Making billet T-5 shifters...need opinions

Black or clear anodizing?

  • Black

    Votes: 16 35.6%
  • Clear

    Votes: 29 64.4%

  • Total voters
    45
Here's a driving shot in the 'vert to show the shifter positioning. This is the lower non-console version since the Shelby-style console sits basically at floor level.

0252.webp
 
I have a T5 with one of the repro stock looking shifter levers with a stock 67 center console. How much farther back towards the driver do you think your new shifter will place the shift knob?

By the way, I really appreciate you sharing all your ideas on this forum. ReenMachine rocks!
Here's that shifter for a comparison. It looks like the stock-appearing one puts the knob higher up and maybe about the same amount back.

EDIT: it's in 1st gear in the photo, so maybe they're about the same.

0270.webp
 
Yeah, it's real comfortable with the armrest in the 'vert. The knob is right at your fingertips when your arm is in its normal position on the armrest.

On another note, I'm going to go talk to a polishing place about having them polished. That way, you can have a polished one if you want and starting with a polished piece makes the anodizing look great on the ones I have anodized.

The first batch is supposedly being machined today.
 
I gotta say, if you can knock those out for under $100 and still make any sort of profit at all, you must be doing something right! I'm a CNC machinist and I can at least three operations in that part, plus aluminum prices have skyrocketed since January, not to mention the anodizing process isn't free, either. The only change I would make would be smoother corners at the bends, but other than that, they look great. Also, I'm assuming the holes on either side of your logo are used by the machinist to hold the part to a fixture, I'd either add a couple more per end to make them look like they belong or ask the machinist to lose them altogether, and hold it some other way.
 
Spoken like a pro.

Those are indeed tooling holes, and they won't be there on the production version -- we're securing the part by one of the mounting holes and a sacrificial tab with a tooling hole that will be cut away when the threads are cut.

At this point it looks almost 100% that I'll be able to keep these at or under $100 and still make a reasonable profit. I don't want to gouge of course, but I do have mouths to feed!:p I also need to leave room for dealer pricing discounts if I decide to go that route.

Oh yeah -- after the whole anodizing color debate, it looks like I'll be able to have them all polished and still hold to the $100 price.
 
Any chance of getting one with "Shelby" (my daughters name :rlaugh: ) on the side?

I have the aftermarket console with a short shifter and I have to lean/reach to hit 3 & 5. Also the boot sometime bumps it out of 2 & 4.

And i like the holes, as it gives me a place to wire tie the NOS wire (not tied in the picture).

ShortShelbyShifter.webp
 
Any chance of getting one with "Shelby" (my daughters name :rlaugh: ) on the side?

I have the aftermarket console with a short shifter and I have to lean/reach to hit 3 & 5. Also the boot sometime bumps it out of 2 & 4.

And i like the holes, as it gives me a place to wire tie the NOS wire (not tied in the picture).
:lol: think I'll have to pass on putting your daughter's name on there! If I recall correctly, there happens to be someone else with that name that dabbles in this industry who has an itchy lawsuit trigger finger these days!

I'm pretty sure the final version won't have the holes, but you can always drill one.
 
Almost there. I went to the machine shop today to OK the logo. We made it a lot more subtle, which will please some (or all) of you. It's the word "reenmachine" in the font in my logo, and it's on the top face of the arm instead of on the sides. The sides are now completely blank -- no logo or holes -- and mirror polished.
 
orders?

Almost there. I went to the machine shop today to OK the logo. We made it a lot more subtle, which will please some (or all) of you. It's the word "reenmachine" in the font in my logo, and it's on the top face of the arm instead of on the sides. The sides are now completely blank -- no logo or holes -- and mirror polished.

When are you taking orders?

I'm eyeing a console version. :nice:
 
I won't take orders until I'm ready to ship same day. I don't like the backlog thing.

I hear you... the back order thing is a PITA. Vendors that don't tell you something is on back order until after they take your money are... shall we say, "questionable".

Will you announce that you are taking orders on Stangnet first or on your ReenMachine website? I have a feeling that these may go fast, and I'd definitely like to order a piece from the first run.

Post some new pics when you have a completed version. Thanks!
 
I hear you... the back order thing is a PITA. Vendors that don't tell you something is on back order until after they take your money are... shall we say, "questionable".

Will you announce that you are taking orders on Stangnet first or on your ReenMachine website? I have a feeling that these may go fast, and I'd definitely like to order a piece from the first run.

Post some new pics when you have a completed version. Thanks!
You guys will be the first to know!