I've purchased a couple of shifter knobs for my '85GT, a Grand Prix (snake head) version a year or so ago, and a Camaro version just recently. I was looking for a leather, OEM like knob, that was significantly smaller than the stock Fiero knob. I like the snake head but it didn't turn out to be much if any smaller just a different shape. I really like this new Camaro knob.

I probably wouldn't have spent money for the snake head had I realized how large it was but "too soon old, too late smart". With that in mind I thought I'd post some pictures comparing the size of the three for the benefit of others that might be interested.


Left to Right: Camaro knob, Grand Prix (Snake Head) knob, Fiero knob



I should add that even though the locking clip holes are located at different places in the knob, that simply sets the height of the knob on the shifter lever. No modifications are necessary to install either of these replacement knobs.




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RickN
White 88GT 5spd
White 85GT Auto
White 99 F250SD 7.3PSD 6spd
1956 Ford 860 w/ Freeman Loader

[This message has been edited by RickN (edited 10-29-2007).]

Camaro ,far away but no one can choose for you,in a small cab like fiero the larger object will sometime get in the way

Hey um... you don't like the fiero shifter? I'll take it off your hands...

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1984 Fiero SE, White, first love, sold...
1986 Fiero SE 2M6, gold
1988 Fiero 2M4, the Fox
1987 Fiero GT, Blue, 3.4/4T40
Still looking for that perfect CJB 88 GT...

quote Originally posted by fierodeletre: Hey um... you don't like the fiero shifter? I'll take it off your hands...

Thanks for the offer but I'm keeping all the original stuff for a possible future return to stock. It's not that I don't like it, it's more that it's just so out of proportion, size wise, to the car. It looks just like the shifter knob in my wife's '99 TrailBlazer.

Here's a leather wrapped Corvette auto shifter (pictured without button). It looks like a nice size and shape. Has anyone used one of these in their Fiero?

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3.4L S/C 87 GT www.fierosound.com
2002/2003/2004 World of Wheels Winner &
Multiple IASCA Stereo Award Winner

Those 3 shifter handles represent an evolution over time. The oldest is the T-handle shifter, used in the early/mid 80s. In the late 80s, it was replaced with the top-button style. In the mid 90s, that one was replaced with the snake-head. If you look at cars in a salvage yard, you'll see that most small/mid size GM cars from each time period will have the corresponding type of shifter handle. This includes the F-bodies. I'm not sure about the Corvettes, though. I don't see many of them in salvage yards.

[This message has been edited by Blacktree (edited 10-29-2007).]

personaly i like the camaro knob

Blacktree, my Dad's 97 WS6 TA vert has a shifter almost exactly like my fiero's. I've seen 02 with the same one. However, my buddy's 97 3.8 camaro has the top button style. Here's an '02:

same fiero shifter. Maybe a Pontiac thing?

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1984 Fiero SE, White, first love, sold...
1986 Fiero SE 2M6, gold
1988 Fiero 2M4, the Fox
1987 Fiero GT, Blue, 3.4/4T40
Still looking for that perfect CJB 88 GT...

[This message has been edited by fierodeletre (edited 10-29-2007).]

That's interesting. I guess my junkyard observations were a bit off.

But I have seen the top-button type in lots of late 80s / early 90s GM cars, including the Beretta, Corsica, Grand Am, and Camaro. The top-button shifter in my Fiero (not leather) came from a Corsica. I've also seen the snake-head type in 4th-gen Camaros, and a couple other midsize cars (Grand Prix and Lumina, I think?).

I've seen a different type of T-handle handle in some of the mid/large size GM cars (Cutlass, Bonneville, etc). It's more squarish than the Fiero shifter.

It's funny how they took the second-gen fiero prototype's cues for the 4th gen firebird, and they also took its shifter of all things...up to the bitter end. What I wouldn't give for a 5th gen bird.

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1984 Fiero SE, White, first love, sold...
1986 Fiero SE 2M6, gold
1988 Fiero 2M4, the Fox
1987 Fiero GT, Blue, 3.4/4T40
Still looking for that perfect CJB 88 GT...

