Custom shifter and boot (Page 1/4)
JMTUT JAN 05, 08:09 PM
I have always hated how the shifter boot looks. It looks sloppy to me and I think it could be cleaner.
I made a custom hollow shaft and a shift knob from Oak to fit my hand. The alarm/door lock light I installed lights up inside the shaft when set.
The boot is made from spandex type material. I deleted the ash trays as I think they look cluttered.
Let me know what you think.
It could be cleaner but I'm happy with it as proof of concept.
notwohorns JAN 06, 07:03 PM
I like it. Cleans up that area
unboundmo JAN 06, 07:52 PM
Personally, I've always liked the wood work.. I carved mine also out of birch wood like a three finger turtle shell.. and continued with birch platform and instrument clusters.. I eliminated the ashtrays too... however, I have power mirrors. I cut a rectangle out so I could still use the electrical switches.. came out really nice as did yours

Edit to share a picture--- hope you don't mind

[This message has been edited by unboundmo (edited 01-06-2018).]

fieroguru JAN 06, 08:18 PM
I like the look of smaller boots as well.

I still have more work to make the console area look better, but the boot is now much smaller.
Betty67 JAN 06, 10:04 PM
Looks really good! I might have to do something like that too
JMTUT JAN 06, 10:36 PM
Those are some creative and beautiful mods. I am trying to come up with a cleaner way to do my surface area. Maybe Velcro to hold the whole center column cover on?
I'm also considering adding a cup holder between the window switches.
JMTUT JAN 12, 10:19 AM
I'd love to see pictures of mods used to modernize the console if anyone has them.
My latest version is below
Harold James Kie JAN 12, 12:06 PM
I bought mahogany veneer and then cut .062 aluminum to make a new console insert and I also eliminated the ash trays. The problem is/was that the wood veneer and the aluminum had different expansion and contraction rates so as the temperature changed the wood would "blister" and looked horrible. I did it over and used plastic for the base and it worked fine. I made the shifter boot from a flat piece of aluminum .250 thick that I cut in a rectangle with it being open on the inside. I filed it and sanded it until I had a profile that I thought looked good and then I polished it to a bright finish and put a clear coat on it. I had an upholstery shop make a leather boot. To anchor the aluminum frame I drilled holes in each corner and counter sunk them to accept four flat head SS screws that I had previously machined down to a lower overall height and polished. I also did the E-brake in a similar fashion with matching leather.
VanGTP5000 JAN 12, 01:18 PM

quote
Originally posted by JMTUT:

I'd love to see pictures of mods used to modernize the console if anyone has them.



Is this thread specific to the manual transmission vs. auto console?

-Van
fieroguru JAN 12, 02:06 PM

quote
Originally posted by JMTUT:
Those are some creative and beautiful mods. I am trying to come up with a cleaner way to do my surface area. Maybe Velcro to hold the whole center column cover on?



You might look at some engine covers for ideas. They use a ball stud on the base and a rubber boss on the cover to hold the engine cover in place, but still be able to remove with a little effort. This method there is nothing visible from the top side.