TheSamba.com :: View topic

Thu Feb 09, 2023 11:54 am

hmmm never heard that one before.

SteveVanB wrote: no. I've seen some as big as grapefruits and some as small as squirrel skulls.

Thu Feb 09, 2023 11:55 am

DANG looks nice!

[quote="DanHoug"]and done....

Sat Feb 18, 2023 5:09 pm

DanHoug wrote:

after driving around with this solid wood knob, the transmission noise transmitted into the cab is way down. the OE plastic knob is surprisingly light as well as hollow and me thinks acts as a resonator. simply resting a finger on the shift emblem would quiet things. not needed with the wood knob.

Sat Feb 18, 2023 8:39 pm

I'd love to get a 917 style balsa wood knob in my van...any Sambanistas making these? :)

Sun Feb 19, 2023 3:18 pm

What gear is "G"?

Sun Feb 19, 2023 3:33 pm

Van den Broke wrote: What gear is "G"?

its the german equivalent of a 'granny' gear ,usually found on euro transmissions, and standard on all syncros although those two are even different from one another as well im pretty sure. its a nice gear box to run imho.

Sun Feb 19, 2023 7:33 pm

Thanks, Outcast.
So it's an extra low gear, I can see the usefulness on rough roads like a Syncro might be driving on.

If a transaxle has this G gear, it cannot have a "regular" fifth gear, right?

Mon Feb 20, 2023 3:00 pm

G = Gelände (German, of course) or (loosely) off-road

Tue Feb 21, 2023 9:36 am

My earlier picture was on Comcast pwp which is long gone....

Tue Feb 21, 2023 9:44 am

Do we want to know what the two triggers fire? ;)

Wed Feb 22, 2023 10:12 am

I don't know what they were intended to do. There's a 3rd button underneath.
The wires are intact, it was a nos military item when I bought it. I just slid the wires down the shifter tube.
Ideas...xenon flash for tailgaters...but that could get me in trouble with someone inclined to road rage. Probably a good idea would be a light up "thank you" for anyone that helps with a lane change on the freeway. Anything adversarial could just trigger someone else's bad behavior, there's a lot of that going around these days.

Wed Feb 22, 2023 10:27 am

Thinking back to the '57 Chevy Bel Air hood scoops...

But, as you say, anything adversarial probably wouldn't go over well... Definitely the far side of adversarlial.

Sun Mar 12, 2023 7:07 pm

If you can't buy one, make it!

A buddy glued up some maple scraps he had lying around and I turned it down into something functional. I think the next one will be scaled up in size a bit, but this should work for the meantime.

Sat Apr 15, 2023 8:37 pm

I wasn't quite satisfied with the first knob so I made another. It's scaled up in size a bit (3d printed to be sure I liked the fit) with an aluminum m14x1.5 insert and this time made from padauk and walnut instead of maple. A few coats of satin poly later and she's ready for the desert!

Sat Apr 15, 2023 9:02 pm

Purty!

Sat Jan 13, 2024 4:43 pm

Made another shift knob. It’s kinda like therapy.

While back I made an aluminum one, kinda close copy of stock shape. Had it anodized and I ( not very well) laser etched shift pattern.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, aluminum shift knobs the worst. So cold in the winter. But I’ve been using it since summer, and the stock knob in drawer at home.

Just turned coldish here and yesterday I was fed up with the cold knob syndrome. Late afternoon before driving home I made another knob with more wood.

Had a small bit of teak at work for some reason. So it’s teak and aluminum . The teak screwed onto threaded boss on the aluminum. Would have been better if a bit bigger. But hey…

Cheers

Alistair

Sat Jan 13, 2024 9:41 pm

Vintage (?) pool ball, bored out and then a nut which matches the shifter threads JB Welded into the bored out hole. Took about 5 minutes on the drill press- it's totally a perfect fit for my hand, feels great in cold or hot weather.

Mon Jul 14, 2025 10:37 am

I’m running a stock OEM shift knob from a 1983.5 non-power steering Vanagon. The threads on it don’t start until about 38mm in, and there’s roughly 20.5mm of thread — I believe it’s M14x1.5.

I recently picked up the T3 Technique shift extension for the 711 shifter, but due to the short threading on the extension, it’s not compatible with my stock knob.

Interestingly, I have a VW Syncro knob that threads on just fine (you can see it in one of the photos).

Now I’m on the hunt for a late power steering model OEM shift knob. Nothing in the classifieds so far.

Wed Jul 16, 2025 12:13 am

Are you sure the other knob is not M12 like on the early shifters?

Wed Jul 16, 2025 5:46 am

Yes because it fits my 711 shifter no problem without the extension. Plus I have a m14x1.5 tap and it threads into my old shift knob.

Maybe my old shift knob is not OEM? I don’t see any VW part numbers.

For what it’s worth, the saint Chris offered to machine my extension for me. He also offered a return.

I bought a NOS shift knob 4 speed 171711141C. I also am trying to buy one on the classified I found. Even had a fellow mountain friend here offer a 3D file so I could print one as well.

Going to try this NOS option first before any machining happens