I've got the same Camaro knob. I've also got a gray vinyl version of the same knob.
I believe there was also another style 80s Camaro knob. It was perfectly round. Almost looked like an 8 ball. Had a round button in the top. Not very common, though.

I didn't like the stock T-bar shifter either. Most others sometimes look oversized for the Fiero's console.

I went with an 84 Corvette dark-grey leather wrapped shifter and shortened the steel shaft by 1-inch. The knob matches the dark-grey of the interior. I got a new soft-leather shift boot from Dickman.

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3.4L S/C 87 GT www.fierosound.com
2002/2003/2004 World of Wheels Winner &
Multiple IASCA Stereo Award Winner
My SD4 Indy www.fiero.nl/forum/Forum2/HTML/096075.html

When I bought my '86 GT in the spring (my first automatic Fiero which I don't particularly care for), I was surprised at the sheer size of the shifter knob. Good gawd, who designed this large ugly thing?

One of the first things I did was buy a Camaro shifter knob off eBay. Best $2.25 (plus $4.99 shipping) I've ever spent!

Olds Alero style shifter. Bit higher than the stock one, but kind of nice. Has a groove in it for the shift boot to slide up and over.



Also was looking at the snake head style myself, but still like the Alero one better...

All of these knobs look OK to me but my preference is for the stock T handle. The T handle is a throwback to my racing days when I drove a stick with a Hurst competiton shifter and and T handle with finger grips. As they say "beauty is in the eye of the beholder". Since my Fiero has a Rosewood dash I would like to find a matching Rosewood T handle. IMO that would dress up the shifter quite nicely,

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87GT - 3800SC Series III engine, 3.4" Pulley, N* TB, LS1 MAF, Flotech Exhaust Autolite 104's Custom CAI 4T65eHD w. custom axles, HP Tuners VCM Suite.
87GT - 3.4L Turbocharged engine, modified TH125H
" I'M ON THE LOOSE WITHOUT THE JUICE "

quote Originally posted by Dennis LaGrua: All of these knobs look OK to me but my preference is for the stock T handle. The T handle is a throwback to my racing days when I drove a stick with a Hurst competiton shifter and and T handle with finger grips. As they say "beauty is in the eye of the beholder". Since my Fiero has a Rosewood dash I would like to find a matching Rosewood T handle. IMO that would dress up the shifter quite nicely,

I see there a finger grip T-bar shifter on eBay http://c gi.ebay.com/ebaymot...C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318



Is this a rosewood look? http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymot...C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318

[This message has been edited by fierosound (edited 11-15-2008).]

IMO I'd opt for something more modern, buy a MOMO. The auto shifters come in two styles.

Here's the gun metal/silver;


Black Leather/chrome


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"Friends don't let friends drive stock"

[This message has been edited by madcurl (edited 11-15-2008).]

quote Originally posted by Patrick: When I bought my '86 GT in the spring (my first automatic Fiero which I don't particularly care for), I was surprised at the sheer size of the shifter knob. Good gawd, who designed this large ugly thing?

My point exactly. I wasn't particularly fond of the common alternatives either. The Corvette one suits me fine.

quote Originally posted by fierosound:

Yep, other than a shifter knob for a manual, that one looks the best in a Fiero cabin (from among easily obtainable, relatively inexpensive factory shifter knobs).

Another option is to use the 2008 auto from Corvette.


Here's a close-up of the leather MOMO auto.

I have tried all three. What I like most is that they interchange so whenever my mood changes I just change the knob. Why decide on one when you can have whichever one hits your fancy on any given day. Only taake 30 seconds or so to change.

will this shifter work?



heres a link...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymot...fPartsQ5fAccessories

I havent tried this yet, but when I was a kid my mom had a 83 celebrity with a console and a t-handle shifter, as I remember It was very slender compared to the one in the Fiero, might look ok with a little leather wrapped around it. Might have been a special package like a CL or something like that.