Tools are a nice addition, but I would think that would add to the price by quite a bit. I think I can find what I need in my tool box. I think companys should offer it as an additional small fee, for those that need and those that dont!

 

Just another quick update here.
Things are going nicely, I have been tweaking the design slightly to get things to fit and work as good as possible. I have a bit more time to work on this now so hopefully I should have something soon (I know I keep saying that but things are moving).

Tools
As for tools required, If you look at page 2 of this thread it explains how to install and remove the original shifter and that doesn't require any special tools. My design requires a small allen wrench to install and I had planned to make those available to those who need them (more details later when things are finalized).


Leather
I personally have no contacts to get leather put on these things. I posted some time ago asking if anyone wanted to/could look into this and I didn't get a response from anyone. The issue with adding the leather is that its going to increase the price and I am currently doing everything I can to simplify the design and machining to keep the cost down at this point.


Mechanism
What I really could use (***and please someone help me out here***) is help finding a used shifter mechanism. I have called all kinds of salvage yards around here and haven't come up with anything and I looked all over online. It would really be helpful to have the actual mechanism that the shifter goes on (whole thing) in order to test the fit and function of each shifter (this wont replace people testing them but will allow me to test fit them). Getting this from a dealer is an option, but its a costly option and a last resort. So if anyone can help me on this please contact me ASAP!!! (broken003@juno.com).
How about this (as a reward) a free billet shifter for anyone who helps me get that shifter mechanism???

 

Ichibahn makes some awesome, and inexpensive, shifter *****. I just picked one up on eBay and it's very nice.

 

I'am Interested.

 

Yeah.... another critic...... just what this forum needs. You knew what I was talking about didn't you? I think that this is a great idea for a shifter, only thing that I said that for is that a leather wrapped would be more to my liking just because of what I said, it gets hot here in the summer and touching bare metal that has been baking in the sun for the better part of the day is not my idea of fun.

 

The cheap plastic shifter was almost the deal breaker for me. I'm in.

 

Everyone,

Let me explain where things stand on this topic since this will probably be the last you hear of this item from me on the f150online message boards. I plan to continue to work on the shifter but posting anything about the design or a potential future product is not allowed on this site.

First let me say that I didn't start this thread and according to the rules never should have gone as far as it did.

The other day I contacted a moderator asking if it would be possible for me to post an email address for people interested to send messages expressing interest in the shifter because this thread has gotten long and cluttered and its hard to understand how many people are interested. If/when things ever get far enough, the number of people interested will have a large influence on the availability and price of the final item. If many people expressed interest I had planned to look into having it made in quantity and trying to pass that savings on. If few were interested I had planed to do all the work myself as having a large shop do the work is only cost effective if you need a large quantity of parts.

The moderator contacted Steve (webmaster) and the reply I got was that I should contact the F150 online store or current supporting vendors to see if they will carry the item.
There are a couple problems with this
1) the online store sounds like they only deal with items they feel they well sell in large quantity.
2) This item is very complex and everything has been done to keep the cost to a minimum, I feel that you would be hard pressed to find a machine shop able to provide these items (in limited quantity) for the price that I'm shooting for. Adding anything to the price to sell them through another site only makes the shifter more cost prohibitive.
3) I assume most places will want these items in a large quantity which *might* only happen one day if the demand is there. I had planned to keep the upfront financial investment to a minimum and produce these items as time permits.

The moderator also mentioned becoming a supporting vendor and I asked Steve what that takes. Well it sounds like I sort of qualify since I have been a member of the site for years, though it was mentioned that it is very cost prohibitive and also that they aren't accepting any supporting vendors at this time.....so it looks like that option is out. Becoming a supporting vendor would be the only way I would be able to discuss "my product" (which I really consider more of a "f150 online.com members product"....because of the way this unfolded)....but that's not my call.

