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Topic: "Project Pistol Grip".. new pics... (Read 8298 times) previous topic - next topic

"Project Pistol Grip".. new pics...

I ordered a 2 3/4 x 5" piece of aluminum rod to carve into a new pistol grip shifter . I like my Hurst piece, have had it for a few years, but I want one designed a bit after the original Mopar style, but in billet aluminum, and, fits me, not universal. I'll do a  ton of carving and sanding, and we'll see what happens. I do love working with a bit of aluminum. Particulate mask and ear protection are ready.
'88 Sport--T-5,MGW shifter,Trick Flow R intake,Ed Curtis cam,Trick Flow heads,Scorpion rockers,75mm Accufab t-body,3G,mini starter,Taurus fan,BBK long tube headers,O/R H-Pipe, Flowamaster Super 44's, deep and deeper Cobra R wheels, Mass Air and 24's,8.8 with 3.73's,140 mph speedo,Mach 1 chin spoiler,SN-95 springs,CHE control arms,aluminum drive shaft and a lot more..

"Project Pistol Grip".. new pics...

Reply #1 –
Harbor freight has a mill that really isnt too bad. My dad used to mill model airplane blocks for race motors.
Quote from: jcassity
I honestly dont think you could exceed the cost of a new car buy installing new *stock* parts everywhere in your coug our tbird. Its just plain impossible. You could revamp the entire drivetrain/engine/suspenstion and still come out ahead.
Hooligans! 
1988 Crown Vic wagon. 120K California car. Wifes grocery getter. (junked)
1987 Ford Thunderbird LX. 5.0. s.o., sn-95 t-5 and an f-150 clutch. Driven daily and going strong.
1986 cougar.
lilsammywasapunkrocker@yahoo.com

"Project Pistol Grip".. new pics...

Reply #2 –
At that point I'd have way to much invested into a shifter handle. I want to do it the low to no buck way, yet still have it look like I bought it from a company. It'll take time, but it's a side project. I have the air compressor out there and air tools as well.....all of which I have had for months and months and have never used yet.

I think it's kind of a little challenge project. I'll drill and tap the hole for the shifter, and end up with a smooth satin finish. Hopefully a shift pattern emblem on top. Not sure yet about the styles available. I may go look in to that.
'88 Sport--T-5,MGW shifter,Trick Flow R intake,Ed Curtis cam,Trick Flow heads,Scorpion rockers,75mm Accufab t-body,3G,mini starter,Taurus fan,BBK long tube headers,O/R H-Pipe, Flowamaster Super 44's, deep and deeper Cobra R wheels, Mass Air and 24's,8.8 with 3.73's,140 mph speedo,Mach 1 chin spoiler,SN-95 springs,CHE control arms,aluminum drive shaft and a lot more..

"Project Pistol Grip".. new pics...

Reply #3 –
I'll take one Vinnie :-D


86' T/C 4.6L DOHC
16' Chebby Cruze 1.4L Turbo
17’ Peterbilt 389 600hp 1850ftlb Trq 18spd

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“Heavy Metal Mistress”
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"Project Pistol Grip".. new pics...

Reply #4 –
LOL. Let's wait til mine gets doen and see what happens. May turn out to be a total waste of aluminum when I'm done. LOL.
'88 Sport--T-5,MGW shifter,Trick Flow R intake,Ed Curtis cam,Trick Flow heads,Scorpion rockers,75mm Accufab t-body,3G,mini starter,Taurus fan,BBK long tube headers,O/R H-Pipe, Flowamaster Super 44's, deep and deeper Cobra R wheels, Mass Air and 24's,8.8 with 3.73's,140 mph speedo,Mach 1 chin spoiler,SN-95 springs,CHE control arms,aluminum drive shaft and a lot more..

"Project Pistol Grip".. new pics...

Reply #5 –
Interesting idea

"Project Pistol Grip".. new pics...

Reply #6 –
It's going to be a little time consuming. I'm thinking that I'll go buy some clay or play doh, use it to get an idea of how I hold the shifter and a "mold' of how I want the hand grip, then let it dry and use it as a template to make the aluminum shifter . Once the basic shape is carved out...so to speak, then it'll be slowly sanding and grinding away material a little bit at a time until I have it just right, then smooth the whole thing and give it a nice satin finish. I would like an insert inlayed in the top with the shift pattern. yes, I know what the shift pattern is, but it would be an added detail.
'88 Sport--T-5,MGW shifter,Trick Flow R intake,Ed Curtis cam,Trick Flow heads,Scorpion rockers,75mm Accufab t-body,3G,mini starter,Taurus fan,BBK long tube headers,O/R H-Pipe, Flowamaster Super 44's, deep and deeper Cobra R wheels, Mass Air and 24's,8.8 with 3.73's,140 mph speedo,Mach 1 chin spoiler,SN-95 springs,CHE control arms,aluminum drive shaft and a lot more..

"Project Pistol Grip".. new pics...

Reply #7 –
Once the final "shaping" is done, put it in a jig, and mill out a shift pattern. Then fill it in with body color paint and cover with something that won't let it chip away or peel or flake??
'98 Explorer 5.0
'20 Malibu (I know, Chevy, but, 35MPG. Let's go brandon, eh)

"Project Pistol Grip".. new pics...

