I know how to actually bolt in the new short stick once I get to that part...But how do I get the boot off and back on? Would I have to take off the whole console and such?

 

Yep .. you've gotta get the center console up and out .. I ended up resting it on the passenger seat so I didn't have to disconnect the cigarette lighter .. here's a guide ..

http://www.ls1howto.com/index.php?article=12

 

I just want to install the short stick....Not the whole shifter....Would I have to go through all that just to install the short stick? It almost seems like I could do it just by removing the boot?

 

on my 99 i can remove the top half of the console in about 30 seconds not that whole procedure...

in the glove box (arm rest) under the change holder thing there are two 8mm screws. remove them and you can lift the top of the console off

allows easy access to the stick...the stick is 2 13mm bolts i beleive (maybe 15mm)

 

To replace just the stick, the vinyl (leather?) shift boot pops off. It's connected at the 4 corners. Feel the plastic ring, push in, and pop it off. You don't have to unscrew anything or remove any part of the console. (at least, not in a T/A)

The stick is held in place by a pair of 13mm bolts. I recommend loc-tite when you put the new bolts in.

 

Yeah, just remove the boot. That's what I did.

 

Oh sorry Ex4.6, I thought you wanted to replace the entire shifter from your title "How to go about putting in a short stick shifter" ... As mentioned, all you have to do is remove the shifter boot, careful though it breaks easily. Then there will a gray rubber boot around the base of the shifter .. try and push it down around the base of the shifter to get access to the bolts holding in the stock stick. If you can't get access to them that way and have to remove the #6 rubber boot around the shifter, you'll have get the center console out of the way .. but I'm pretty sure you won't have to do that.

 

Thanks for all the help and input guys.