Time to fix the shifter boot... need help.

[TRC51]

So my car has had this mess of a shifter boot issue since I bought it. I sat down and figured it would be a quick fix... no idea how to solve it or what I have or what I am missing. This is the Bullitt shifter boot on the stock shifter with stock Bullitt ball.

What do I need? I think I am going to put a shifter in it... possibly the MGW, considering the Barton. I need to resolve the boot issue and don't know what I need to make the boot seat on the new shifter. The hole on the Bullitt boot is aparently smaller. Is it?

Ideally?.... I would like to have the nice tall Roush/Hurst stick on the MGW... which is why I am considering the barton flat stick. At this point, I just want to get the new shifter in and boot corrected by 8/15.

Can it be done? Almost 2am... I need to go to bed. Thanks in advance.

 

[Roush fun]

you are missing a rubber piece that slides over the shaft to keep the boot in place.

 

[skwerl]

You can't use that boot with that shifter ball (or more specifically the collar piece). Either swap the boot or swap the shifter ball and get the standard size collar/adapter for it.

 

[TRC51]

You can't use that boot with that shifter ball (or more specifically the collar piece). Either swap the boot or swap the shifter ball and get the standard size collar/adapter for it.

So is this not the "Bullitt" boot? Is it the stock gt boot? I would like an MGW FLAT stick I think, but George says I Cannot use the Bullitt boot.

 

[09mb5854]

FWIW.... I have stock Bullitt shifter boot that I use on a flat Barton shifter lever. It worked fine for me......

And I agree that the boot in the picture does not look like a stock Bullitt boot. The collar is too big.....

 

[TRC51]

FWIW.... I have stock Bullitt shifter boot that I use on a flat Barton shifter lever. It worked fine for me......

And I agree that the boot in the picture does not look like a stock Bullitt boot. The collar is too big.....

Thanks,

Did you have any NVH with that Barton?

That's my issue about the boot... it doesn't look like it was described how it should be to me. Does anyone know what the stock boot looks like? Does this one look like it was cut/trimmed/modified for some reason?

I realized late last night that the bezel comes off pretty easy. Is it possible that someone replaced the boot with a stocker? If so, what I would I need to make this stocker work with an MGW flat stick (I know I at least need a new ball, but that is not a problem).

 

[Johnf78]

Yours should look like this.

http://www.cjponyparts.com/2008-bul...ign=shopping&gclid=CLzFvoLZ-8YCFcQUHwodG1MD6A

Someone maybe ran an after market shift knob and swapped out the boot and never put the Bullitt boot back in before selling it.

 

[TRC51]

Yours should look like this.

http://www.cjponyparts.com/2008-bul...ign=shopping&gclid=CLzFvoLZ-8YCFcQUHwodG1MD6A

Someone maybe ran an after market shift knob and swapped out the boot and never put the Bullitt boot back in before selling it.

Thanks John, I agree. Part of this post is just trying to determine what I have so I can be sure I order up what I need. You have the MGW, right? Do you recall what the boot looked like in your car... and was it similar to the one in my picture?

In truth, I hope so. If it is the stock unit, then I just need to know what rubber collar I need to attach it to a flat Stick MGW or Barton Flat stick. Been thinking about pulling the trigger on the Hurst handle and doing that too.

 

[Johnf78]

Yeah, I have the MGW. My boot looks similar to yours. I will take a pic tonight for you when I get home from work.

 

[05gtowner]

Also realize that with the stock GT boot the square back aluminum block the MGW handle goes into will make the boot fit a little weird. The MGW kind of has a L shape to it that adjust the position of the handle. Here is an old pic but you get the idea

 

[Johnf78]

Also realize that with the stock GT boot the square back aluminum block the MGW handle goes into will make the boot fit a little weird. The MGW kind of has a L shape to it that adjust the position of the handle. Here is an old pic but you get the idea

I just flipped my boot around and it fits good. If you keep it the factory direction it is stretched.

 

[09mb5854]

Thanks,

Did you have any NVH with that Barton?

That's my issue about the boot... it doesn't look like it was described how it should be to me. Does anyone know what the stock boot looks like? Does this one look like it was cut/trimmed/modified for some reason?

I realized late last night that the bezel comes off pretty easy. Is it possible that someone replaced the boot with a stocker? If so, what I would I need to make this stocker work with an MGW flat stick (I know I at least need a new ball, but that is not a problem).

None! I love my Barton shifter.....

It looks like the top (area that should go around shifter shaft) was cut off. To the best of my knowledge, there should be a "round bezel" sewn into the boot that holds the boot at the bottom of the shift knob.

