I am in the process of adding two gauges to my X (an air pressure gauge and a voltmeter) and planned on putting them in the console where the spare lighter outlet is in front of the shifters. This required me to build a small dash plate for it and to put in the gauges I have to remove the entire center console up to the base of the radio to cut out the console in preparation for the plate I am making. This required the removal of the transfer case knob and having heard stories here regarding getting it off, I took it to my local dealer to see if they could get it off. Well, to make a long story short, they couldn't. First a little guy tried and gave up. Then a big old Harley rider type tried it and he gave up.

I took the truck back to work and tried it myself, and on the first try it wouldn't budge. But on the second try I tried something different and it worked. I laid across the two seats from the drivers side. I reached backward toward the knob and grabbed it with both hands. This gave me the leverage I needed to put unbelievable torque on the knob and it twisted better than 45 degrees, almost to the point I thought it was going to rip. But in short order, it popped loose. If anyone is trying to remove the shift knob and needs to keep it intact, this is apparently the way to do it. You have to have a serious grip, but it can be done without destroying the knob.

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Gordon "The Warmonger" White

Sounds like the nissan gorilla(tm) strikes again. Congratulations on getting it off in one piece. Cutting the knob off is the only other alternative. FWIW, the threads on the TC shaft are the same as the 5-speed shaft. 10mm x 1.25 pitch. So replacing the original factory knob with something else is no problem.

dave and Xtoy - we made two new ones

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I've been thinking of gauges myself, I'm real curious how your mod turns out. I tried several pod units to the front pillar, but nothing would fit without looking like a patch job. I'm now playing with the idea of 2 short barrel pods, mounted to the holes where the grab handle is. Are you going to bother tilting the gauges up for line of sight ?

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member of http://www.soxc.org
http://www.geocities.com/x_canuk

Here in Canada (at Canadian Tire), we can get a rubber band type wrench called a Boa Constrictor. You adjust it to size, and as you pull on the wrench, it acts like a lever and squeezes and turns whatever you are trying to get loose. Because it is rubber, it will not damage the knob, and it will grab on to it quite well while you turn it.

I imagine you can get them in the States somewhere.

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I think Sears has a similar product, but you would still need more leverage.. I had to cut my knobs off.

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member of http://www.soxc.org
http://www.geocities.com/x_canuk

What's the air pressure gauge for?

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Join the Xterra Offroad Webring

2000 Aztec Red 4x4 V-6 XE-3Pak
www.xterra4x4.com

In order to put the gauges in the location I wanted them, they had to be 1.5" gauges. BOY, was that a tough nut to crack! I easily found the 1.5" voltmeter at Summit Racing, but the air gauge was a pain in the butt. I finally found one thanks to an FLXX member at gaugestore.com. Unfortunately, it is not black and is not lit. But it fits. It's jsut not 100% aesthetically pleasing.

As for my reason for installing it, I am installing an on-board air system for airing tires and running my new air locker. As for angle, I should be able to see them just fine. I am putting them to the left of the lighter which will put the shifter out of the way. Keep in mind though that I have an auto, so there is no shift boot in my way.



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Gordon "The Warmonger" White

Have you check the air gauges used for air suspension systems, pretty sure the gauges for those come in black and lit.. remember them in a friend's 18wheeler ( check big rig trucking centers.. )

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member of http://www.soxc.org
http://www.geocities.com/x_canuk

xcanuk,

They are all 2 1/8" gauges. That is too big. No one makes a standard automotive-type gauge in 1.5".

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Gordon "The Warmonger" White