Just can't leave them Chevy parts alone...

Something I hate about these cars is the headlight and windshield wiper knobs. I'm sure they looked fine when they were new, but after nearly 40 years mine looked like crap in all of my Mavericks. As I've scoured the junkyards, I've been on the lookout for some sort of other knob, preferably metal, that I could make work in place of the original knob.

A while back I came across a '63 Impala at the junkyard. It had these nice knobs in it that were chrome, and real metal. Unfortunately, I could only get one of the knobs off without destroying it.



Here is an original Maverick headlight knob I pulled from one of my parts cars. I'm sure most are familiar with it.



I used a marker to make a mark on the shaft so that I could reinstall the new knob at the same depth as the original.



I then crushed the crappy old plastic knob off with the vice. You can see the depth mark again.



The Impala knob has 8/32 threads inside of it. I ran a tap into the knob to clean out the threads in it. The Maverick shaft is a triangle shape and was too big. I grinded it down to more of a round shape with a dremel tool, then tapped 8/32 threads on it to match the Impala knob.



The Impala knob screwed on most of the way.



Installed in my '72 daily beater. The headlights are on in this pic.



Another shot with the headlights off. You can also see my '63 Corvair turnsignal lever, and my '65 Econoline fan/heater/defrost knobs.



A closer shot of the Econoline knobs. These are cast metal as well, and have allen head set screws to hold them on.

Now I need to find another '63 Impala knob to go on my windshield wiper switch.

Just thought I would share.

 

looks good, more retro look. nice work

 

I really like the Econoline heater knobs ... I have added that to my junkyard shopping list.

 

Looks great!
I'll be looking for Econoline knobs too.

 

Chevy parts?????? I'm ashamed to know you!!!!!
J/K

 

hey its fine...as long as you dont tell any chevy people lol i've got a GM balast resistor in mine....cuz you cant buy the ford balast wire anywhere around here

 

Nothing wrong with using parts from any source to improve the looks or handling of the Maverick. Gives us all some more options to look for. Besides I'd imagine a lot of the Chevy knobs are available aftermarket, so they would look new.

 

lol... i have a chrome pontiac turn signal lever, and ford bronco headlight and wiper knobs on mine.... ill see if i can get around to snapping a few pics of it...

and i'm running a GM style distributor....

 

Now you've done it. Its no longer original and your Barret Jackson hopes are gone.

 

Looks good. I replaced my wiper and headlights knobs, surprisingly, with off-the-shelf knobs from Autozone. They were the right size and shape, only difference is they're chromed plastic with no labels of any kind.

Here's what I'm using...

Wiper knob

Headlight knob

 

Ive got 1982 camaro seats in my comet.

 

This car on Barret Jackson. That would make a good April fools joke.

Ah, come on Ralph! You know you need a few Chevy parts on your car!! I think I've got a spare one wire alternator kickin' around here somewhere.

 

I have the knobs in the second link you posted for the headlights and the wipers. I got them off the shelf from Advance Auto Parts.

 

Hey Jamie, nice Tach, I'm running the same one in mine, just in a slighty different spot.

 

I have one of the SuperTach ll's, with a white face. Good, reliable tach.