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MadMax
02-27-2009, 10:52 PM
Well, I have been looking for a new shift knob for my auto. I recall reading where someone said they swapped one from a Tacoma, so today I asked my neighbor if I could see if the one from his Tundra would work. It didn't...:cry: It would've been nice as he works at the Tundra line here in San Antonio.

I remembered someone on here making an apple shifter for his girlfriend who was a teacher. So, out of curiosity I dug around in my tool box and found the tap-and-die I used for a Jeep project a while back. I tried my shift knob on it and it seemed like a close fit, so I dug out an old golf ball and drilled a hole in it, then tapped it with the 5/16th tap I have. I tried to get the National Security Agency logo to end up on top, and it came out pretty well...

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c209/M2Repsol/Yaris/th_GolfBarShiftKnob4.jpg (http://s28.photobucket.com/albums/c209/M2Repsol/Yaris/?action=view&current=GolfBarShiftKnob4.jpg)http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c209/M2Repsol/Yaris/th_GolfBarShiftKnob2.jpg (http://s28.photobucket.com/albums/c209/M2Repsol/Yaris/?action=view&current=GolfBarShiftKnob2.jpg)http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c209/M2Repsol/Yaris/th_GolfBarShiftKnob3.jpg (http://s28.photobucket.com/albums/c209/M2Repsol/Yaris/?action=view&current=GolfBarShiftKnob3.jpg)http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c209/M2Repsol/Yaris/th_GolfBarShiftKnob1.jpg (http://s28.photobucket.com/albums/c209/M2Repsol/Yaris/?action=view&current=GolfBarShiftKnob1.jpg)
(Click on thumbnails for full-sized pic)

It wasn't as perfect of a fit as the stock know; but it tightened down pretty well, and actually it feels pretty good! I am going to try and find a black golf ball and try it, but in the mean time I am going to leave the NSA one in place to make sure it stays put well.

So, I thought I would share my little mod with my Yaris family!

Cheers! M2
lilredrocket
02-27-2009, 11:05 PM
lmfao thats great very original!!!
cali yaris
02-28-2009, 01:43 AM
so now you handle your ball every time you shift?

hmmmm.... :rolleyes:
jinxor
02-28-2009, 02:11 AM
lolz
that is nice and original... i guess you might have a good grip while trying to shift as well aye!!!
SilverBack
02-28-2009, 02:39 AM
LOL what makes it even more awesome is the skinny stick it's on looks a tee

The next step is to get green velvet carpets and have Tiger Woods sign your steering wheel:thumbsup:
MadMax
02-28-2009, 01:05 PM
Since I had a little free time this morning, I drilled and tapped a few more balls and am going to try and spray paint on black to see how it looks. I did a orange ball (already colored) this morning and it looks pretty good as well.

If anyone is going to try this, I would recommend drilling and tapping before painting. I painted a ball last night with the intent of drilling and tapping it in the morning, and I ended up drilling all the way through the ball. Oh, that reminds me, put a little piece of electrical tape on your drill bit to make sure you don't drill it too far!

And I did drive the Yaris today with the one I did yesterday on the shifter, it works great! I just need to get a little used to having a small shifter knob; but actually my hand fits over it fairly comfortably...

I may have to go by a local pro shop and see what other kind of golf balls are available. I think I might just do up a bunch of them, so I can swap 'em out based on my mood.

Cheers! M2
TickleTimeTim
02-28-2009, 03:53 PM
what you really need to do is make several of these shift knobs in differnet colors and just sell them to different people on here.
MadMax
02-28-2009, 04:26 PM
They're really easy to make, although if I could find colored golf balls they would be even easier!

I simply clamp the ball and drill a hole into it. Then I create threads in the hold with a 5/16" tap. Just cut the little bit of the ball cover that is remaining and screw it in place. It's that simple!

I work with a guy who is a golf nut, I am going to ask him if he knows of anyplace to get colored golf balls. The orange one looks pretty good, but I think a black one would look best. I am trying to paint one as we speak, but using a tee as a stand while painting is not a good idea. I found a long bolt and bolted it down to a piece of cardboard so it won't move when I try and paint it. I will let everyone know how it turns out...

And now I am on the lookout for other things I could drill and tap to use as a shift knob. This could be fun!

Cheers! M2
Yar Is Word
03-08-2009, 12:21 PM
Here you go!
http://www.coloredgolfballsonline.com/
eTiMaGo
03-08-2009, 12:29 PM
that's good stuff :laugh:

next, for those with bigger hands, a baseball shift knob?
CTScott
03-08-2009, 02:38 PM
Here you go!
http://www.coloredgolfballsonline.com/

Did you notice the "add your own logo" option?

Group buy on YarisWorld logo golf ball shift knobs!
MadMax
03-08-2009, 02:52 PM
that's good stuff :laugh:

next, for those with bigger hands, a baseball shift knob?

Funny thing, yesterday we were out shopping and I saw a baseball and thought the same thing!

But I got a OBX Autobahn Kraftwerks Speed Star shift knob from LicoriceTRD yesterday that looks great (although it seems huge compared to the orange golf ball it replaced), so my desire to create some of my own shift knobs has subsided quite a bit. But I still may pick up a baseball at WalMart just to see how it would look...

Cheers! M2