SAAC Forum

The Cars => 1968 Shelby GT350/500/500KR => Topic started by: gt350bp on January 09, 2022, 07:24:03 AM

Title: 4-spd KR's
Post by: gt350bp on January 09, 2022, 07:24:03 AM
Did all 4-spd KR's have the gold shift pattern plates on the console? My car did not have the shift pattern plate when I bought it in 1981, but it was a drag car, and the console was removed for a Hurst Super-Shifter. Just finished refurbishing the console and was wondering if I need the shift pattern plate?

Don
gt350bp
Title: Re: 4-spd KR's
Post by: Coralsnake on January 09, 2022, 10:02:55 AM
It was intended for all GT 500 KR 4 speed cars
Title: Re: 4-spd KR's
Post by: gt350bp on January 10, 2022, 10:33:11 AM
Thanks Pete!

I guess I'll put one on the console even though I'm currently using a Hurst Competition Plus shifter with the reverse location opposite of the original Ford factory shifter.

Don
gt350bp
Title: Re: 4-spd KR's
Post by: shelbymann1970 on January 10, 2022, 12:31:10 PM
Quote from: gt350bp on January 10, 2022, 10:33:11 AM
Thanks Pete!

I guess I'll put one on the console even though I'm currently using a Hurst Competition Plus shifter with the reverse location opposite of the original Ford factory shifter.

Don
gt350bp
While intended I would think you would use the cobra shift knob with it. The blue striped shift knob with the "flat" 3 would be redundant since it has the shift pattern on it. I wonder if some cars came with both blue striped knob and shift pattern?
Title: Re: 4-spd KR's
Post by: Coralsnake on January 10, 2022, 01:16:21 PM
The blue striped knob was not the intended knob. It was a substitute for the Cobra knob. That is why the plate was used.
Title: Re: 4-spd KR's
Post by: shelbymann1970 on January 10, 2022, 02:55:05 PM
Quote from: Coralsnake on January 10, 2022, 01:16:21 PM
The blue striped knob was not the intended knob. It was a substitute for the Cobra knob. That is why the plate was used.
So what is the scoop? Did all KR 4 speeds get the wood snake knob? When you said intended in your first post Pete it opened up to me that some cars didn't get the knob due to quality concerns IIRC? So did every KR as far as you know come with the gold pattern plate and the cobra snake knob? Thanks as always for your expertise. Gary
Title: Re: 4-spd KR's
Post by: Coralsnake on January 10, 2022, 03:05:28 PM
What was intended and what happened are not the same.

Most likely all the cars we are talking got the plate and the blue striped knob.
Title: Re: 4-spd KR's
Post by: gt350bp on January 10, 2022, 07:01:03 PM
So, it sounds likely that a July 23rd build date KR would have the blue stripe teakwood knob with the gold shift pattern mounted to the console.

Thanks for all the good info.

Don
gt350bp

Title: Re: 4-spd KR's
Post by: TLea on January 10, 2022, 08:46:49 PM
I never say never but it is highly unlikely any KR 4spds got snake knob. My info comes from the gent that made them
Title: Re: 4-spd KR's
Post by: Bigfoot on January 10, 2022, 08:51:58 PM
Quote from: Coralsnake on January 10, 2022, 03:05:28 PM
What was intended and what happened are not the same.


Life........
Title: Re: 4-spd KR's
Post by: Side-Oilers on January 10, 2022, 11:01:13 PM
Quote from: TLea on January 10, 2022, 08:46:49 PM
I never say never but it is highly unlikely any KR 4spds got snake knob. My info comes from the gent that made them

Would that be Tom at ACSCO?   Good buddy of mine.
Title: Re: 4-spd KR's
Post by: shelbymann1970 on January 11, 2022, 09:50:35 AM
Thanks Pete and Tim. Have you guys ever seen the rounded 3 on 68 Shift knobs? I have yet to find out when the 3 changed from a flat 3 to a rounded 3. A Perkins article  in MM a long time ago about knobs talks about going to the darker grain around Jan of 1969(Diff part number IIRC?). Now on every original 68 shifter I have seen that still had a patina usually worn out knob had the flat 3 on it. Bought a flat 3 knob once off a guy who took it off his KR vert  as it was worn on the woodgrain and he replaced with an NOS one. Gary