Topic: Installation of '65-66 Lower Shifter Boot (4-speed)

[drummingrocks]

I'm trying to install a lower shifter boot on my '66 fastback, built Dec. 8th, 1965, at Dearborn.  It's a 289 4-speed car.  Can anyone help me out with how this boot installs properly?  I know that it goes around the base of the shifter and then protrudes up into the passenger area through the shifter hole in the floorboard.  No matter how I orient the boot on the actual shifter itself, it ends up looking wrong.  I've dug through every assembly manual and the '66 shop manual, and while the lower boot is pictured in some manuals, the picture is virtually illegible.  This is one of those cases where a good picture is worth a thousand words.

Also, did all '66s get this lower shifter boot originally?  With a build date of Dec. 8th, 1965, would my car have had this item when it was originally built, or was it phased into production later?

Thanks for any and all help!

[Jays66gt]

Can you post a picture of what you have there?  Wondering if it's the right boot.  Here is a picture of mine, but with the console you cannot see very much.

[rockhouse66]

Do these help?

[drummingrocks]

Do these help?

Thanks, that's the one!  If you have any more pictures of the boot, maybe from the side, then I'd love to see them.

[rockhouse66]

I only have one from the bottom - not much help 

[drummingrocks]

I only have one from the bottom - not much help 

That's ok, it still gives me somewhere to start from.  By the way, the car in the pictures looks excellent.  Great attention to detail!

[J_Speegle]

.................Also, did all '66s get this lower shifter boot originally?  With a build date of Dec. 8th, 1965, would my car have had this item when it was originally built, or was it phased into production later?

Feb 16th 66 (according to a TSB article ) was the day that Ford started to use/install the lower shift linkage boot

[Brian Conway]

    Thanks Jeff. That is certainly a little known ditty.  I guess that's an item not on my car that was never there prior to 2/16/66 ?  Brian

[J_Speegle]

    Thanks Jeff. That is certainly a little known ditty.  I guess that's an item not on my car that was never there prior to 2/16/66 ?  Brian

Yes your car was built prior to that date so IMHO no lower boot. Their a pain to work with anyway

And yes this forum is the spot for those "little known" ditties   - LOL

[Brian Conway]

      Never tried to put one on my 65 but I know it is virtually impossible to get one onto my 69.  Brian

[drummingrocks]

      Never tried to put one on my 65 but I know it is virtually impossible to get one onto my 69.  Brian

Believe me, it's about as aggravating to try and put one on a '65-66. 

[Bob Gaines]

Believe me, it's about as aggravating to try and put one on a '65-66.

If the trans is on the bench it is a breeze  . That is where I try to install them.  Of course people aren't always that lucky and have to do it after the fact like when the carpet has already been installed. It is difficult to do it with the front carpet installed because you can't get to the screws for the upper boot/lower boot through the smaller carpet shifter hole.