I had the interior of my '75 cleaned yesterday, and the black chrome finish on the 4-speed shift knob was taken off!

I've always liked the old white shift balls like the Hurst shifters used with the 4-speed marking on the top.  Is anything like this available for the C3 Vettes?  I know the '75 has a 9/16-18 thread and most standard shift balls have a 3/8-16 thread.  I kind'a assume that Corvette didn't use the shift markings on the shift ball because it would be hard to align the ball correctly.

Am I barking up the wrong shift stick looking for this??

How th hell do they get the black chrome off the knob....thass what I wanna know?? 😮

You'll have to deal with the reverse lock-out mechanism, as well as thread size when replacing the knob. I think some of the earlier cars('60s era) had white knobs....I think....

Joel Adams
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"Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comforting to cry in a CORVETTE than in a Kia"

This was a replacement knob, so maybe it was not real chrome.  Now it looks like a mottled dull finish.  Somewhere I have the original knob, but it was a bit scratched-up from use.  Guess I'll have to look for it in my boxes of Corvette parts --it's amazing how much stuff can be accumulated!

Up until about 1968, I believe the knobs had the 3/8-16 thread.  Not sure how the reverse lock-out worked with them.

I guess my second choice would be to see if the knob can be leather covered.  Some things I like original, like the rally wheels, others need a little customizing.

Not sure about your year, but Auto knobs are black. Four speed on earlier models were Black Chrome. They did not shine like regular chrome, but had a sheen. They do get marred with use. They are O.E.M. 

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I did find my original shift knob -- of course it was at the bottom of the last box of parts. . .

This one is definitely a different finish; hard (black) chrome.  It is quite scratched up, so, I'm painting it white!

The steering column I put in a while back was chrome-like.  It was very soft, probably a type of paint.  That shift knob may have been something similar.  I've seen on TV where they used a spray-on chrome-like finish, probably similar to what these Chinese knock-off parts use.

Even new, the black chrome knobs had a "scratchy" look to them. Just the nature of the beast.  😁

Joel Adams
C3VR Lifetime Member #56    
My Link


(click for Texas-sized view!)             NCRS

"Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comforting to cry in a CORVETTE than in a Kia"

Check out this website. They have all kinds of knobs and adapters. I Purchased one and changed over my '66 Pontiac to a ball instead of a stick.  https://www.hotrodshiftknob.com/?rs_oid_rd=117621974388030

www.wildbunchcarclub.com

https://www.hotrodshiftknob.com/68-82-corvette-automatic-shift-knob-thread-kit-adapter/

https://hotrodshiftknob.com/solid-ivory-color-ball-shift-knob/

Here is what you might be looking for...

www.wildbunchcarclub.com

Thanks!  It looks like they even have the 9/16-18 recessed for the shift lock-out.