A Key development…

I planned for the build to be unique.  I had the idea of the screw driver shifter knob right about time I got the truck when I discovered the original knob was missing.

Here you see the shift knob I made from a Stanley screwdriver

The end of the original shift lever is knurled, likely to help the handle stay on, which it didn’t.

It was a rather simple install.  I found an acceptable screw driver new at the local flea market for a buck.  I went extra cheap in case I screwed up the first try.  I actually bought two because I didn’t expect the first try to work so well.

I heated the Stanley driver shaft until I could pull it out of the handle.  I then drilled the handle out to the appropriate size for a very tight fit for the knurled end.  I heated the lever arm knurl end and “melted” it into the Stanley handle.

It was a while later that I decided a screwdriver key would be a nice match and keep with the “theme”.

After the deed. It’s SO tiny and cute!

Finding another matching Stanley driver in a small enough format was not possible.  I came across these cheap little Chinese drivers on Amazon quite some time later.

At less than a couple bucks, I thought it was worth a try.  They took a while to get here from over seas and even though I knew from the ad that they were small, I was a bit surprised and thrilled they were as small as they were.

Cheap tiny Chinese screwdrivers from Amazon.

I couldn’t get a color to match the Stanley, but this was close.  I did similar with this as I did the shift lever knob.  I was able to easily pull the small bit from the handle with help of a vise and a good tug.

I did have a duplicate key made (the most expensive part of this detail).  I cut the key down to appropriate size with the ol’ angle grinder,  marked the maximum depth with it in the ignition.  Then inserted into the vice for a little propane torch heat.  After good and hot, I pushed the Little screw driver handle onto the key stub.

Next was to screw in an eye hook to the key ring attachment.  Appropriate hole was drilled in the center and screwed the cheap little Lowe’s supplied eye hook into place.  Done.

Perfect fit into the ignition.
On the keyring with the Philips bit driver.

If I can get a duplicate of the door key,  I may do similar with the second (now a Phillips) green handle.

Compared to original driver.
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