I would try using a large rubber oring around the boot material. Remove the shift knob. Pull off the boot completely. Slide a large wall rubber oring down around shifter shaft (low on the shaft). Slide boot over top. Tuck top of boot back inside of itself and slide the rubber oring up the shaft securing the boot. Then secure the base of the bezel on the console.

I apologize in advance for these crazy instructions.

 

[05gtowner]

I just flipped my boot around and it fits good. If you keep it the factory direction it is stretched.

No i mean it has that indentation of the square when you push the boot down. But yes if you leave the boot in the stock orientation (front to back) it will e very stretched.

 

[TRC51]

None! I love my Barton shifter.....

It looks like the top (area that should go around shifter shaft) was cut off. To the best of my knowledge, there should be a "round bezel" sewn into the boot that holds the boot at the bottom of the shift knob.....

I apologize in advance for these crazy instructions.

Not crazy... I was actually thinking of doing something similar last night/early this morning when I was toiling over the though.

No i mean it has that indentation of the square when you push the boot down. But yes if you leave the boot in the stock orientation (front to back) it will e very stretched.

Shouldn't matter anymore....the design of the MGW is different now, so the two separate posts are no more. So basically no more modified Hurst handles on the MGW.

Now I don't know what to do... buy a new boot? Buy some kind of an adapter?

 

[05gtowner]

I personally don't like the newest design from MGW. It is has removed some of the features that I really liked (it is easier to install and a bit lighter though) Some with the original Barton shifter and being able to adjust it in the car not under it. I would look for a gen 2 MGW. I had the latest gen MGW in my car last year and got a smoking deal on a first gen MGW from a member on here and ended up switching to the older design because of the ease of switching handles and adjusting where the stick sat both in height and left to right positions. In all honesty you will need a new boot if you want to use that shifter. That one just won't work without that O-ring in the top of it.

 

[TRC51]

Update... problem solved. Thanks guys!

 

[Johnf78]

Looks great! How do you like it?

 

[TRC51]

Looks great! How do you like it?

Thanks! My initial impression is pretty good. I don't have a ton of time on it yet. Install was pretty easy (although I was using a lift). It was really stiff when I started out, but even a short drive later I could tell it was getting better with some use. I am at the point now where it still feels tight and need SOME force, but it's smooth. The throws are very short... and I like it! I wanted the look and feel of the taller hurst handle and unfortunatley MGW just didn't have that look to it. But so far I am happy with the purchase.

One thing I will mention that I was having trouble finding in my searches here is the NVH the Barton has. This is on an 05-09 S197 car, so I need to be clear about that (11's and up some to have some NVH with new Barton design). I was a little leary because I didn't see a lot of feedback on NVH for the Barton in the 05-09's. However, now I know why... because no one has any. Well, that's not true. There is some NVH there, but it's very small. It's mostly there in the lower gears and under hard acceleration. However, it does not get any worse if you rest your hand on it. AND, it's so small, you really have to force yourself to listen and find it. If you have the windows open, the AC on or the radio on even a little bit, you pretty much don't even notice it. The tire noise I have is louder.

I am headed to the American Muscle show, so I will know more after I ride 4+ hours in the car with it, but I can say... I probably will not need to use the 30 day return policy they offer (another reason I chose the Barton). I called them direct and they were very helpful... including a good description on how to fix the shift boot issue! Very pleased with how this transaction went down so far.

 

[09mb5854]

Thanks! My initial impression is pretty good. I don't have a ton of time on it yet. Install was pretty easy (although I was using a lift). It was really stiff when I started out, but even a short drive later I could tell it was getting better with some use. I am at the point now where it still feels tight and need SOME force, but it's smooth. The throws are very short... and I like it! I wanted the look and feel of the taller hurst handle and unfortunatley MGW just didn't have that look to it. But so far I am happy with the purchase.

One thing I will mention that I was having trouble finding in my searches here is the NVH the Barton has. This is on an 05-09 S197 car, so I need to be clear about that (11's and up some to have some NVH with new Barton design). I was a little leary because I didn't see a lot of feedback on NVH for the Barton in the 05-09's. However, now I know why... because no one has any. Well, that's not true. There is some NVH there, but it's very small. It's mostly there in the lower gears and under hard acceleration. However, it does not get any worse if you rest your hand on it. AND, it's so small, you really have to force yourself to listen and find it. If you have the windows open, the AC on or the radio on even a little bit, you pretty much don't even notice it. The tire noise I have is louder.

I am headed to the American Muscle show, so I will know more after I ride 4+ hours in the car with it, but I can say... I probably will not need to use the 30 day return policy they offer (another reason I chose the Barton). I called them direct and they were very helpful... including a good description on how to fix the shift boot issue! Very pleased with how this transaction went down so far.

Excellent choice. I love my Barton too and have very good results with it for the year that I have had it in the car.

Enjoy!