Have my 67 with the 4-speed. Rather than the original shifter, PO had installed a Hurst shifter. Fits and works ok with the center console. Think I am going to use the standard 4-speed upper boot. The round hole will conform with the rectangular Hurst handle. I will reinforce the hole area to avoid it tearing out right away.
Question is what lower boot to use in this scenario? I had bought the standard 4-speed boot, but that isn’t even close as the boot needs to offset to the left, and then go down to encompass the shifter. The 69 and 70 lower boots both look like the right shape. The 69 boot however don’t have the large square hole in the one side like the 70 one does (at least pictured on WCCC site) The square hole could be cut into the 69 if need be.
Then the other thing, are either one of them going to fit the hole in the tunnel right? The 67 hole is a perfect square each way (I think) and then didn’t they go to rectangle at some point 69 or 70? Or would some perhaps say why put on a lower boot at all?
Thanks!
David
NPD sells the correct lower boot.
So are you saying that the Hurst shift boot meant for the 1970 model will work in the 67 when a Hurst is used?
No Im not. What Im saying is that NPD sells the correct lower boot to help with your post “what lower shift boot to use”. From the factory a 4 speed transmission came with 2 rubber “boots” a lower to protect the shifter mechanism from water and road grime while the upper boot stopped air flow and noise. David I do believe you are correct that the upper boot will work in the 67 the same it fits and works in the 70. Most people just run the upper boot because the lower is a pain to install and most here don’t run their cars in wet or bad weather.
You should use the Hurst style 70 lower boot. As you mentioned the "hole’ is different in 67/8 to 69/70. Square vs rectangle. Scott drake makes upper leather boot. his could solve your issue The orig shifter boot for Hurst’s has a small rectangular hole for shifter arm, but the base won’t fit the car (67/8).
Preaction,
That’s what I am thinking of doing is just no lower boot. Don’t plan on driving the car in any adverse weather anyway. It’s just the interior isn’t in yet, and I know it is a whole lot easier now to put it in then if I had to pull front seats, console, and front carpet. BTW would enjoy seeing pics of your car if they are ‘out there’ somewhere.
Thanks Cougar Bill for confirming that for me. So have you done anything along the lines of getting that rectangular lower boot to fit in that square hole? As far as the top one, I already bought the repro one that fits the square hole. Like I said, I have had it over the Hurst shaft already, and the round hole shapes to the handle pretty well. The boot gets a little snug to the console top plate when you go to reverse as you have to come way left and up with the shifter, but it does seem like it will work. A leather one may be a bit more forgiving though. Wouldn’t mind seeing pics of your 67 either especially if it is Lime Frost.
David
I went with the lower boot for the 70 model. With slight modifying it works in the tunnel hole. Question I have, when installing that boot do you stretch it over the shift levers first (rods off of course) then pull it up through the tunnel hole and fasten it, or is it better to mount it up in the tunnel first with the upper boot to retain it and then stretch it like a rubber over a boot? Also wondering does the reverse switch bracket and switch stick outside the boot, or is that all protected by the boot as well. I have it mounted to tunnel, and think I could pull it down and get it over the levers, but if the reverse light bracket and switch go inside seems like it is going to push on the boot, and possibly tear it.
Thanks everyone! Couldn’t be doing with out you all.
David