Hi everyone,

This is my first post on your forum. I am in the process of replacing the carpet in my 65 hardtop Hi Po 4 speed. I am installing a new shifter boot as well. My question is this: How do you get the shifter boot to slip down over the reverse lockout lever? Can this lever be removed for this purpose? Any help will be greatly appreciated.

 

usuall the shifter stick is bolted to shifter with 2 screws. remove them to remove the shifter stick

 

The boot is installed from the top, with the shift lever installed, and the **** removed, but BEFORE you install the carpet. The boot needs to be stretched over the lockout T one arm at a time. Take care not to poke a hole with the T while doing this.

66 and later cars also had a lower shift boot, which protects the shifter from dirt and water, and the driver from heat and noise. You need to put the shifter inthe boot, then install the shifter, then pull the lip of the boot through the hole in the floor, and the upper boot will hold it on.

IMPORTANT NOTE. If you try to remove the T handle from the lever, you will destroy it. I have repaired many of these, and it involves an acetylene torch and brazing. Not fun even when you know how.

 

Thanks for the help guys,

I was able to stretch the boot over the lockout handle by first soaking the boot in extremely hot water for about 5 minutes. It still wasn't a piece of cake but I was able to stretch it over one side of the lockout and then the other.