Miata Mailing List: September 1995, Message #141
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   From: phredd@infi.net
Subject: VooDoo Mods!
   Date: Mon, 4 Sep 1995 16:18:54 -0400

        Eddie:

        You are so right!

        After I cut the neck off my VooDoo knob, it changed its whole
personality. I can really get a grip now.

        What I did was to cut the neck off as close to the sphere proper as
I could with a hack saw. Then, I ground it closer to flush with a bench
grinder.
        Then I took a hand file to it to further even the "donut" surface
around the shaft hole. I got that as even as I could (I don't know whether
the shaft hole in my particular example was a bit off center or my surface
plane wasn't where it should be --- the remaining vestigial neck flange
*felt* the same all 'round) but I got it close enough even though the
circles weren't concentrically perfiect to the eye.
        Then I took some 320 grit to it wrapped around a 1x2.
        Then I finished it with some 600 grit the same way. It almost looks
plated!
        To his credit. VooDoo Bob's crinkle powder coat never chipped nor
behaved in any way other than the outer skin of the knob. A perfect edge.

        It's too bad the mod is on the underside and will never be seen.

        But, the improvement in the *feel* is incredible! Now I can grab
the knob all round without that big, fat neck forcing its way in between my
fingers. It feels great! All I get is the approximate .25" (I know I should
be giving you these figures in mm but, screw it. These are approximations!)
of the top of the shift lever between my fingers.

        If you want to, you can bend over and see the top half of the
conical area of the lever and a bit of the final diameter of the top shaft
before the threads start between the new bottom of the ball and the boot
but, I don't find this objectionable. It is, afterall, painted black. If I
really wanted to be anal about it (is it possible to be more so?) I could
paint this exposed area with crinkle finish to match the ball. Come to
think of it, it might even look better chrome plated!

        Anyway, even if it looked like sh*t, it is a joy to use now. I may
even abandon plans to shorten the assembly by cutting down the threaded
length.

        Let me know if you have any further thoughts.

        Keep the revs up!

        Phredd



        PS:  'Sorry I lost your address. 'Hope you find this.

        PPS:  'Sorry to all others for the clutter.

        PPPS:  This modification dedicated to Lorena!



----------------------------------------------------------------------------

        Fred Donour, Jr. ~ Norfolk, Virginia ~ XCIII RED A
        Team MCA (theoretically) ~ Team VooDoo (fer sure)
        License Plate (rear only, of course) "MX-5"

        God's Miata is Red!