How to remove stock shift knob...
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 177
Likes: 0
From: Little Elm, TX
How to remove stock shift ****...
I know this has probably been asked a million times, but lets make it a million and one. How do you remove the stock shift ****? Does it just unscrew? I don't want to break anything. Thanks.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 36,836
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From: Dear Karma, I have a list of people you missed.
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16
Originally Posted by HmnRcn
I know this has probably been asked a million times, but lets make it a million and one. How do you remove the stock shift ****? Does it just unscrew? I don't want to break anything. Thanks.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 19,304
Likes: 85
From: San Diego CA
For those who may need to do this in the future, check out the "Corvette Install" toolbar on this page:
http://www.conceptualpolymer.com/prod01.htm
This method has never failed (to the best of my knowledge!)
http://www.conceptualpolymer.com/prod01.htm
This method has never failed (to the best of my knowledge!)
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 16,795
Likes: 62
From: Lake Havasu City, AZ
The center of the shift **** ( plastic insert with shift pattern) can be pried out with a small scewdriver.
Use a putty knife or kitchen spatula against the leather of the **** so you don't mark it when you pry with the screwdriver.
Once it is off you will see the "demon key" it was tapped into a slot in the top of the shifter to tighten the ****.
Using a set of needle nosed vice grips clamp onto the sides of the key ( passenger and drivers side).
With your left hand wiggle the vice grips to the front and rear of the car ( like a dentist pulling out a tooth with pliers) SIMULTANEOUSLY tap the passenger's side of the vice grips lightly with a hammer . After 3-4 sharp but light taps, the key should pop right out.
With the key removed, the shift **** easily screws off in a counter clockwise direction ( about 16 3/4 ) turns.
Good luck
Use a putty knife or kitchen spatula against the leather of the **** so you don't mark it when you pry with the screwdriver.
Once it is off you will see the "demon key" it was tapped into a slot in the top of the shifter to tighten the ****.
Using a set of needle nosed vice grips clamp onto the sides of the key ( passenger and drivers side).
With your left hand wiggle the vice grips to the front and rear of the car ( like a dentist pulling out a tooth with pliers) SIMULTANEOUSLY tap the passenger's side of the vice grips lightly with a hammer . After 3-4 sharp but light taps, the key should pop right out.
With the key removed, the shift **** easily screws off in a counter clockwise direction ( about 16 3/4 ) turns.
Good luck
Pro
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 529
Likes: 0
From: North Carolina
I followed all the tips on this forum but mine was *IN* there and not coming out.... I was putting in a hurst shifter, so I had to take the whole shifter out anyway. So I ended up just taking the whole shifter assembly with **** and boot still attached out. Then I clamped the shifter into a bench vice by the thick black part of the shift lever and was able to grab it with some vice grips and just pull it out. In the car I was afraid to get too crazy for fear of it letting loose and tools flying into the winshield or other interior pieces....
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 775
Likes: 2
From: Redwood Valley California
St. Jude Donor '14
I don't remember where I got the infomation on the best way to remove THE KEY. I believe the info came from someone in Australia to someone on this forum.
The best tools to remove the key with are two paint can openers. They have a srewdriver tip at 90 deg. to the loop handle. Place the openers on each side and even the toughest key slides out. I have loaned my openers to three different people. Two had tried other methods and they couldn't believe how well the openers worked.
The best tools to remove the key with are two paint can openers. They have a srewdriver tip at 90 deg. to the loop handle. Place the openers on each side and even the toughest key slides out. I have loaned my openers to three different people. Two had tried other methods and they couldn't believe how well the openers worked.
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Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 3,775
Likes: 0
From: St Marys GA
I tried most of the above methods to no avail when changing over to a C6 shifter. Some small pieces started to chip off the dreaded key. See my previous post for a method that worked for me: http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1118835.
Patches is the man for shifter replacement. Look under his posts as well if you are changing the shifter too.
Patches is the man for shifter replacement. Look under his posts as well if you are changing the shifter too.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 3,012
Likes: 15
From: Jensen Beach FL
Since I did not have needle nose vise-grips I used a small pair of chanellock pliers. They worked well because the handles angle and once you grip the key you can tap the bottem of the handle (closest to the key) with a small hammer. Just keep taping and eventually it will come out. You may also have to re-grip the key as the pliers may slip off but just keep at it. Some of the key did chip off and I was afraid if to much chiped away I would not be able to grab it so make sure you have a tight grip prior to tapping. When the pliers slip off they take some of the key each time.
