C1 Shifter Boot
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 5,001
Likes: 1,056
From: Arlington TX
2024 C1 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 Restomod of the Year Finalist
2023 C1 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
C1 Shifter Boot
The first shifter boot didn't last very long and the second one even less, two months. I bought both from the same repro house. Are these inferior quality or are all of them made that way? Are they rubber, would poly be better?
Any ideas?
Any ideas?
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 17,901
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From: Inverness FL
St. Jude Donor '07
my experience is that they suk...
is your stick rectangular or round? they don't work worth a crap with rectangular sticks...
FTF & Tomssilver60 have come up with better alternatives. I use a pleated boot for the rectangular stick.
Bill
is your stick rectangular or round? they don't work worth a crap with rectangular sticks...
FTF & Tomssilver60 have come up with better alternatives. I use a pleated boot for the rectangular stick.
Bill
Last edited by wmf62; Apr 26, 2016 at 12:32 AM.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 5,001
Likes: 1,056
From: Arlington TX
2024 C1 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 Restomod of the Year Finalist
2023 C1 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
I guess rectangular, it's the original '59 shifter. Where can I get this pleated boot? Does it last?
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 5,001
Likes: 1,056
From: Arlington TX
2024 C1 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 Restomod of the Year Finalist
2023 C1 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
You're right! That's how I realized it was ripped because of the heat coming in. Reading past threads, some used a leather one that they had made. That sounds like it would last. I wonder if I took my boot to a good upholsterer, if he could make one up?
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 58,061
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Army
Start here and read down the thread: https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...post1573120326
Don't forget the rubber grommet on top to finish things off (post #23)...this has been on my car now for 7 years and thousands of shifts...
Don't forget the rubber grommet on top to finish things off (post #23)...this has been on my car now for 7 years and thousands of shifts...
Last edited by Frankie the Fink; Apr 26, 2016 at 07:27 AM.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 58,061
Likes: 7,146
Army
My conversion to the Volvo boot was partly due to the reproduction shifter handle provided by Keisler as part of the 5-speed kit upgrade.
The repro handle is 1" taller and the original boot was overstretched and quickly failed. The pleated Volvo boot fixed that...frankly I think it looks better too
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Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 5,001
Likes: 1,056
From: Arlington TX
2024 C1 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 Restomod of the Year Finalist
2023 C1 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
How long have you had it on the car?
Last edited by 59BlueSilver; Apr 26, 2016 at 09:42 AM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 2,867
Likes: 195
From: Maryland
Installed correctly the new design w. the wire reinforcement will last a long time. Mine has lasted since 2004 and the shifter is a old Hurst .
Last edited by Donald #31176; Apr 26, 2016 at 09:26 AM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 867
Likes: 260
From: Hinesville, GA & Oswego, NY
The best shifter boot I have used comes from Rock Auto, I promise you in the last 35 years I have bought a bunch of repro shifter boots and they were all junk.
The boots from rock auto are somewhat heavier that the junk repos and last about 10 times as long, not to mention they only cost about 13 or 14 bucks each. Bill
The boots from rock auto are somewhat heavier that the junk repos and last about 10 times as long, not to mention they only cost about 13 or 14 bucks each. Bill
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 17,901
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From: Inverness FL
St. Jude Donor '07
the boot on the left is a hurst boot, the right one is a generic ebay one. I used a piece of plastic to eliminate the stick movement within the top pleat, might work for the hurst boot too.
Bill
Bill
Last edited by wmf62; Apr 26, 2016 at 12:22 PM.
Racer
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 299
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From: Troy New York
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 5,001
Likes: 1,056
From: Arlington TX
2024 C1 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 Restomod of the Year Finalist
2023 C1 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 5,001
Likes: 1,056
From: Arlington TX
2024 C1 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 Restomod of the Year Finalist
2023 C1 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Well, don't know which one to go with. The Hurst probably more durable. Rock auto is cheap enough, and I also like the idea of reinforced wire & plastic. Guess I'll just try one...
Thanks for the input everyone!
Thanks for the input everyone!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 2,131
Likes: 102
From: Toms River New Jersey
I use NOS GM 4 speed boots. They don't have a metal retainer wire molded in so I glue it to the bezel with RTV . They're much heavier than the repos and will last a lot longer.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 5,001
Likes: 1,056
From: Arlington TX
2024 C1 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 Restomod of the Year Finalist
2023 C1 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2009
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From: Canada's capital
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (appearance mods)
C1 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
Next time I replace the one on my 62 I'll be making it up from beige leather (to match the interiour) with some foam insulation under it something like this. It'll be the last one I'll ever need....
