Making billet T-5 shifters...need opinions

reenmachine · Jun 14, 2007

I'm having the shifters that I had made for the project cars produced to sell. They're machined from billet aluminum and are shaped to bring the knob up and back where you want it to be after your T-5 swap. They'll be anodized for a durable finish and therein lies the question. Would you prefer black or clear ano? The clear would have a satin aluminum look, but I think the black would look bad ass. I'll probably make both, but which do you prefer?

EDIT: I'm talking about the shifter lever, not the whole shifter assembly.

Dagz · Jun 14, 2007

How much for a clear one? Man that looks bad ass!!!

reenmachine · Jun 14, 2007

Haven't locked down the cost and thus the price yet, but I want to keep it under $100.

Rusty67 · Jun 14, 2007

I am the confuse

Are we just talking about the lever for the shifter or an entire shifter assembly ?

BTW, that Cobra center console is SEXY....

reenmachine · Jun 14, 2007

Rusty67 said:
Are we just talking about the lever for the shifter or an entire shifter assembly ?

BTW, that Cobra center console is SEXY....

I apologize....just the shifter lever.

Gud T.B. Blown · Jun 14, 2007

Will this also work on a Tremec TKO?

reenmachine · Jun 14, 2007

pushrod power said:
Will this also work on a Tremec TKO?

I think so. Can you measure the size of the mounting holes and the distance between them?

Gud T.B. Blown · Jun 14, 2007

reenmachine said:
I think so. Can you measure the size of the mounting holes and the distance between them?

The car is in the shop right now. I'll try to get this for you by the weekend.

iskwezm · Jun 14, 2007

WHAT ABOUT POLISHED?????

reenmachine · Jun 14, 2007

iskwezm said:
WHAT ABOUT POLISHED?????

I'm looking into that, but it can be pricey. How much extra would it be worth to you?

65mistress · Jun 14, 2007

I really like the clear look. Polished can be done with some compound and a buffing wheel though right?

iskwezm · Jun 14, 2007

reenmachine said:
I'm looking into that, but it can be pricey. How much extra would it be worth to you?

HONESTLY, MAYBE 15-20 BUCKS

iskwezm · Jun 14, 2007

65mistress said:
I really like the clear look. Polished can be done with some compound and a buffing wheel though right?

not if its anodized,it would have to be stripped, then cut with a heavy compund and then go to a milder compund,probably a good few hours of work.

BlwnGazkit · Jun 14, 2007

You'd polish of the protective anodizing if you polish it. It would then be open to corrosion and scratches.

reenmachine · Jun 14, 2007

I'm sure I could find a place that would polish them, and I can't imagine it would add a huge bundle to the price. I just like the anodizing because even though it isn't as bright, it'll still look the same after years of use whereas a polished one will never look as good as it did on day 1 and will constantly degrade in appearance.

66Runt · Jun 14, 2007

Could always do a chrome powder coating like some of the aluminum wheels have.
Have you shifted through the gears with this lever? Just wondering, as it would seem like instead of forward and back, it would be more up and down? and would be a longer throw for the hand, than a Fox based lever.
What does the 2-3 upshift feel like?
Pretty cool looking!

reenmachine · Jun 15, 2007

66Runt said:
Could always do a chrome powder coating like some of the aluminum wheels have.
Have you shifted through the gears with this lever? Just wondering, as it would seem like instead of forward and back, it would be more up and down? and would be a longer throw for the hand, than a Fox based lever.
What does the 2-3 upshift feel like?
Pretty cool looking!

The pattern is somewhat up & down, just like a stock 4-speed or the original-looking 5-speed handle. It's probably 25 degrees off of the horizontal plane. You don't notice it when driving, and in fact it makes the 2-3 and 4-5 shifts easier to reach.

gonzothegreat · Jun 15, 2007

the console looks sweet availlable for 65? ....

Rusty67 · Jun 15, 2007

I do wonder how the longer lever will effect the throw of the shift. I've got a Hurst Pro Billit with all the nifty doodads, it looks just like an old 4 speed Hurst shifter. I would love the shifter to be closer to me but I have been thinking that the longer lever will provably increase the throw somewhat.

reenmachine · Jun 15, 2007

Rusty67 said:
I do wonder how the longer lever will effect the throw of the shift. I've got a Hurst Pro Billit with all the nifty doodads, it looks just like an old 4 speed Hurst shifter. I would love the shifter to be closer to me but I have been thinking that the longer lever will provably increase the throw somewhat.

It's kinda weird to visualize, but the throw isn't much different. The shifter is longer (towards the back) but not much taller overall. Picture a perfectly straight shifter handle going straight up from the shifter. The taller it is, the longer the throw up at the knob will be. This shifter doesn't increase the height of the knob above the shifter that much (if at all) -- it just brings it back towards you. This makes the pattern angle off of horizontal as discussed above, but doesn't increase the throw.

Seat-of-the-pants-wise, I love how it feels.

Here's a better pic of it installed:

Making billet T-5 shifters...need opinions

Black or clear anodizing?

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