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fabbing leather shifter boot
fabbing leather shifter boot My shifter is much larger for the th400 and I had to cut a hole in the console for it to fit and now I need to make my own leather shift boot so if anyone has done this and could lend some helpful tips I'd sure appreciate it!!
Thanks
Thanks
Copy & Paste Moderator
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 9,764
Likes: 208
From: Eastern MA
Pics?
This is how I installed a leather shift boot on the stock auto shifter:
http://www.fadingarrow.com/ShiftBoot.htm
This is how I installed a leather shift boot on the stock auto shifter:
http://www.fadingarrow.com/ShiftBoot.htm
Copy & Paste Moderator
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 9,764
Likes: 208
From: Eastern MA
Thats a big hole. Might be close to the size of the M6 hole. I dont know what to do about trimming the edge of the hole or attaching a shiftboot, but a regular manual boot might still be big enough.
EDIT:
I just came up with an idea. I have attached a crude drawing. Basically my idea is (if a store-bought boot is big enough or make one) drape it over the hole and fold the boot over the cut edges (smoothed/evened out first) of the console and screw/rivit throught the boot and console (through the fold on the inside) to hold it in place. It would also be a good idea to use some aluminum flat stock in between the screw and shift boot to sandwich it all together and spread the clamping force evenly. The trick is to make sure that there is still enough slack in the boot to allow for proper shifter actuation without binding. In the end, the boot should look like the stock M6 shift boot, with the "droop" just inboard of the edges and rise in the middle for the shift handle.
EDIT:
I just came up with an idea. I have attached a crude drawing. Basically my idea is (if a store-bought boot is big enough or make one) drape it over the hole and fold the boot over the cut edges (smoothed/evened out first) of the console and screw/rivit throught the boot and console (through the fold on the inside) to hold it in place. It would also be a good idea to use some aluminum flat stock in between the screw and shift boot to sandwich it all together and spread the clamping force evenly. The trick is to make sure that there is still enough slack in the boot to allow for proper shifter actuation without binding. In the end, the boot should look like the stock M6 shift boot, with the "droop" just inboard of the edges and rise in the middle for the shift handle.
Last edited by VIP1; Jun 28, 2006 at 08:34 AM.
Copy & Paste Moderator
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 9,764
Likes: 208
From: Eastern MA
If you dont want to screw/rivit it in place, you may be able to use that car door edge protector trim (or some other chaneled product from a home improvement store). Just slide it over the edge where the boot is folded over. I have attached an updated picture illustrating what I mean. This would be a less permananent and easier solution, but it wouldn't be as secure (the edge protector could potentially pop off if the boot is tugged). It all depends on how snug everything fits.
Get an M6 console top. it will be easier to make a boot work for it. You still might have to have a custom boot made with an opening that will fit around the auto shifter but it would be a lot easier
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Verdad Gallardo Copy & Paste Moderator
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 9,764
Likes: 208
From: Eastern MA
Originally Posted by 01 Red WS6
Get an M6 console top. it will be easier to make a boot work for it. You still might have to have a custom boot made with an opening that will fit around the auto shifter but it would be a lot easier
Copy & Paste Moderator
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 9,764
Likes: 208
From: Eastern MA
I remember one person saying that it blocked the first gear detent in the tranny.
EDIT:
I went searching for more info and found these:
(had to dig for a while)
https://ls1tech.com/forums/showthrea...=m6+console+a4
(unclear whether the pic is an auto or manual shifter, but looks like it may be B&M auto shifter)
https://ls1tech.com/forums/showthrea...&mode=threaded
(That one looks very helpful)
https://ls1tech.com/forums/automatic-transmission/2896-pics-completed-b-m-hammer-install.html
(Another TH400 install......with a M6 console -- old thread too)
Well I was looking for people who installed a M6 console in place of their A4 console (I know I've seen it), but I couldnt find any pics (or confirmation about the 1 & 2 gear position). I only found speculation about the 1 & 2 shift positions being blocked.
Found it:
https://ls1tech.com/forums/showthrea...hlight=console
(he says that 1 & 2 are blocked with the stock A4 shifter)
(this was refuted in another thread, but I think that guy had an aftermarket shifter)
EDIT:
I went searching for more info and found these:
(had to dig for a while)
https://ls1tech.com/forums/showthrea...=m6+console+a4
(unclear whether the pic is an auto or manual shifter, but looks like it may be B&M auto shifter)
https://ls1tech.com/forums/showthrea...&mode=threaded
(That one looks very helpful)
https://ls1tech.com/forums/automatic-transmission/2896-pics-completed-b-m-hammer-install.html
(Another TH400 install......with a M6 console -- old thread too)
Well I was looking for people who installed a M6 console in place of their A4 console (I know I've seen it), but I couldnt find any pics (or confirmation about the 1 & 2 gear position). I only found speculation about the 1 & 2 shift positions being blocked.
Found it:
https://ls1tech.com/forums/showthrea...hlight=console
(he says that 1 & 2 are blocked with the stock A4 shifter)
(this was refuted in another thread, but I think that guy had an aftermarket shifter)
Last edited by VIP1; Jun 30, 2006 at 09:25 AM.
Wow thanks for all the suggestions guys!! I was on vacation and came back to a lot of good responses. I ended up doing something similar to what VIP1 had in mind. I basically made a boot out of black vinyl fabric I got from my local Wally World and given the fact I'm a rep for a vinyl siding mfg it was pretty easy to find a peice to hold the vinyl fabric to my console. Anyway I installed it basically to fill the entire hole then I cut a slit in it and used the boot supplied by B&M for that shifter and slid that up through the slit and it all turned out really well in my eyes. I'll post up pics here in the near future!
Just so everyone knows I did buy a M6 console but quickly found out that where I positioned my shifter to fit me was too far back for an M6 console. You'll see what I mean in the pics.
Just so everyone knows I did buy a M6 console but quickly found out that where I positioned my shifter to fit me was too far back for an M6 console. You'll see what I mean in the pics.
