Appearance & Detailing Interior & Exterior Appearance Modifications

Better A/C knobs for T/A's

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jan 13, 2005 | 10:08 AM
  #1  
JasonWW's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Senior Member
20 Year Member
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 6,814
Likes: 3
From: Hou. TX.
Default Better A/C ***** for T/A's

Hey guys, I have a 99 T/A and I have always been minorly annoyed by those short ***** on the A/C (HVAC or climate) controls. There's nothing to grab on to.

I noticed MBA made some from billet aluminum but I thought they would look out of place in my car, plus they cost about $27 each.

So I did some digging around and found some better ones. They are the same shape as the camaro ***** but are the gray color like stock, are rubber coated like stock and light up orange like stock. They are the same ones from the 96-98 Pontiac Grand Am, part # 16204959. They run about $13 ea. from my local dealer and about $7-$8 from GM Parts Direct.

You have to file or grind off one little tab on the back side of it to slide it all the way on. Once done, it fits nice and firm like stock. Man, they feel a lot better, too.

I'll try and find one for the headlights next.

Jason
Reply
Old Jan 13, 2005 | 10:09 AM
  #2  
JasonWW's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Senior Member
20 Year Member
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 6,814
Likes: 3
From: Hou. TX.
Default

I finally got some pics. See how much more grip you can get on them? Nice. Looks like factory as well.
Name:  NewACknobs4.jpg
Views: 1995
Size:  82.5 KB

Here's the old *****. Notice your fingers grip it in the middle which reduces your leverage.
Name:  OldACknobs.jpg
Views: 1587
Size:  46.2 KB
Reply
Old Jan 16, 2005 | 02:17 AM
  #3  
FBDYLVR's Avatar
TECH Resident
20 Year Member
iTrader: (14)
 
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 779
Likes: 3
From: Laguna Hills, CA
Default

I like them, I really don't understand why the Camaros got better ***** than the T/As!

Last edited by FBDYLVR; Jan 16, 2005 at 11:43 PM.
Reply
Old Jan 16, 2005 | 06:22 AM
  #4  
PongoX11's Avatar
TECH Fanatic
20 Year Member
iTrader: (15)
 
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,293
Likes: 0
From: ThirteenHundredPostsVille, CA
Default

Originally Posted by FBDYLVR
I like them, I really don't understand why the Camaros got better ***** than the T/As!
Seriously, TAs got BETTER EVERYTHING!

(awaits flame)

Reply
Old Jan 17, 2005 | 05:07 AM
  #5  
BoneSS's Avatar
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (9)
 
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 1,371
Likes: 0
From: Ashland, KY
Default

Nope, pretty much the truth. I envy your seats.
Reply
Old Jan 17, 2005 | 06:09 PM
  #6  
xpaciscool's Avatar
Teching In
 
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
Default

i read somewhere that you can take off the rubber part, and it is clear underneath, and it glows red. Is that true, or are those aftermarket *****? Also are their any other aftermarket ***** that will fit our cars besides the mba ones??
Reply
Old Jan 17, 2005 | 06:43 PM
  #7  
JasonWW's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Senior Member
20 Year Member
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 6,814
Likes: 3
From: Hou. TX.
Default

Not true.

The Camaro ***** can be done that way and end up blue.

There may be some other Pontiac ***** like that, but I don't know from what car they are from.
Reply
Old Jan 17, 2005 | 08:02 PM
  #8  
StoleIt's Avatar
NKAWTG...N
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 4,759
Likes: 0
From: Wichita, KS
Default

Originally Posted by FBDYLVR
I like them, I really don't understand why the Camaros got better ***** than the T/As!
hey we have to be able to brag about something
Reply
LS1 Tech Stories

The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time

story-0

Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-2

Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

 
story-5

Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

 
story-9

10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Jan 17, 2005 | 09:04 PM
  #9  
Mike98WS6's Avatar
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (5)
 
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 1,645
Likes: 0
From: Palm Coast, FL
Default

Those ***** do look alittle better than the stock POS's. I might give it a try.
Reply
Old Jan 18, 2005 | 05:51 AM
  #10  
endo's Avatar
TECH Apprentice
 
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 308
Likes: 0
From: Socal
Default

If all GM ***** have the same mount, I'd highly recommend getting the ***** from an 2002 Escalade. I don't have any experience w/ F-bodies, but I did put these ***** in my '01 pickup (now sold), and I was very happy with them both in terms of looks and function.

Reply
Old Jan 18, 2005 | 07:02 AM
  #11  
JasonWW's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Senior Member
20 Year Member
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 6,814
Likes: 3
From: Hou. TX.
Default

They are all different. I couldn't even find one **** that would slip right into place of the stock ones. The ones I ended up using had to have a small notch filed down on the rear.

