shifter boot

[belair6162]

Anyone know what i could use to soften a new shifter boot, it's very stiff and somtimes pop's the trans out of 2nd gear,(WD-40)? or somthing like that ?
oh ya, it's a 4sp floor shifter boot :dunno

Thankx

[dq409]

not too sure but WD will rot rubber,,,dq

[Impalaguru]

I know exactly what you're talking about. Had the same problem on my old 63 SS. The reproduction boots are just too thick. What year to you have? I know there is a front and a back to the 63 SS boot. Maybe its on back wards? A friend of mine used baby oil on an original rear window seal on his old 60 rambler wagon. He said it softened it up.
Do you have a Hurst shifter? If you have the shift stop bolts in the shifter body you might check the adjustment of them or just take them out. A friend of mine went through two perfectly good 4-speeds because they kept popping out of second gear. It was his shift stop bolts!!
If those fixes don't apply to your car, you could do what I did on my 63 SS. I got some of those little steel clips that are on new cans of paint (to keep the lids from comming off durring shipping). I made some small slits in the under side of the boot. I cut into the thickest spot. Then I took the little clips and pushed the straight end into the slit in boot and hooked the hook-shaped end over the opening in the console. It worked great! I believe that I also trimmed some excess rubber out of the channel the is supposed to fit arround the opening in the console. That kept the boot from getting that hour glass shape. Best of luck!!
Ross

[belair6162]

Impalaguru, thanks for the tip's. The shifter is in a 61 belair with a bench seat,the shifter is out a 62 bench seat car. I bought a round shifter boot from Phil Reed that looks like OEM. I'm not sure if i have shifter stop bolts,but will check. will try the baby oil on boot. dont want to screw up the trans., it's a good 61 t10
Thanks
Tom