple of times over the last 40 years. Cleveland, Ohio road salt ate up the original one's. Lou.
I never heard anything about wider sill plates on 68's. Unfortunately, mine has been changed a couple of times over the last 40 years. Cleveland, Ohio road salt ate up the original one's. Lou.
Last edited by loup68; Dec 30, 2012 at 05:39 PM.