Having been through a bajillion knobs, myself, I've only settled upon the plain ol' '93 Cobra style knob. It's basically just a leather-wrapped version of the standard rubber/plastic knob found on most Fox 'Stangs. It's light, fits right in one's hand, it doesn't get all hot or cold in summer/winter, doesn't transfer driveline heat, doesn't buzz or rattle, doesn't unscrew itself every other time you shift ... it's just all-around coolness. Plus, it looks really darned nice in that it blends in perfectly with the stock shift boot.
As far as those Hurst T-handles go, I had one for a week before I ditched it. You have to buy the one that specifically says on it "For Camaro/Firebird/Mustang" on it, because it's something like an M12x1.5 thread, whereas the "Universal" ones are always SAE threads. If you've got an adjustible shifter handle to thread it onto that puts it at a different angle, or if you've got long arms, then it might work for you, but I could never get the thing to sit at a comfortable angle for me. Plus, the stupid thing kept coming loose and unscrewed every other time I drove, no matter how well I kept that jam nut screwed up against it - even Locktite didn't help. And, of course, there's the usual problems with heat transfer and hot/cold seasonal temps.
I'd like to try one of those fancy weird composite-material knobs that UPR sells sometime. They're shaped funky, but the material they make them out of is awesome stuff - no temperature problems - and it just screws right on there like most other knobs.
Ball knobs are nice, but like you said, they tend to leave a gap between the knob and the shifter boot. The Bullitt shift knob does have a shaft as part of it that takes up the gap, and it does feel really nice - not super-fat like those 8-ball knobs, but still fits right in the palm - but again, there's the usual problems with heat/cold that all aluminum knobs get. Maybe if you dipped one in some of that Plasti-Kote stuff you use to make rubber grips for pliers and stuff...?
As far as those Hurst T-handles go, I had one for a week before I ditched it. You have to buy the one that specifically says on it "For Camaro/Firebird/Mustang" on it, because it's something like an M12x1.5 thread, whereas the "Universal" ones are always SAE threads. If you've got an adjustible shifter handle to thread it onto that puts it at a different angle, or if you've got long arms, then it might work for you, but I could never get the thing to sit at a comfortable angle for me. Plus, the stupid thing kept coming loose and unscrewed every other time I drove, no matter how well I kept that jam nut screwed up against it - even Locktite didn't help. And, of course, there's the usual problems with heat transfer and hot/cold seasonal temps.
I'd like to try one of those fancy weird composite-material knobs that UPR sells sometime. They're shaped funky, but the material they make them out of is awesome stuff - no temperature problems - and it just screws right on there like most other knobs.
Ball knobs are nice, but like you said, they tend to leave a gap between the knob and the shifter boot. The Bullitt shift knob does have a shaft as part of it that takes up the gap, and it does feel really nice - not super-fat like those 8-ball knobs, but still fits right in the palm - but again, there's the usual problems with heat/cold that all aluminum knobs get. Maybe if you dipped one in some of that Plasti-Kote stuff you use to make rubber grips for pliers and stuff...?
I had a bunch of knobs too, and i 2nd on NOT getting a t-handle i had one and ditched it too after about a month. I too could not get it to a comfortable position for me, and when i'd powershift the handle would come loose causing a missed gear usually.
www.fatknobs.com
That's what i have now and love it, there is no space between the ball and the boot it sits flush with the boot. Feels good too when you shift although it is bigger then regular ball style ones. I'll see if i can find the video i uploaded that show's the shifter. I don't have any pic's nor do i feel like going out in the cold and uncovering everything to get a pic. lol.
www.fatknobs.com
That's what i have now and love it, there is no space between the ball and the boot it sits flush with the boot. Feels good too when you shift although it is bigger then regular ball style ones. I'll see if i can find the video i uploaded that show's the shifter. I don't have any pic's nor do i feel like going out in the cold and uncovering everything to get a pic. lol.
