Making a Shifter Boot.
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
Likes: 15
From: Columbia Missouri
Making a Shifter Boot.
I need some help. I do not have the kind of sewing equipment I need to make a custom sized shift boot for the Vette.
Here's the story.
Old shifter bezel was junk.
Ordered new shifter bezel.
New shifter bezel has smaller shift boot square opening.
I have new metal ring that I made to fit the new square opening.
I have an original shifter boot and a new fake leather shifter boot.
Either needs to be trimmed and re-sewed to fit around the smaller ring.
Should I use new leather or the original, that is in good shape minus a small tear at the neck.
Thanks for any help...oh, and I did look into the ones being advertised by a vendor, but I am not prepared to pay someone almost $200 for some stitching.
Here's the story.
Old shifter bezel was junk.
Ordered new shifter bezel.
New shifter bezel has smaller shift boot square opening.
I have new metal ring that I made to fit the new square opening.
I have an original shifter boot and a new fake leather shifter boot.
Either needs to be trimmed and re-sewed to fit around the smaller ring.
Should I use new leather or the original, that is in good shape minus a small tear at the neck.
Thanks for any help...oh, and I did look into the ones being advertised by a vendor, but I am not prepared to pay someone almost $200 for some stitching.
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 1,572
Likes: 51
From: Wichita Kansas
If the old boot is worth saving and just needs to be resized, you could turn it in-side-out, fit it to the trim plate, mark how much needs to be cut, then take it to an apolsteror (sp) or shoe repair shop and let them stich it up.
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
Likes: 15
From: Columbia Missouri
Yeah I've already checked all that out and that's my plan 'B' if a forum member can't help out. The two local upholstery shops want close to $75 for the job.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,137
Likes: 51
From: Cartersville GA
Too bad your in Missouri,
I have several HD sewing machines in my basement from a plant closure. I also know the owners of a couple of small shops that would do it for me for next to nothing.
Keep looking around. There's probably someone in the area that does upholstry work on the side that would do it for you at a decent rate.
I have several HD sewing machines in my basement from a plant closure. I also know the owners of a couple of small shops that would do it for me for next to nothing.
Keep looking around. There's probably someone in the area that does upholstry work on the side that would do it for you at a decent rate.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 11,891
Likes: 3
From: Kansas City, MO ...I'd like to go fishing and catch a fishstick. That'd be convenient. - Mitch Hedberg
Check out a local sewing store. They usually have a cork board where people put there cards or ads to do work. They could do it for cheap. Doesn't have to be an upholstery shop to do this kind of work.
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
Likes: 15
From: Columbia Missouri
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 23,831
Likes: 10
From: Springfield MO
St. Jude Donor '07
)I keep the '31 Model 66 set up for upholstery thread. Re-tensioning the lower thread feed on an old Singer is a PITA, it's just easier to keep a second machine around set up for the heavier thread. Mechanically, they're some of the coolest devices ever made.
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Instructor
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 167
Likes: 0
From: Penfield NY
DB,
Have you seen this place? Products look to be very nice. Once I get down to "shifter boot" on my list of things to get, I might get one here. About 40 bucks or so.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1033341
Have you seen this place? Products look to be very nice. Once I get down to "shifter boot" on my list of things to get, I might get one here. About 40 bucks or so.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1033341
Last edited by Go Vette; Nov 15, 2007 at 09:42 PM.
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 1,572
Likes: 51
From: Wichita Kansas
$75 is outrages. You may be limited in Columbia. I would think someone out there would have a heavy duty machine. Try a tailor shop; they are able to install zippers in leather coats. Or as I mentioned, a shoe repair; some of them will do it. My wife just had her laptop case stitched by a shoe repair.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,712
Likes: 0
From: Tampa FL
$75 for a couple of stitches? That's crazy ... have you tried just a local sewing/alterations/shoe repair shop? Those places can do just as good of a job and are usually more reasonably priced. I would say no more than $10-$15.
