Correct 68 Shift Ball
Thread Starter
CF Community Team
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 9,276
Likes: 356
From: Delaware
St. Jude Donor '25
Correct 68 Shift Ball
hi guys,
It's Saturday. I'm "on call" this weekend, it's snowing, and I'm bored.
Ok, here is my thoughts on the correct 68 4spd shifter ball. My close friend the Master Judge who I speak of from time to time agrees but apparently, (someone just told me) NCRS (the manual) does not.
I think the CORRECT 68 only 4 spd shifter ball was a lightweight, cheaply chromed ball with brass or brass colored threads. So cheap the chrome would peel off in flakes. Not even sure if it was real chrome. I think the heavy steel sleeved ball was either a service replacement (it's actually made better) or reproduction. It is chrome.
I have a spare "original" I may take pictures of if I can drag myself from all the excitement of my day. Hey, it's either this or my wife wants me to go shopping.
I'm all ears while I think of another unimportant question. Thanks, John
It's Saturday. I'm "on call" this weekend, it's snowing, and I'm bored.
Ok, here is my thoughts on the correct 68 4spd shifter ball. My close friend the Master Judge who I speak of from time to time agrees but apparently, (someone just told me) NCRS (the manual) does not.
I think the CORRECT 68 only 4 spd shifter ball was a lightweight, cheaply chromed ball with brass or brass colored threads. So cheap the chrome would peel off in flakes. Not even sure if it was real chrome. I think the heavy steel sleeved ball was either a service replacement (it's actually made better) or reproduction. It is chrome.
I have a spare "original" I may take pictures of if I can drag myself from all the excitement of my day. Hey, it's either this or my wife wants me to go shopping.
I'm all ears while I think of another unimportant question. Thanks, John
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,373
Likes: 6
From: Baltimore MD
hi guys,
It's Saturday. I'm "on call" this weekend, it's snowing, and I'm bored.
Ok, here is my thoughts on the correct 68 4spd shifter ball. My close friend the Master Judge who I speak of from time to time agrees but apparently, (someone just told me) NCRS (the manual) does not.
I think the CORRECT 68 only 4 spd shifter ball was a lightweight, cheaply chromed ball with brass or brass colored threads. So cheap the chrome would peel off in flakes. Not even sure if it was real chrome. I think the heavy steel sleeved ball was either a service replacement (it's actually made better) or reproduction. It is chrome.
I have a spare "original" I may take pictures of if I can drag myself from all the excitement of my day. Hey, it's either this or my wife wants me to go shopping.
I'm all ears while I think of another unimportant question. Thanks, John
It's Saturday. I'm "on call" this weekend, it's snowing, and I'm bored.
Ok, here is my thoughts on the correct 68 4spd shifter ball. My close friend the Master Judge who I speak of from time to time agrees but apparently, (someone just told me) NCRS (the manual) does not.
I think the CORRECT 68 only 4 spd shifter ball was a lightweight, cheaply chromed ball with brass or brass colored threads. So cheap the chrome would peel off in flakes. Not even sure if it was real chrome. I think the heavy steel sleeved ball was either a service replacement (it's actually made better) or reproduction. It is chrome.
I have a spare "original" I may take pictures of if I can drag myself from all the excitement of my day. Hey, it's either this or my wife wants me to go shopping.
I'm all ears while I think of another unimportant question. Thanks, John
Thread Starter
CF Community Team
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 9,276
Likes: 356
From: Delaware
St. Jude Donor '25
I'm sticking to my guns on this one. Lightweight brass threaded. Where is Berge?? Is he on here??
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,373
Likes: 6
From: Baltimore MD
I dont think your right,my car was original when i bought it.And i have seen other 69s with chrome ball.Maybe someone can answer this one.
Thread Starter
CF Community Team
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 9,276
Likes: 356
From: Delaware
St. Jude Donor '25
Thread Starter
CF Community Team
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 9,276
Likes: 356
From: Delaware
St. Jude Donor '25
Hmm. Well, I would never quote the NCRS manual (not knocking it, I am a member and purist) but I hope others chime in. I bought my August 69 car off the original owner. It has a nicely worn black chrome 4spd ****. Every other original 69 I've seen has the black chrome for 69. I bought a really nice original 69 shifter as a spare off a member here a while back and it also has the black chrome ****. Now, it's heavy, not the same as what I think is the correct one for 68, which we all agree is silver.
Anyone on the 69 ****??
PS, made it w/o having to go shopping. She's gone, however, my 13 yr old is having her friends over soon. I'm locking my door.
Anyone on the 69 ****??
PS, made it w/o having to go shopping. She's gone, however, my 13 yr old is having her friends over soon. I'm locking my door.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2009
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2024 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 26,545
Likes: 46
From: Huntersville NC
My 68 is not a benchmark. I have almost no idea which parts on the car are original, as it was restored as a driver - not as a factory correct job - by somebody else before I owned it. So I don't know about the shifter ball. However I do know the reverse lockout T thingy is not original to the car because it broke and I replaced it.
Thread Starter
CF Community Team
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 9,276
Likes: 356
From: Delaware
St. Jude Donor '25
ok, so we are good on the black chrome 69 ball though right?
Thread Starter
CF Community Team
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 9,276
Likes: 356
From: Delaware
St. Jude Donor '25
I had a super original 68, smog still on, shim bag in place, bias ply, window sticker POP, BOS, radio card in box yada yada car that had been in storage since 82. Sold it last year. It had the lightweight cruddy ball.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,373
Likes: 6
From: Baltimore MD
I dare ask you to take the ball off...it's original to the car right?
I had a super original 68, smog still on, shim bag in place, bias ply, window sticker POP, BOS, radio card in box yada yada car that had been in storage since 82. Sold it last year. It had the lightweight cruddy ball.
I had a super original 68, smog still on, shim bag in place, bias ply, window sticker POP, BOS, radio card in box yada yada car that had been in storage since 82. Sold it last year. It had the lightweight cruddy ball.
Last edited by Billysvette; Dec 29, 2012 at 05:49 PM.
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 224
Likes: 2
From: St. Charles Missouri
Yeah, I think so. I bought my car new and it had a "black" **** which never really was true black. It looks the same as it did 43+ years ago. It's very dark grey.
Thread Starter
CF Community Team
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 9,276
Likes: 356
From: Delaware
St. Jude Donor '25
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,373
Likes: 6
From: Baltimore MD
I got out my vette fact book and it doesnt say anything about the color of the shift ball,but it does have pics of interior of 69 and it shows a chrome ball.Im not saying that you guys are wrong,but i would have thought with all the years ive own this car that i should have picked up on this fact. So can any of you say that with out a doubt you know this is right ,that all 69s had black shift ball? My car just seemed all original ,and the old guy that sold it was sure it was. Maybe the black wears off and theres chrome under it. I just dont know.
Thread Starter
CF Community Team
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 9,276
Likes: 356
From: Delaware
St. Jude Donor '25
I got out my vette fact book and it doesnt say anything about the color of the shift ball,but it does have pics of interior of 69 and it shows a chrome ball.Im not saying that you guys are wrong,but i would have thought with all the years ive own this car that i should have picked up on this fact. So can any of you say that with out a doubt you know this is right ,that all 69s had black shift ball? My car just seemed all original ,and the old guy that sold it was sure it was. Maybe the black wears off and theres chrome under it. I just dont know.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,373
Likes: 6
From: Baltimore MD