Console Removal

[mikeydf14]

I am in the process of installing new carpet in my 68 Charger. In order to do so the console has to be removed which is pretty straight forward.  My problem is trying to remove the chrome shift knob button. To take off the knob the button at the top has to be unscrewed and the spring pops out then you loosen the hex screw and slide the cover off.. I have tried every way possible to get the knob to unscrew with no luck.  From what I can tell there is no special dodge tool that can grip the chromed knob. Any ideas what I can use beside taped up channel locks or vice grips? Thanks once again!

[mikeydf14]

I also posted this is another section before I saw this section!  I am in the process of installing new carpet in my 68 Charger. In order to do so the console has to be removed which is pretty straight forward.  My problem is trying to remove the chrome shift knob button. To take off the knob the button at the top has to be unscrewed and the spring pops out then you loosen the hex screw and slide the cover off.. I have tried every way possible to get the knob to unscrew with no luck.  From what I can tell there is no special dodge tool that can grip the chromed knob. Any ideas what I can use beside taped up channel locks or vice grips? Thanks once again!

[tan top]

 if its anything like a 69 woodgrain  console shift knob  , there is a tiny allen/hex head grub screw on the side  , need to  undo that first  

[Ghoste]

As I recall, you remove the hex screw and then unscrew the knob and button as a pair?  You know, its been long enough that I did that I forget exactly, now I'll have to go look.

[ODZKing]

That's the way it is on my 67. Just unscrews off but you have to loosen that hex screw almost all the way.
Also lost one spring like that. Poof - gone! 

[mikeydf14]

Just loosening the hex screw only makes the entire knob with the button and spring inside of it rotate. If you continue to rotate the knob you will break the cable it's attached too.  Been down that road before.  It's the button I cannot get to unscrew.  Thanks guys 

[Ghoste]

Hmm, don't know what to tell you then, that's how I removed mine. 

[bill440rt]

Look (or feel) on the side of the shifter chrome knob. You will see a little hole. Inside that hole is a small Allen head set screw. Insert a small Allen wrench into the hole. Loosen.
Then, rotate the shift knob counter-clockwise, unscrewing it, removing it from the shifter itself.
Done.
Enjoy installing your carpet! 

[mikeydf14]

Look (or feel) on the side of the shifter chrome knob. You will see a little hole. Inside that hole is a small Allen head set screw. Insert a small Allen wrench into the hole. Loosen.
Then, rotate the shift knob counter-clockwise, unscrewing it, removing it from the shifter itself.
Done.
Enjoy installing your carpet! 

Funny you say to just unscrew the entire knob assembly counter clockwise.  But the last time I did that I think I turned it closckwise and broke the cable down inside.  I may give it a try but the pucker factor will be high!  Thanks!

[mikeydf14]

Was just given a suggestion to turn the knob counter clock wise not clock wise! Make sense?

[Ghoste]

Yes, its like unscrewing a jar.

[mikeydf14]

10-4

[JB400]

Did we forget lefty loosey righty tighty?

[stripedelete]

Please let me know if you figure it out.   I have a top plate with a shifter through it in the spare bedroom because I can't figure it out.
I've removed them in the past: spin the button out and then pull the knob off.  Just like you said.  But, it's not happening for me. 

I figured something was stripped so I lifted the top plate and worked around it to disconnect the shifter at the base (in order to remove the console).  In my case, the console was not going back in.  You can put it back in the same way, but, it's going to be tedious.   

[mikeydf14]

Lefty Loosey Righty Tighty is the norm but I swear it doesn't apply in this case. Last time I did this about 8 years ago the damn cable snapped and broke the plastic piece along with it down inside the shifter knob.  Giving this a lot of thought just in case.  Good ole Dodge has a habit of doing things a tad different at times like those damn left handed lug nuts!     Thanks all!

[bill440rt]

I don't have a chrome knob handy, but here in this ad you can see the set screw on this woodgrain knob.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1969-70-CHARGER-ROADRUNNER-CORONET-AUTOMATIC-SHIFTER-KNOB-WOODGRAIN-FAIR-B-BODY-/360535906370?hash=item53f19d5842&item=360535906370&pt=Vintage_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&vxp=mtr

Loosen it. The turn the entire shifter knob with the button counter clockwise, like you're loosening a bolt. The whole assembly with the button will come off.
It's like that way so you can adjust the height of the button. Need it lower? Screw the shifter knob down clockwise to lower it. Need it up? Unscrew it to raise it. Tighten the set screw when you have it adjusted.
Fairly simple concept, actually.   

[Ghoste]

Yeah, this isn't something that Dodge engineered to be different in a couple of applications.  If there are a couple of us that are breaking the cable or having to remove a console top there has to be something else that is keepiing it stuck on there.

[mikeydf14]

I don't have a chrome knob handy, but here in this ad you can see the set screw on this woodgrain knob.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1969-70-CHARGER-ROADRUNNER-CORONET-AUTOMATIC-SHIFTER-KNOB-WOODGRAIN-FAIR-B-BODY-/360535906370?hash=item53f19d5842&item=360535906370&pt=Vintage_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&vxp=mtr

Loosen it. The turn the entire shifter knob with the button counter clockwise, like you're loosening a bolt. The whole assembly with the button will come off.
It's like that way so you can adjust the height of the button. Need it lower? Screw the shifter knob down clockwise to lower it. Need it up? Unscrew it to raise it. Tighten the set screw when you have it adjusted.
Fairly simple concept, actually.   

Come next Monday morning, when I get back down to the car, I will start turning it off like a bolt. I will post success or failure that night LOL Thanks everyone!

[tan top]

what the other guys say   

looks the same to me as a 69 wood grain to remove 

[ODZKing]

Yep, same as on my 67.
I do have a question however, what cable is being referred to?  I don't believe I have a cable on mine.

[Ghoste]

The one that runs down through the shift lever to connect the button to the shift gate mechanism.

[mikeydf14]

Not that I doubted any one here nice to enough to help me but I got 1a phone call from a console aficionado that taking the knob off the shift handle is just like all of you said. Loosen the set screw and slowly turn the knob assembly counter clockwise but slowly! Onward................  Thanks everyone!

[ODZKing]

Well, that is different.  Mine is a rod not a cable on the 67.  What is yours on your 67 Ghoste?

[tan top]

 mines cable 

[Ghoste]

Pretty sure its a cable but its long enough that I was under there I could be wrong.  I have a couple of old shifters laying around so I could easily be mixed up with any one of the others.  I was sure it was a cable though?  Hmm, my car is a relatively late build but as I recall yours was later than mine wasn't it?  Mine is April.

[stripedelete]

nevermind

[ODZKing]

  Hmm, my car is a relatively late build but as I recall yours was later than mine wasn't it?  Mine is April.

5/25/67

[Ghoste]

Thats what I thought, a month or two later.  Hmm.