Does anyone know what type of metal the shift rod is made out of?

I've rolled my shift boot down and know i like the look of seeing some metal I just hate the notch. So my solution was to take some half inch rod and bend it up like i need it then put a natural satin finish on it. I'd like to go up about 2 inches and back about half a foot...kinda going for an old school look to it. I was even thinking about flaring the end straight up and putting on a pistol grip shift ****. Maybe wood.

Prolly buy a short throw to kinda offset the added length too and so I'm not butchering my origional.

 

Please, don't torture your tC like that. A pistol grip shifter? Come on man...have some taste.

 

Torture!? HAHA I guess that would be different but just as bad as all the little ricers running around w/ their body kits and wings. Oh well.

 

I'm guessing the oem one is stainless steel? I know some aftermarket short shifters use billet aluminum. If the factory one is stainless then you can do some welding action.