I need help asap on removing my shift knob! Help!.

[andrave]

I am putting in a new clutch tomorrow, not that big of a deal... but I got to screw my shiftknob off ( like every other shift knob I have every taken off ) and guess what?  it doesn't come off.  Consult the chiltons and it says remove trim piece and remove the ring around the shifter below the boot.  I do this, and both the boot and the knob are still on there pretty good.  There is a plastic ring on the shift knob at this point, and I try and pry it off.. It broke (whoops, didn't seem important anyway) but everything is still just as stuck on as it was before!
I though "well, it IS an 89, maybe its just stuck" and gave it some elbow grease and the leather shift knob cover started sliding and I think the shift knob got a little wobbly or something but it still isn't turning at all.
Can someone please tell me what I'm doing wrong???
I can't figure this out and I feel like an idiot.  I did a search but I can't find any info on it.
Thanks!

[s14slide]

put a pair of vise grips on the shifter after you get the boot up so it won't turn, and crank that knob off. &nbsp;I had the same problem w/ mine and as soon as I put the vise grips on the shifter to keep it from twisting the knob "broke free" and came right off. &nbsp;Don't just twist it w/ out something to grip the shifter as there are two tabs on the ball part of the shifter that can snap off and fall into your tranny. &nbsp;That would be bad, very bad. &nbsp;Use two peeps if you have to. &nbsp;Good luck w/ your work. <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/thumbs-up.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':thumbsup:'>

[andrave]

whew, thanks for the help. &nbsp;I read that, went straight out to the car. &nbsp;
the vice grip was slipping on the shaft so I used one of those rubber things old ladies use to open jars between the pliers and the shifter. &nbsp;I ended up tearing off the leather cover over the shift knob (damnit, I liked its baseball stitching and quick to warm in the winter leather skin. &nbsp; <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':('> ). &nbsp;
then I ended up having to put another pair of vice grips around the shift knob (ripping the rubber cover at the base), bracing my knee against the bottom pliers to prevent the shaft from moving, and pulling on the top one with both arms... and after I finally broke it loose, it took pliers to turn it the next 10 or 20 turns... good god, nissan, what the hell were you thinking? &nbsp;
anyway now I want to know if there is someplace I can find an inexpensive shift knob to thread on to the stock shift to replace my now disfigured knob. &nbsp;any ideas?
no set screws... been there, done that with other cars, they just plain don't work.

[ezupguy]

should be able the pick one up at any import shop. Standard metric threads.