Timmeh

Ok, so after putting up with a long throw and functional but not pretty gearknob, twas time to do Modification Number 11. Will it ever end? Probably not, this wasn't on my mod list until today. This was inspired by my brothers OEM round gearknob on his 01 KQ Laser - it's so sweet that I wanted a similar one myself.

First I apologise for the first couple of photos - new camera and bad lighting and me equalled bad shots. It was all on the go while I was installing so didn't check how they were coming out.

So first of all here is a shot of the standard gear knob for the CL Focus. It's slight askew as I just put it back on the for the Before photo but you get the idea.



Tall, plastic, ugly.

I removed the OEM gearknob, pulled the new Autotechnica unit from its package, and tested the fit. As expected, standard gearshifter is way too long, the knob sits very high.

So first of all, I got out my Makita range of products and got to work on the knob. I bored out the centre to enable it to sit lower on the stick - just a free cm worth of drop. Then I took to the stick, removing about half of the original thread - enough that if need be the standard unit can still be put on firmly.



Removed and sawn off

Once that was complete, simple case of working the new gearknob onto the shifter. I had bored it to the precise interior diameter that enabled me to screw it onto existing thread, meaning it's on nice and tight. The three grub screws were tightened, to be concealed under a collar which then screwed from underneath onto the knob.

End result: a smaller round shifter that is about between 1 1/2 to 2 inches shorter. I find it alot more comfortable, and the shorter throw is also sweet.



Short and sweet

That last picture was a bit better, getting used to the new camera - thanks to Wulos for his tips!

And a small side note to the story - found this awesome keyring when I was out and about today! It's a brake disc that can rotate inside it's caliper! Muhah. Hooray for toys!



Haha.

I decided to go for the black trim on the brushed aluminium as you don't see alot of blue inside the car, and the blue trim would have looked weird and out of place, in my opinion. I'm happy with it, it doesn't stand out from the rest of the interior, it just adds to the sporty feel of the car. Don't fear, I am not claiming it to be the 05 World Rally Car, just making the car more comfortable for myself!



Thanks for reading! Tim!

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Wulos

hehehe well done Zan
tip - if you bought 4 of those keyrings you could have done a cheappo brake upgrade!!!! - looks like they'd be an almost perfect fit!!!

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"Fat men cannot run as fast as thin men, but we build most of our vehicles as though dead weight fat increased speed.......I cannot imagine where the delusion that weight means strength comes from." - Henry Ford.

Timmeh

Ah haha there is a comedian in all of us! Would mean getting new wheels though, four stud pattern to five!

/me suggests Mark returns to his cameras immediately!

Tim!

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fordel

Looks well nice there Tim !

Sorta wouldnt mind something like that for mine !

Chris

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Member #4 of the MTAS (Manual Transmission Appreciation Society)

brother

Job well done there Tim. That knob looks very similar to the KQ laser, but still different. That type of knob is not my favourite, but it goes very well with that interior, plus the short throw is even better!

Wish I had the guts to take to my car with power tools!

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3-Door Focus Zetec manual, Machine Silver

Eibach Pro Kit, 2 1/4" Cat back exhaust, Tinted, K+N panel filter, Zetec mats

Leather/Aluminium Gear knob & handbrake cover, ST170 indicators

www.eurofordclub.com

Zetec

You do mate, just whip it out and be a man!!! No pain no gain, just like my zorst. I bit the bullet and got it installe,d haven't looked back once... OK I lie, I look bad in my mirror all the time muhaha.

Hooray for toys indeed, like my Big boy's toy Zetec and all our Foci!!!!! Maybe we should rename the club the Toybox.. or not

By the way Timbo that looks awesome mate, I love it.

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Suth

nice job. I didn't know that the CL doesnt have the reverse lockout ring. I would have gone for something like an autotechnica, pretty similar to yours but the zetecs reverse mechanism means you have to spend upwards of 100bucks to get a gear knob. I bolted an Isotta on the hocus, it has to be wirth at least 10kw.

Timmeh

By the time I had spent an hour or more boring out the knob to the right size, it didn't really phase me, as I can still return the car to stock if need be.

My 98 Mondeo had a lockout ring for reverse - I remember just after buying the car I got stranded as I pulled into the mags wheels centre and couldn't get the thing into reverse, rofl.

After driving the car for a few hundred kms (since yesterday, yes) back up to Newcastle, I'd probably revise the figure that it was shortened by to about an inch, perhaps inch and a half max. But it was very comfortable to use - feels very like our previous BA XR6 manual gearknob.

Well cheers for your replies, appreciate ya time!

Tim

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Zetec

So as long as it doesn't feel like it's connected to a whiney, lumpy, rough as guts dogbox like the last XR6.....

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melbzetec

Has anyone installed one of the short throw shifters that are so popular in the US (eg B&M) ? Photos I've seen, look as though the gearshift ends up TOO low.
Thoughts?

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Manual 2003 Machine Silver 5 Door Zetec. 17" factory alloys. Factory Body Kit. BMC Air Filter. Magnecor wires. Herrod stainless steel cat-back. ST170 Lower Grille. ST170 Fog Lights.ST170 side indicators. ST170 pedals. Darkest tint. Mobil synthetics throughout. Auto Art "Black Magic" taillights. Euro rear wiper. Gas bonnet struts.