The headlight was even tougher. I ended up using the same **** as above and cutting the shaft off, shortning it and glueing it back together.
Reply
Old Jan 18, 2005 | 04:47 PM
  #12  
rufretic's Avatar
10 Second Club
iTrader: (37)
 
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 1,935
Likes: 0
Default

Originally Posted by FBDYLVR
I like them, I really don't understand why the Camaros got better ***** than the T/As!
I agree, thats why I now have camaro *****. Lucky for me they light up blue like the rest of my interrior lighting.
Attached Thumbnails Better A/C knobs for T/A's-knobs.gif  
Reply
Old Jan 18, 2005 | 05:14 PM
  #13  
Derek98z's Avatar
12 Second Club
iTrader: (55)
 
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 1,783
Likes: 0
From: Raymore, MO
Default

very cool mod
Reply
Old Jan 18, 2005 | 06:34 PM
  #14  
PewterNHRA2001's Avatar
TECH Regular
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 422
Likes: 0
Default

if you peel the rubber off the ***** from a 99 or up grand am they are clear/red underneath, during the day they are red, and at night they sorta red/orange. my friend has it done on his grand am and it looks real good. ill see this weekend if the grand am ones fit on my 01 trans am
Reply
Old Jan 18, 2005 | 06:42 PM
  #15  
JasonWW's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Senior Member
20 Year Member
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 6,814
Likes: 3
From: Hou. TX.
Default

Originally Posted by PewterNHRA2001
if you peel the rubber off the ***** from a 99 or up grand am they are clear/red underneath, during the day they are red, and at night they sorta red/orange. my friend has it done on his grand am and it looks real good. I'll see this weekend if the grand am ones fit on my 01 trans am
I'm pretty sure I checked those and they were not wanting to fit. But, let me know how far off they are if you think they will work. I'll look at the 99 up GA ***** myself if I can.
Reply
Old Jan 19, 2005 | 06:35 AM
  #16  
JackZ28's Avatar
TECH Veteran
 
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 4,469
Likes: 3
From: NW Houston
Default

The Camaro ***** are clear underneath too, but at night it's horrific the way they light up.
Reply
Old Jan 19, 2005 | 10:52 PM
  #17  
Tranzaman00's Avatar
TECH Resident
 
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 813
Likes: 0
From: It's hard work to look this good
Default

Trans am ***** are white underneath the rubber
Reply
Old Mar 20, 2005 | 11:30 PM
  #18  
FBDYLVR's Avatar
TECH Resident
20 Year Member
iTrader: (14)
 
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 779
Likes: 3
From: Laguna Hills, CA
Default

I just picked up 4 of these from the local pick a part... man these are GREAT!!! All I had to do was cut off the little tab w/ a pair of wire cutters and sand it down smooth.
Reply
Old Mar 20, 2005 | 11:52 PM
  #19  
2MuchRiceMakesMeSick's Avatar
TECH Senior Member
 
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 6,157
Likes: 1
From: Texas
Default

Originally Posted by FBDYLVR
I just picked up 4 of these from the local pick a part... man these are GREAT!!! All I had to do was cut off the little tab w/ a pair of wire cutters and sand it down smooth.
Ive never seen anyone get so excited over *****.
Reply
Old Mar 20, 2005 | 11:57 PM
  #20  
FBDYLVR's Avatar
TECH Resident
20 Year Member
iTrader: (14)
 
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 779
Likes: 3
From: Laguna Hills, CA
Default

I ended up spending $2 for 4 *****... pulled them from a 96-ish Grand Am? or Grand Prix or something along those lines.
Reply



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 03:09 PM.

story-0
Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

Slideshow: This heavily modified 1971 Camaro mixes classic muscle car styling with a fifth-generation Camaro interior and modern LS3 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:06:42


VIEW MORE
story-1
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

Slideshow: From wobbling harmonic balancers to failed EBCMs, these are the issues that define long-term C5 ownership and what repairs typically involve.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-07 18:44:57


VIEW MORE
story-2
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

Slideshow: A modern Camaro transformed into a retro icon, this limited-run "Bandit" build blends nostalgia with brute force in a way few revivals manage.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-21 13:57:02


VIEW MORE
story-3
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

Slideshow: Cadillac didn't just crash the high-performance luxury vehicle party, it showed up loud, supercharged, and occasionally a little unhinged...

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-16 10:05:15


VIEW MORE
story-4
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

Slideshow: Top ten most powerful Chevy trucks ever made

By | 2026-03-25 09:22:26


VIEW MORE
story-5
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

Slideshow: Hennessey has turned the Silverado ZR2 into a 700-hp off-road monster with supercharged V8 power and a limited production run.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-24 18:57:52


VIEW MORE
story-6
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

Slideshow: A one-off sports car that looks like a vintage Italian exotic-but hides a C6 Corvette underneath-just sold for the price of a new mid-engine Corvette.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-23 18:53:41


VIEW MORE
story-7
Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

Slideshow: A heavily reworked 1972 K5 Blazer swaps its off-road roots for a low-slung street-focused build with modern V8 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-09 18:08:45


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There are thousands of used Camaros on the market but we think you should avoid these 10

By | 2026-02-17 17:09:30


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die

Slideshows: Which one of these myths do you believe?

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-28 18:10:11


VIEW MORE