Ever since I replaced my Hurst ball shifter handle with the 1970’s pistol grip shifter handle, I’ve wanted to swap the original plastic simulated wood handles with real wood. I’ve found this to be way harder then it should be as the only company who use to produce these no longer have the ability to do so. I’m told their hand carver passed away several years ago and they’ve been trying ever since to find an affordable way to do this with modern technology.
Well after many months and many phone calls, I was about to give up until I found a company that produces hand made wood products for trucks and they where up for the challenger. While I can’t give out their name it was expensive but well worth the price.
The only problem, was I was unable to send them the actual handle. I could only send them my second set of carbon fiber grips (sic). The process took only a week and they came close but I had to put in a few hours of grinding and resanding them a bit .. a lot
As you can see here the new wooden grips where much thinker and did not follow the contour. Also even the original plastic grips (wood and carbon fiber) where off a bit when installed onto the handle. Thus I wanted to tweak the final product a bit anyways. I’ve never done this kind of wood work before so I was a bit hesitant to ruin a very expensive and hard to get piece.
Well after 3 hours late last night I think I got them perfect. Ran to Home Depot this morning to pickup some fine sandpaper, stain and wood putty and am currently in between coats of polyurethane. Once finished I’ll post more photos before and after installed.
Update: added some “almost finished images” need about 3-4 more coats of polyurethane
