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I have a TKO 5 speed in my 66 and have never been satisfied with the oem rubber boot around the shifter. To get the boot to cover the bolts that hold the shifter handle you have to stretch the boot and it tears with time. The first boot tore after a year or so and now the second boot has torn. I am looking for suggestions like a leather boot on the newer Vettes that will fit a C2 console. Any suggestions?
Buns, thanks for posting the picture. Right now I am planning a trip to Zip and I can try several there. I am going to take the console out of the car so I can test fit several. It needs to be high enough to cover the two bolts that hold the shifter handle to the trans. I will try yours.
I made my trip to Zip early in the week and Danial was nice enough to pull three boots. No question the 84-85 early boot was the best. I ended up removing the medal frame and it was pretty easy to mount it under the metal frame that holds down the boot boot. I bought a new rubber boot also. I finished it up. This morning. Here are a few pictures.
The hole at the top of the boot is the perfect size to pull up over the shifter handle bolts and the leather is the proper height also. If I can find a leather stitching needle I may take some black thread and close the hole up just a tad. I do not get any warm air up through the hole because I installed a new rubber boot. I am very pleased with the result.
I made my trip to Zip early in the week and Danial was nice enough to pull three boots. No question the 84-85 early boot was the best. I ended up removing the medal frame and it was pretty easy to mount it under the metal frame that holds down the boot boot. I bought a new rubber boot also. I finished it up. This morning. Here are a few pictures.
The hole at the top of the boot is the perfect size to pull up over the shifter handle bolts and the leather is the proper height also. If I can find a leather stitching needle I may take some black thread and close the hole up just a tad. I do not get any warm air up through the hole because I installed a new rubber boot. I am very pleased with the result.
Marc - Very nice! I need to replace my rubber boot. I've been looking for a leather replacement but no luck. Is this the one you got from ZIP:
I made my trip to Zip early in the week and Danial was nice enough to pull three boots. No question the 84-85 early boot was the best. I ended up removing the medal frame and it was pretty easy to mount it under the metal frame that holds down the boot boot. I bought a new rubber boot also. I finished it up. This morning. Here are a few pictures.
The hole at the top of the boot is the perfect size to pull up over the shifter handle bolts and the leather is the proper height also. If I can find a leather stitching needle I may take some black thread and close the hole up just a tad. I do not get any warm air up through the hole because I installed a new rubber boot. I am very pleased with the result.
Hi Mark,
Been following this thread with interest, and that boot looks great. When I built my car, the rubber shifter boot was not molded, was somewhat flimsy, and I was able to stretch it over the tops of the mounting bolts for the shifter when I installed the Kiesler 5 speed about 5 years ago.
It finally tore on the bottom corner near the console upper surface, not at the handle area, so I ordered a new rubber boot from LICS. It's different from the boot I installed 18 years ago. It's thicker, and is form-molded with a rectangle molded into it's base at the console level. The old boot didn't have that it was smooth in that area. In any event, this new boot is MUCH nicer than the old boot for a Muncie 4 speed, but will have to be cut to be used with the 5 speed. Using a leather boot over the new rubber boot is a great idea!
Your shifter handle is puzzling. Where is the reverse lockout? Can you post a side view of the shifter because it almost looks like a Hurst handle although the angle might be misleading.
Joe C