The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Original Pattern Shift Knob

I have always wanted one for my truck and recently scored on EBay. I was wondering if anyone had information on the years that these were offered and relative rarity. I have seen them go for as much as $90 before.

http://community.webshots.com/photo/2222788830102454676GiNDLK
http://community.webshots.com/photo/2944702920102454676QjbKVi

An acquaintance of mine with a '53 1 ton has one on his shifter. I can't say if it is correct or not.

It would seem to me if this type of knob was OEM there would be a lot of old worn ones out there sitting at the end of a shift stick.

Or maybe it was an option which was available at the time over the counter in the chevy parts dept., but not many were ever sold.

The other thought could be the guy on ebay found a repo knob which fits the shift stick and sold it. Maybe he found it in a garage sale and someone told him it fit a chevy truck.

Any which way it will look good in your truck.
Dan

Major swap meets usually have someone who specilizes in all sorts of gear and dash knobs. Just keep an eye out for what you need and carry a bolt with the exact diameter and thread on your shifter to check for fit.

That looks just like the worn out one that I have in my truck, except mine has faded to grayish and the paint is worn off from the shift pattern.

So are these OEM or not? I'd guess not but what do I really know...

From what I've found out the AD trucks shift knob didn't have a shift pattern on them. I havn't talked to anyone who know if the TF trucks did or didn't. I do know that the 60's and up trucks did have a shift pattern on the knob.

Ok because if it is OEM, then I've got to start hunting for one for my truck!!!

I had never seen one on a truck that old, but my '47 had one when I got it. I wouldn't bet that it's original, though, 'cause there's been a bunch of transplantin' done on that truck!

I do like that the pattern's on there, though.

AD and TF years didn't have them - if you look in the glove box operators manual for your year you'll find the pattern pictured - and see in the pic of the interior/controls that there's none on the knob .... folks who drove trucks in those days knew how to use a floor shift

Bill

I installed it and I must say it adds a little something to the truck so I am keeping it in there. I am not married to the 100% original thing so much. I have never seen part numbers on a shift knob but this knob is well finished with a nice stop nut to.

Brad: I agree with your choice but in my truck, I only want it the way it came originally. I hoped it wasn't OEM as I had saved the one I currently have because it seemed to be "original." And therefore all the prior firefighters who ever drove the rig during the past 58 years had used it. Historical value was my goal.

BTW: I was in no way trying to demean or be critical of anyone elses choice on their truck. I hope I didn't offend anyone..

Well Josiah, you and I seem to be the only ones that have one of these. And mine is about as you discribed yours ony worse. I can barrly make out the pattern on the one I have. Whether it was an original Genuine GM part or not, I have no idea, but I'm a' searchin' for an answer as we speak.
Picture old/new/repro? http://www.pbase.com/dennygraham/image/112280998
DG

I also have one of these knobs on my truck. Spotted an original one on e-bay a while back. I cleaned it up and repainted the markings. It came out nice. I like it. It seems that they were factory on the 60's trucks but I dont know where I got that idea.
Jeff

The knobs probably changed in the late 60's and the later ones would have looked like this Jeff. This is off an SM465 that I was given, I don’t know what year for sure but I think it was a ’68 or ‘69. http://www.pbase.com/dennygraham/image/112309889
The one we were originally talking about was the earlier one used on the SM420’s
http://www.pbase.com/dennygraham/image/112280998 . According to Novak the SM420 was used from ’47 to ’67 then in '68 they introduced the SM465 which was produced till '91.
I've been researching this and can’t find one spec of evidence that the embossed knob came with any trucks originally or were offered as a Genuine GM Accessory. The only way to know for sure is to have an original GM part number. I do think that some models of the SM 420 had the pattern embossed on the knob. We haven’t heard from any of the GMC guys about this, it just might be that some of the GMC’s had them.
I’m not positive but it’s a good bet that someone is reproducing them or modifying the original knobs. My nephew is a CNC programmer and I was going to ask him if he could program the pattern in on one of his machines and I’ll make up a simple fixture for the knobs. This would be a simple one evening project for any one with access to CNC equipment. I have a sneaking suspicion that is what we’re seeing here and that we will see more of these show up in the future.
Denny Graham
Sandwich, IL

Yeah, mine is like your second picture for the SM420. It has a ring of ridges around the outside for grip but they're about worn smooth at the top from years of use I guess. I looked but no part #.
Jeff