Almost everyone of us with the six speed has had that stooopid plastic ring that retains the shift boot break. The replacements back in ’97 when I broke my first one were about $45. They are now over a $150.00 (www.gmpartsdirect.com sells them for $90.44). I’d replaced mine twice but it’s futile. They always seem to break again.

Enter a Fbody Hero….

There is an innovator that got tired of this and saw a need and so he stepped up. He’s created a stainless steel retaining ring that captures the boot and WON’T FREAKIN’ BREAK!! <Dave composes himself after venting aloud to GM>

Here is a small picture portrayal of the device installation…

The seller/creator (farmer2@cbcast.com) sells this device for $18.00 which includes shipping. I ordered mine on August 2nd at 5:44pm and it got here in today’s mail at the Post office.

It arrives…
www.taekwondoplus.org/z28/Shiftboot01.JPG

Opened the box…
www.taekwondoplus.org/z28/Shiftboot02.JPG

Better look at the device …
www.taekwondoplus.org/z28/Shiftboot03.JPG

The device, the bezel, and my nasty azz boot with gorilla glue residue left over from an unsuccessful attempt at gluing the dang thing into the bezel.
www.taekwondoplus.org/z28/Shiftboot04.JPG

The instructions tell you to insert the front first…
www.taekwondoplus.org/z28/Shiftboot05.JPG

Then the sides…
www.taekwondoplus.org/z28/Shiftboot06.JPG

and then the rear …
www.taekwondoplus.org/z28/Shiftboot07.JPG

Now insert the hooks in the front of the factory boot slits first …
www.taekwondoplus.org/z28/Shiftboot08.JPG

Then, using a razor, cut more slits if necessary (I needed two in the back, you may need them on the side) for the hooks to slide thru…
www.taekwondoplus.org/z28/Shiftboot09.JPG

This is the underside of the boot when in place…
www.taekwondoplus.org/z28/Shiftboot10.JPG

Side view of the finished installation …
www.taekwondoplus.org/z28/Shiftboot11.JPG

Opposite side view, revealing hideous gorilla glue residue (Yes, I’m going to buy another boot, lol…)
www.taekwondoplus.org/z28/Shiftboot12.JPG

Front side fitment…
www.taekwondoplus.org/z28/Shiftboot13.JPG

Backside…
www.taekwondoplus.org/z28/Shiftboot14.JPG

Total time to install, about 15minutes.

David K. Wilson

 

Nice find.

Even with mine broken it still sits fine, but if it gets worse now I have this as an alternative.

Now we just need a fix for the cheap plastic crap on the doors that break. I have to laugh at your Gorilla glue, because that what I used to fix the trim in the door that hold the window switch in. I need to work my magic on the passenger side now.

 

Hmmm... I wonder if he could fab up something for that as well? I'm going to pose the question to him. Thanks...

 

It is molded plastic so maybe not.

 

I'm referring to the plastic bezels that house the windows and locks like this..
http://shbox.com/page/windowmotor1.html
That plastic detent on the side nearest the driver breaks off after a window motor install or 3 (my case on both my z28's) and if he could fashion an encircling ring with a lip on it to capture the lip of the housing to which it is appended, then that's all it would take. I like that he's using stainless steel. Tough, resistant to reshaping and of course durable in the face of occasional moisture.

 

Does he sell one for the 97-02 consoles?

 

Yes! He actually made those versions first. After hearing the cry for the earlier Fbodys as well, he made those too.

 

I purchased one of these about 2 1/2 years ago. very nice. repost too, i posted a thread about it when I got it.

The seller is on ls1tech.com

 

Thats the part, but my whole thing cracked across from below the switch oul, not just the internal part.