Reply #8 –
I had thought about having it engraved, and, that is still an option. If I can't find an insert that I like, then it may be engraved. Not sure where that can be done in my area. maybe I can find somebody to send it to a company that does that. I would need the numbers to have a specific look.

I do have some body color paint left from the paint job, but in all reality, I'd probably use black or red.

It would be awesome for somebody to see the shift  and ask where I bought it because they want one. I like the Sport to be a bit different, but, still look like everything that was done actually belongs there. Not cheap, or like I had just stuck things to it.
'88 Sport--T-5,MGW shifter,Trick Flow R intake,Ed Curtis cam,Trick Flow heads,Scorpion rockers,75mm Accufab t-body,3G,mini starter,Taurus fan,BBK long tube headers,O/R H-Pipe, Flowamaster Super 44's, deep and deeper Cobra R wheels, Mass Air and 24's,8.8 with 3.73's,140 mph speedo,Mach 1 chin spoiler,SN-95 springs,CHE control arms,aluminum drive shaft and a lot more..

"Project Pistol Grip".. new pics...

Reply #9 –
Would be cool with a bird engraved in it some how

"Project Pistol Grip".. new pics...

Reply #10 –
I had thought of that,too. But decided against it. I am keeping it simple with the shift pattern. My plans for that may change 20 times before I'm finished. I have plenty of time to think about it. Once the aluminum bar gets here, I'll draw out my basic shape on it with a Sharpie and get busy removing material and I'll post progress pics here.
'88 Sport--T-5,MGW shifter,Trick Flow R intake,Ed Curtis cam,Trick Flow heads,Scorpion rockers,75mm Accufab t-body,3G,mini starter,Taurus fan,BBK long tube headers,O/R H-Pipe, Flowamaster Super 44's, deep and deeper Cobra R wheels, Mass Air and 24's,8.8 with 3.73's,140 mph speedo,Mach 1 chin spoiler,SN-95 springs,CHE control arms,aluminum drive shaft and a lot more..

"Project Pistol Grip".. new pics...

Reply #11 –
One word of caution: the shifter is going to get hot in the summer sun. Be careful you don't burn your hand ;).
88 Thunderbird LX: 306, Edelbrock Performer heads, Comp 266HR cam, Edelbrock Performer RPM intake, bunch of other stuff.

"Project Pistol Grip".. new pics...

Reply #12 –
I have thought about carving my own shift lever/ out of alumunum also. I really like the Pistol grip handle Mopar used. My brother's 70 Challenger R/T had one. The T-Bird emblem on it would be cool. What grade aluminum are you going to use?
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86 T-Bird V6 C5
91 F-150 5.0L 5spd
93 Mustang LX 351C C4
2013 Honda CRV AWD

"Project Pistol Grip".. new pics...

Reply #13 –
It showed it was T6511.....if that means anything to you. I'm really not sure of the grades of aluminum.

As far as heat, I already have an aluminum HURST pistol grip shifter  and we got up to 116 degrees last summer. I know all about the heat. LOL.

I'm making mine after the overall Mopar design with the ergonomics specifically for me. It isn't going to be an exact copy of the Mopar design, but close....if I can pull it off.

I'll drill and tap it for the shifter before I start, that way I can install it on a factory shifter and mount it in the vice to start shaping it, then fine tuning it once the general shape is made. It'll be a good project when I don't really feel like doing anything else. Ear protection and a particulate mask as I mentioned. Aluminum dust is horrible stuff. had tons of it from modding my extra Cobra throttle body. Thinking about mounting my shop vac hose next to the project and letting it suck up the dust while I work. We'll see how that works.
'88 Sport--T-5,MGW shifter,Trick Flow R intake,Ed Curtis cam,Trick Flow heads,Scorpion rockers,75mm Accufab t-body,3G,mini starter,Taurus fan,BBK long tube headers,O/R H-Pipe, Flowamaster Super 44's, deep and deeper Cobra R wheels, Mass Air and 24's,8.8 with 3.73's,140 mph speedo,Mach 1 chin spoiler,SN-95 springs,CHE control arms,aluminum drive shaft and a lot more..

"Project Pistol Grip".. new pics...

Reply #14 –
Yeah, not to derail your train, but the Tin Man in the wizard of ox...they used some kind of aluminum paint for his face...he got sicker than heck and IIRC, came too close to death to make me want to be around particles, wafting in the air..lol.

At the very least, get a good strong fan and put slightly behind, at an angle, to blow it away from you, but the shop vac idea might do more to contain it.


I did some sandblasting on my coupe last summer...I found out real fast that you MUST wear ears, eyes and even a face shield. Of course, the stuff goes everywhere...was rather amazed when I showered later....had grit in places where I didn't know I had places, until they felt like they too had been blasted with fine grade..lol.

Despite being upwards of 80 or so at the time, I donned full coveralls, face shield, hood, towel around my neck, and ear plugs and safety goggles, and blasted that M-F'r rustless.
Unfortunately, when I got to the point of mounting the rear control arms, I saw there was some surface rust and scale under the rear, so I stopped. Was going to do it when it cooled off, but we went from August boil your ass, to December freeze it off.

It'll be April soon enough, and I'll tackle it. Wish I had a rotisserie though.


Shifter handle...oh yeah. Do be careful Vinnie...the dust from that stuff can be toxic, as you no doubt know. ;)
'98 Explorer 5.0
'20 Malibu (I know, Chevy, but, 35MPG. Let's go brandon, eh)