1340fxd wrote: ↑Fri Mar 03, 2023 7:22 pm
Many thanks Tom and others. My car is a factory original V8 and it appears an owner has cut off the threaded part of the lever and fitted a clamping MOMO gear knob. The throw is obviously very short but I have to say, rather lovely so I'll keep it that way. The overdrive switch is on the left stalk - not sure if this is how it was from the factory as the car had been completely re-wired. My journey of discovery has started!
Since you want to keep the shorter lever, it wouldn't be too difficult of a job to rethread the end of the stick, allowing you to fit a secure threaded knob.
The shaft, IIRC, increases in diameter slightly past the factory threaded portion, so options are to go up one thread size, or to take the lever to a local machinist to turn down the stick to have the original thread size (which escapes me at the moment). A lot of aftermarket knobs are supplied with adapter bushings (for alternate thread sizes) so it's possible to swap over to a Metric thread, if that suits the existing diameter better.
In the past I have shortened
many shift levers (MGB/MGC, Big Healey and BMW) and I always found the easiest way to do the threaded type was__depending on how much I'd shorten it__cut off all but a half-inch or so of the thread, leaving me with a good start to run my die further down to get the desired thread length. You only need about 1" maximum of thread length for a secure attachment of knob and jam-nut.
Alternatively, now would be a good time to source the lever and knob parts from a >78 model MGB, and swap the overdrive engagement switch to the top of the knob (easy task to reconfigure the wiring). Then you could use the former ovd stalk switch to control some driving/fog lights__through a relay__if desired
BMWs with their
clip-type attachment and isolated/bonded 2-piece shaft are a whole 'nother story...