• Hello Guest, welcome to the initial stages of our new platform!
    You can find some additional information about where we are in the process of migrating the board and setting up our new software here

    Thank you for being a part of our community!

Removing early 240 plastic shift knob

TestPoint

Active member
Joined
Jul 15, 2009
Location
Ellijay
Often when detailing nearly 40 year old interior plastic there is a need to refinish the shift console which can be very time consuming because it is very difficult to remove plastic shift knob without any clue as to how it all comes apart.

The top cover simply snaps off and is only held on by a tab/grove connection. Pry it off with a blade screwdriver careful to not mar the plastic too much.

The center park release knob is removed by pressing down on the white plastic disk under it to release the spring pressure and then sliding the knob to the rear.

The lower half of the shift knob is only a friction fit. But there is a lot of friction there. It took a couple of 8" 'C' clamps and some wood jigs to get it off.

edited-image_8.png


The top of the shift stalk has gaps to hold the knob straight and corresponding notches in the plastic. That made using a round 1/4" drive 5/16" deep well socket difficult to push the shaft through the plastic.

20190205_103724.jpg


20190204_171005.jpg


To do it over again I would grind the throw-a-way 1/4" drive deep socket to match the shift shaft cuts and then it would have been easy to push off.

Just in case you break the reverse release button at the top of the stalk the OEM Volvo part number is 381813 (thanks to hiperfauto).

The knob is off, the shift console is apart.

edited-image_7.png


Got a new 0.08mm/100ml spray gun ready to shoot the several pieces.
 
Last edited:
interior

Great Stuff - I don't have tan interior but almost every parts car or pick & pull specimen I have seen in tan is brittle or broken plastic interior. This looks like a great solution to extend the life of some tan parts (other colors too, but particularly tan). :nod:
 
The shift console was not particularly deteriorated but wasn't very pretty. Really difficult location to paint it in place.

The tan does become much more brittle with sun and age especially the dash and package shelf. Find blue or black and paint it.
 
Top cover and park unlock button removal

Before you get to the point to removing the lower plastic from the shift shaft you will need to remove the top half and the park unlock button.

The top half of the knob is simply a snap fit that careful use of a blade screwdriver will remove. It just snaps off.

The push button is a little more complex. The button has a molded in connector at its bottom that is designed to slide onto the metal shaft and hold it in place.

Below the button is a white nylon piece that retains the spring below and locks the button onto the shaft. The button is released by pushing down on the white piece with a screwdriver or other metal rod and sliding the button off.

When reinstalling note that the shift stalk must be in the park position in order to allow the interior shaft to rise high enough.

edited-image_13.png


edited-image_12.png
 
Last edited:
Back
Top