[Blainefab]

(IMG:http://para.noid.org/~c4racer/C4RACER/BF/home/images/DSCN1435.JPG)

The Blaine Fabrication Delrin shift knob is available for C4/C5 and 4thgen Fbody fitments, and others if thread size and shifter dimensions are supplied. I stock the following diameters in black Delrin:

1 1/8" : for small hands

1 1/4" : for average size hands - the knob in the pic above is this size

1 1/2" : for large hands

My standard height is 4", with the knob sunk on the shifter stalk about the same as the OEM knob, so it will stick up about 2" higher than the OEM knob, bringing it closer to the level of the drivers hands on the steering wheel.

Customs are available: other diameters, white instead of black Delrin, other thread sizes, taller (or shorter). These are made to order - if I can make it with stock material and tooling it is stock price, if I have to puchase material or tooling then it is custom price

Introductory pricing:
stock material and fitment : $55 plus shipping plus CA sales tax for shipments to CA address.
custom material or fitment : $65 plus shipping plus CA sales tax for shipments to CA address.

Regards,
Alan Blaine
Blaine Fabrication
831 427-3296

This post has been edited by Blainefab: Dec 28 2009, 09:49 AM

[Blainefab]

Thanks for the orders guys!

I've seen these on lots of race cars, pro and club - keeping the shift hand closer to the wheel should be a good thing - less time off the controls. I tried a shorter than stock C5 Ripper on my FRC and it about killed my wrist from the increased effort. The taller arm on the Fbod seems to compensate for the lever ratio changes on the aftermarket shifters.

Delrin definitely doesn't transmit heat like metal does. Maybe in a long race it would matter, I don't recall my Ripper hammerhandle getting hot.

I think the biggest difference is that the hand is oriented vertically rather than horizontal like the traditional T handle shifters. Vertical does seems a more natural position, with less twist on the wrist. The OEM cueball I found terrible - hand would slip off.

The Delrin knob is a lot lighter than the hammerhandle - I can feel the mass of that big lump of aluminum when I shift - I don't know if less mass will end up making it more or less likely to hit the desired gear, it is probably going to be more a function of how well the driver adapts a technique for using the vertical hand position.

Honestly I've not used one of these - I made the one in the pic for the customer I built that car for - he used it and liked it, so I got a variety of materials that made sense. Nothing sold on the mail lists so I put the box away and forgot about it till Mark's post.

Thanks again, I'm looking forward to feedback on how these work for you all.

Regards,
Alan Blaine
Blaine Fabrication
831 427-3296