It was also mentioned to me that the current posts have been geared toward my product. From my understanding (after being reprimanded on another topic) that discussion was fine as long as group purchases or sales were not discussed. I felt that I had turned this thread around after many of the initial posts which specifically talk about dollar amounts. But as I understand it now its not appropriate to even discuss an item that might one day be for sale. Specifically it was described like this

"The reason we generally do not allow this on the forums is that there is
always an end-goal for test marketing, specifically to end up with a
product that can be sold. The people that express an interest during
the test marketing phase continue to express interest and ask about a
product once it has been brought to market and at that point vendors
inevitably use our forums for marketing and promotion. Simply stated,
it never stops at the test market phase because of the nature of our
audience. That is what aim to reduce, if not eliminate, through our
vendor rules."

I guess I had looked at this as member's project and I was offering my skills and time for the benefit of those interested. I thought there was a benefit to only the F150online.com members for this item since this is the only place that I have posted or mentioned anything about it. I took this project on because I love a challenge, I love to learn, and I love working with people to create the exact custom part they are looking for. Any money made from this project would only be going to paying me for my time (much less $'s/hour than any machine shop charges). As a contributing member I was going to let the board benefit from that by creating an item that they want, one that doesn't, exist, and providing it at a price that can't be beat. Just look at the cost of a billet column shifter ( I have seen many for easily over $100) and then consider that this part is MUCH, MUCH more complex than that item.

I totally respect the webmaster and moderators and I understand where they are coming from on this issue. They need to protect their paying vendors. I just wished things could have turned out better because I feel there is much more benefit for the members than consequences, but again that's not my call.

As of right now the plan is to continue work on this shifter and eventually figure out how to get this item out for people to buy without using the F150online.com site to advertise or update on the status of the design.

 

I know where you're coming from. A few years back, people were wanting 5.4 fender badges as there were none available aftermarket. I made a few for myself and people on this board were wanting them. After the cost of material and the cost of shop time I would make virtually nothing on these things. Then the webmaster jumped in and stopped everything. It's his show so that was the end of that. I can understand if you're trying to run a business through this site, but to try and help other members get something they can't get anywhere else is another thing. The other thing I don't understand is, I can show some nice aftermarket product I have and people will want to know where I got it and I can post a link right to the web page, in essence, advertising for said company. Thus giving them more business and profits without being a 'supporting vendor'. How can this be okay and what you're doing is not? Heck, one of our moderators prefers a certain line of car care products and he promotes them all the time on hundreds of threads. I'm sure he's steered alot of business their way without being a 'supporting vendor'. Sometimes it just doesn't pay to try to help people out as other people are afraid your going to get 'rich' in the process.
If anyone in this thread wants to email you about getting one of these, all they have to do is click on your profile and send you an email.

 

This is a "hobby" for most of us, I have been tinkering with my wheels since putting playing cards in my bike spokes & cutting up a steering wheel for handle bars. I enjoy sharing everything I know as most do in all hobbies. If supporting vendors don't have what we want, can't get what we want or its not cost effective for them, remove the handcuffs. What makes this & many hobbies great is the ingenuity we have & our willingness to share. If I'm out of line as a junior member I apologize.

 

Now I could be a **** and make a witty comment, but I wont. I wont exploit your brisk period of time here on this message board or your lesser point count. I just wanted to make it clear that the part that was mentioned, was actually named something else. Not being a critic, but attempting to broadcast correct information. Something this fourm DOES need! If thats what I am (ie. correct info), so be it!

~Colby

 

Of course I did! I owned the car for three years! Would I have corrected you if I didn't? But the question is, did anyone else know what you were talking about?! Evidently not since I was the first to correct you...

 

"And now... Back to your regularly scheduled boredom!"

 

***********Fieldman and dmitry *************

if you are still reading this thread please email me. You can send a message directly to me by clicking on the profile button on the bottom of my post.

 

Did anything come of this? I am definetly interested. I just bought an 06 FTX 3 weeks ago. The cheap plastic shifter got a burr on it and actually sliced my thumb about a 1/2" long by 1/4" deep. Please let me know. I realize this post is from 04' but I like the idea.

 

I took one of the "bullet" mustangs for a test drive a few years ago during the summer and I thought I had burnt the shift pattern into my hand.
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