What’s with my D18 Shifter Knobs?

1950 - 1952, M38, questions, discussions, regarding anything related to the M38.
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Buster1
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What’s with my D18 Shifter Knobs?

Post by Buster1 » Sun Aug 29, 2021 6:54 am

What’s with these things? It’s like they are made of concrete or stone or something.

Can they be removed?
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Re: What’s with my D18 Shifter Knobs?

Post by mdainsd » Sun Aug 29, 2021 7:32 am

Yep. They are threaded on. Those may be on there real good though.
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Re: What’s with my D18 Shifter Knobs?

Post by Chuck W. » Sun Aug 29, 2021 7:44 am

cut with a Dremel, don't try to un-screw, you'll break it off! chase the threads after you cut it off.

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Re: What’s with my D18 Shifter Knobs?

Post by Buster1 » Sun Aug 29, 2021 11:36 am

Thanks guys, I like the Dremel option. I don’t care about saving or breaking the knobs. Nice to know I can cut the material. Thanks!
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Re: What’s with my D18 Shifter Knobs?

Post by W. Winget » Sun Aug 29, 2021 12:41 pm

You are seeing the threaded insert that was cast into the resin, you could drill a hole in the top of the metal exposing the end of the shifter cane and drop in some oil to loosen the threads below.
Water pump pliers and heat would remove it fairly easily then, but better if you placed the stalk in a vise then twisted it off VS the transmission top housing.
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Re: What’s with my D18 Shifter Knobs?

Post by dpcd67 » Mon Aug 30, 2021 6:17 am

FI, M38, T90 Shifter knobs are not threaded on. They are just stuck on and held by friction. I usually thread them anyway for a new knob.
Now, the two shifters for the transfer case, are threaded on, balls.
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Re: What’s with my D18 Shifter Knobs?

Post by Buster1 » Mon Aug 30, 2021 4:07 pm

Awesome, thanks! Does anyone happen to know the shaft and thread size for the D18 knobs? I’m thinking of replacing them with something slightly different than stock.
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Re: What’s with my D18 Shifter Knobs?

Post by Chuck W. » Mon Aug 30, 2021 6:46 pm

5/16"-24 if I remember correctly

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Re: What’s with my D18 Shifter Knobs?

Post by Ron D » Mon Aug 30, 2021 7:20 pm

Just measured mine (M38), and I also have 5/16-24NF for both knobs on the transfer case. Jives with the manual.

My M38 T90 is threaded 5/16-18NC, which also jives with the manual.
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Re: What’s with my D18 Shifter Knobs?

Post by Buster1 » Tue Aug 31, 2021 3:42 am

Thank you!
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Re: What’s with my D18 Shifter Knobs?

Post by dpcd67 » Tue Aug 31, 2021 6:11 am

I have never seen an M38 T90 with a threaded shift cane; and I have three of them. All just stick on.
And I have NOS knobs that are not threaded. I know in the PT TM it shows them threaded, but I never saw one.
Also, why would you want to replace the knobs with something non original?
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Re: What’s with my D18 Shifter Knobs?

Post by Buster1 » Sun Sep 12, 2021 11:26 am

New
Update: finally got around to this project. A dremel and cut off wheel worked great on both the old Bakelite and the threaded insert. It took some patience and PB Blaster, but with a few slices on the insert, they loosened right up! Cleaned up the threads too w/ a die.

Thanks for the tips guys!
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