[biotechee]

Should have these in a few days....



Hopefully I can get the ebrake handle to fit just like you can with a 993 wood ebrake handle. I am skeptical due to the apparent curvature of the 996/986 wood handle.

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[Anchorman]

I'm following - but not because I have any plans to do this conversion, as I don't think wood would complement my interior.



Handsome pieces, though.

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[biotechee]

They should arrive within 7-10 days- then we will see!

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[biotechee]

Shift knob installed....



Ebrake to follow (I hope- might get to do a little work on it this weekend).



Hope you all like it!

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[rhudeboye]

Very nice. The wood will complement the yellow well when your top is down. Also softens all the black intr. Id like to do the same but with carbon fiber/aluminum.

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[Cloud9...68]

Does your new shift knob buzz? I have a 996 GT3 knob in my car, and while is is beautiful, it buzzes quite a bit when it's in gear. I've stuffed a bunch of sound deadening material between the knob and the shaft, and that has helped a lot, but the buzz is still noticeable. I've heard the real fix is to install a weighted collar around the shaft just below the knob, but I just haven't gotten around to doing that yet.

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[rxter]

[quote name='Cloud9...68' post='63864' date='Dec 5 2008, 04:25 PM']I've heard the real fix is to install a weighted collar around the shaft just below the knob[/quote]



That's what she .......

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[T-Bone]

Interested in the weighted collar... for my shaft... my shaft buzzes... wait, this isn't going well... What is the fix you mention? My gear shift buzzes but thought it was just that I didn't install it right when I put the cover/shifter back on.



Thanks!

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[Cloud9...68]

[quote name='rxter' post='63866' date='Dec 5 2008, 07:36 PM']That's what she .......[/quote]

<img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/laugh.gif" class="smilie" alt="" /> <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/laugh.gif" class="smilie" alt="" /> Guess I stepped right into that one...

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[pinball1008]

Nice looking piece.

Has anyone tried an upgrade for the Tip?

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[DiREW0LF]

What needs to be done to install the shift knob? Does it fit over the stock shift lever or does the lever need to be modified?

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[biotechee]

Thanks for the compliments... Don't know if it rattles or if it will buzz yet- haven't turned the car on with it in there. I did cut off a small swatch of the original leather and sort of glued it on top of the shift lever to try and isolate the new knob from the lever. I also dumped in some silicone into the hole on the knob (all this talk is nearly pornographic!!!!) before I put it on.



I'm not too worried about a buzz or rattle because I didn't have one with the wooden 993 knob that I has in my previous coupe. This new 996 knob weighs more than that knob so hopefully that will mitigate any rattle or buzz - we'll see shortly.



All I had to do was remove the original leather boot from the original knob, then attach it to the new knob via a couple of nylon ty-wraps. The knob then attaches to the lever by a set screw. That's all there is to it.

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[PorscheDude]

Great work!



Did you use the 968 boot or the 996 boot?



Are you gonna do the e-brake?

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[biotechee]

Smoke-



Used the 968 boot. It was in great condition, so I just cut if off at about midway down the actual 968 knob. The 996 boot is way too small to actually fit around the 968 bezel, plus the 996 leather is paper-thin compared to the 968 leather. I was shocked at just how thin the leathers are on the 996 shift and ebrake assemblies!



Going to try to do the ebrake handle too. I did a 993 wood handle on my old coupe, but the 996 handle is a little different. Might be more of a challenge...

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[Cloud9...68]

The buzz is caused by a resonance that originates in the transaxle, and makes its way up through the shift knob. Apparently the weight of the original knob is enought to absorb the vibrations caused by the resonance. My GT3 knob is made of aluminum, and without some sort of dampeneing material placed inside its opening where it fits on the shaft, it makes an incredible racket - it sounds for all the world like a crazed vacuum leak. Maybe the fact that Biotechee's shift knob is made of wood will reduce or eliminate the buzz.



As far as the weighted collar, a guy posted something about it years ago on 968.net. Since I usually drive my car with the sunroof off (and with my racing helmet on), I can hardly hear the buzz, so I haven't been in a hurry to do this fix. One of these days, I was planning to wander over to my neighborhood hardware store to see if I could find something I could use as stock to fabricate a collar that would fit around the shaft. If I ever get around to it, I'll let everybody know how it went.

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[biotechee]

Part of the other equation as it relates to the 968 knob and rattles- the 968 is metal and rubber- the inside, which rests on the shift lever, is metal and then on top of the metal the actual knob is formed in some sort of rubber. It is pretty heavy.



If my wife ever gets back from shopping, I intend to go fire it up and see if I can detect any issues...

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[biotechee]

Okay- got the 996 ebrake handle installed. Looks pretty good to me. Was a little more troublesome than I expected, but not too bad. It doesn't look perfect, but I like it. I forgot to take a picture before we left for the in-laws so I'll post one next week.

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[PorscheDude]

What was the biggest obsticale?

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[biotechee]

Trying to cut and "shape" the rubber surround on the 968 ebrake assembly. The 996 wooden / aluminum handle is angled at the back, whereas the 993 wooden handle was "square". So you have to try to "match" cutting the rubber surround so it lines up with the angle of the handle. Then leave enough space to tuck the leather / vinyl.



Also had to grind out the 996 handle a little towards the front to get it to slide on far enough. In the process of doing this, I knicked the button opening. Luckily, it is under and towards the seat side of the button. And small, so hardly visible.



Wasn't technically difficult, but you can tell (up close) that it is not perfect. Luckily, the ebrake sits in a somewhat visually restricted area so imperfections become less obvious to the casual observer.



All in all, I am glad I did it. Getting new leather put on was another step that I had done. Again, not perfect, but easily acceptable for me.



Next step might be the stainless sills. Just can't decide on ones with the 968 script or the cloisonne (sp?)....

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[biotechee]

PICS of the ebrake handle installed....

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