I've been using my stocker on my mgw shifter. I like it because it fits my hand well and I can easily put a lot of force on it. The smaller ball knobs are awkward to get a good grip on when shifting hard. I've been looking at the '03 Cobra knobs with the 5 spd pattern just because I want something leather, but I'm not sure about the silver insert. T-handles are pretty tacky imo. I've never shifted one, but I wouldn't put one in my car.
Here's the '03 Cobra knob: http://www.latemodelrestoration.com/iwwida.pvx?;item?item_no=M7213G 1&comp=LRS
Is this the '93 Cobra one?http://www.latemodelrestoration.com/iwwida.pvx?;item?item_no=LRS-7213C 1&comp=LRS
Here's the '03 Cobra knob: http://www.latemodelrestoration.com/iwwida.pvx?;item?item_no=M7213G 1&comp=LRS
Is this the '93 Cobra one?http://www.latemodelrestoration.com/iwwida.pvx?;item?item_no=LRS-7213C 1&comp=LRS
The "93 cobra" knob was used on other Mustangs, not the '93 Cobra.
It was used on 94-98 Cobras in black, and 99-04 Mustangs GT's in dark charcoal.
The stitches on the 94-98 knob are a little thicker. Slight difference.
This knob never came on a '93 Cobra. The Cobra got the same plastic knob as the regular Mustang
It was used on 94-98 Cobras in black, and 99-04 Mustangs GT's in dark charcoal.
The stitches on the 94-98 knob are a little thicker. Slight difference.
This knob never came on a '93 Cobra. The Cobra got the same plastic knob as the regular Mustang
In my GT, i currently run an OEM Mach 1/Bullitt/35th anniversary shift knob for appearance only.
For comfort, I think the stock 99-04 GT knob is the best. It fits perfectly in your hand, looks great and the leather feels good and soft in your hand. I will be using this knob in my 5.0 once i do the T-5 conversion.
OEM MACH 1
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OEM GT know
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For comfort, I think the stock 99-04 GT knob is the best. It fits perfectly in your hand, looks great and the leather feels good and soft in your hand. I will be using this knob in my 5.0 once i do the T-5 conversion.
OEM MACH 1
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OEM GT know
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I got a white one pretty cheap and I love it. Its always nice and cool and fits my hand very nicely. The weight of the knob is what I like the most. Feels nice and solid when you shift.
I was trying to get one of the '99+ GT knobs from 50resto.com, but they kept screwing up and sending me the wrong stuff. First they sent me an '03 Cobra knob with a 6-speed shifter pattern and the carbon-fiber-lookin' leather wrap - nice and pricey, got it as a freebie because they goofed, but it's worthless otherwise - and then they sent me the Fox-OEM-styled leather-wrapped knob that I'm running now. I dunno, I was assuming it was a '93 Cobra replica or something knob because it's essentially a clone of the standard plastic knob, just wrapped in leather. It rocks, regardless.
The '03 Cobra knob feels kinda cool at first, but the more you get to throwing it around, it feels kind of heavy and makes your shift locations feel kind of vague somehow. That, and the thing never will quite screw down in a centered position (on my knob, anyway), plus it always works itself loose (plastic threads, I think), and because it's kind of curved it keeps screwing up my shifts.
I wouldn't trade off my leather knob for anything ... well, again, except maybe for one of those UPR composite knobs, if they're as good in real-world use as they seem that they'd be.
The '03 Cobra knob feels kinda cool at first, but the more you get to throwing it around, it feels kind of heavy and makes your shift locations feel kind of vague somehow. That, and the thing never will quite screw down in a centered position (on my knob, anyway), plus it always works itself loose (plastic threads, I think), and because it's kind of curved it keeps screwing up my shifts.
I wouldn't trade off my leather knob for anything ... well, again, except maybe for one of those UPR composite knobs, if they're as good in real-world use as they seem that they'd be.