Lotus Elan and Lotus Elan Plus 2 Forums

Hi everyone,

Could anyone tell me if an original gear selector insert on top of the gear knob is interchangeable with the newer wood gear knobs supplied by Paul Matty et al (which just have a lotus badge on top)?

Are they the same diameter or would the knob need work to make it fit?

I think our gear knob is beyond repair (at least to a level I would be happy with) but the top insert is salvageable and I'd like to transfer it over to a new knob.

Any ideas to thoughts?

Cheers,

Paul

My car picked up a gear pattern knob sometime before I got it 10 years old.
Still causes confusion if I have to let mechanics drive it because reverse is shown on wrong side!
I've got a newer lotus ball but I think the thread is too small - old doesn't want to come off to check though.

The thread size on the gear stick is 5/16 x 24. You should be able to make any knob fit
that thread size.

sorry everyone - perhaps I've not explained properly.

I want to take the gear selector indicator from the top of the knob and put it on a new wood knob.

The new wood knobs don't have a selector plate on top they just have a lotus badge stuck in. I'd like to know if the two are interchangeable or whether work would need to be done to the knob before the old insert could be stuck in.

Ah, sorry, I misunderstood. Can you get Paul Matty to measure one?

I too didn't read original post properly - sorry.

The gear selector pattern on top of my round Sprint knob sits on a flat surface and measures
.55 inches in diameter. What knob do you have?

I've got an original sprint knob - with gear selector plate. I just wanted to see if the selector plate insert would simply transfer over to a newer knobs like those produced by Paul Matty and other lotus suppliers.

I can confirm its about .55inch - any one know how big the lotus emblem is on the replica knobs?

I have a newer knob - ball c45mm diameter.
The emblem is well under 1/2" .
I'll do accurate measure and post picture on Friday.

Comparing my original shift pattern knob and my replacement knob, I measure the same emblem size (0.55"). But, I couldn't tell you where I got the replacement knob - so probably not that helpful.

Also, the knobs are slightly different shapes. The original is "squashed" with a flatter top and bottom while the replacement is spherical - slightly flat on top to accept the emblem.

Paul - if you can find a friend with a lathe, they can modify a new knob from Matty or others to take that insert in a jiffy - or turn you one from scratch in not too much more.

As promised photos of my 'modern' knob - I'm afraid that I don't know the provenance as purchased secondhand.

Thanks for all your input - really helpful. It doesn't look like a straight swap and it'll need some wood working to get just right.