Shifter Boot...

[Jon Mello]

I'm glad to be of help, Randy. I hope that boot from HBC works out well for you.

[dutch]

Here are a few more shots of my NOS shift boot.

Jon - probably a stupid question, but in one of your pictures of your new and NOS boot taken from directly above, it appears as though the base of the rubber boot has a taper that makes it wider at one end than the other..
I assume that it is positioned so that it faces with the wider end towards the front of the transmission tunnel and the narrower end towards the rear and seats?
It appears as though it and the rest of the mounting hardware could be attached either way and now that I look at it, I believe that I may have in haste to 'be on the road' have had mine reversed with the narrower dimension facing towards the front of the car.
This may have in some small degree contributed to my old boot ripping, although it is also smaller overall than the one I now have in hand from HBC (finally after 4 weeks and almost $25 over the list price - you gotta love shipping and customs to Northern Canada - eh!?). I'm ready to install the new one and just want to make sure I get it correct this time..
I can't seem to find a picture of the correct orientation although it would be hard to in fact see considering the minor differences in the dimensions in any interior picture..
Thanks - Randy

[68Zproject]

That original one Jon showed looks like the repro I got.  I just have to try and remember where I got it.

[Jon Mello]

Randy, you are correct in thinking that the wider part goes toward the front. The 4 screw holes in the boot should line up with the holes in the floor pan.

-Jon

[68Zproject]

That one does look the same except the seam on top and it looks like the original slot for the shifter was offset a little.

[Jon Mello]

I was recently shown an ebay auction for a reproduction shift boot for 1967-1968 Camaros with the D55 console.  Here's the link...

https://www.ebay.com/itm/264414590699?ul_noapp=true

The correct boot has not been available for decades.  The ebay ad says it is assembly line correct so I purchased one from the auction to compare it to an NOS one that I acquired a few years ago, GM part number 3893873.  The ebay seller is Midnight Oil Musclecar Parts and it turns out this is owned and operated by Kelley Timms who used to be Rick's main guy at Rick's First Generation Camaro Parts before Rick sold it to Eckler's.

Below are some comparison photos, the NOS GM boot on the left and the reproduction on the right. The thickness seems to be close if not the same as the original. I think they did a pretty good job making the new one.  I think it will hold up a lot better than the incorrect item that has been being sold.

[169INDY]

Slightly torn take off orig. It is marked LEON in a oval & the road or floor pan side gets a bit of body color transfer to the rubber.

Nice tip on a quality repop for once.

JIM

[bertfam]

Just received mine in the mail. I have to say I'm really happy. Finally, a reproduction part that's actually CORRECT!! No, it doesn't have "LEON" on it, but still looks better than those "replacements" that don't last very long. And besides, once you install the retainer, you can't see the LEON anyway!

Jim, can you post a close up picture of the "LEON"? I think I see it at the bottom right in Jon's pictures above, but it's really light.

Ed

[Mike S]

When I see 'Leon' I can't help think of the movie Dog Day Afternoon. Leon was the transgender person who was Sonny's (Al Pacino) lover.

Mike

[169INDY]

Uncle Leon (Seinfeld)

Glad to hear that a repop item is Good !!

JIM

[bertfam]

Thanks Jim. A quick Google and Yahoo search didn't reveal anything regarding a Leon manufacturing company, but it may take more digging.

Ed

[dannystarr]

I think it was Uncle "Leo" not Leon on Seinfeld... Danny

[169INDY]

Danny, You are so right, dang my memory,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Twisted iconic comedy for its time.

[MO]

The shifter opening looks a little larger on the repro, so that may help relieve some stress on the rubber that causes cracking.