Rise of the Phoenix, '96 Firebird Formula 6-speed Options

[Box]

New boot, seems almost nonexistent when shifting in comparison to the original:

Which is good since I like to just nudge it into the gears so the transmission internals stay happy.

[Bitter]

Reminds me of my dads 80's Taurus wagon, wall to wall velour.

[Box]

This is microsuede, totally different. Since it was at night I had to use flash for it to show up decently, it's nowhere as shimmery otherwise. If I can remember tomorrow I'll take a picture in the daylight. Which I ended up just replicating the factory boot since I knew that would work, I may go back and take an inch out to lessen the excess material as originally planned so long as it doesn't make it start wanting to bind.

[Bitter]

I stand by what I said.

[Box]

So what you're trying to say is, don't wrap everything in microsuede. Hmm...

[Bitter]

Wrap it in velour, luscious velour. You know Kiff nothing says manly and confident like being swaddled from head to testicles in thick luxurious velour,.

[Box]

Anyhow I actually remembered to snap a picture:


This post has been edited by Box: Oct 3, 2016 - 2:01 PM

[Bitter]

Looks good, could use a trim, little poofy.

[Box]

It's an exact match to the original vinyl boot, I guess since the microsuede is so much more pliable it likes to billow out. I meant to take the shift knob off before getting out of the car and pulling the boot up to mock up seeing how much material could be removed and it not bind going through the gears, but I forgot so I might do so here soon.

[Bitter]

I think some kind of metal collar around the top where it goes around the shaft would look nice to make it finished off. Even a rubber or plastic ring, and if you size it just right it would help bind the material on the shaft and keep it from sliding around.

[Box]

I had thought about trying to make something to tie the top of the boot to the stick right below the knob, though I noticed the boot doesn't seem to drop down but it wants to kind of twist some which some kind of collar would remedy. Could use a ponytail holder since I have plenty of those.

[Bitter]

Ziptie bruh, ziptie.

[Box]

I have some leather cord somewhere that'd work nicely, that or since I know it's 16mm diameter that'd be like a 5.5-6 size ring and could find a plain silver band to use.

That or nickel silver or stainless to be cost efficient.

This post has been edited by Box: Oct 3, 2016 - 8:58 PM

[Bitter]

Any of that would look pretty good to be honest. Maybe shrink some leather onto it? Wet it, wrap it tight, let it dry.

[Box]

Hmm, seems plain sterling silver bands aren't that much more than stainless. Sterling silver and microsuede shift boot, my Firebird is so fancy.

I like how a ring would make it look really nice, though the leather cord would look good too.

[Bitter]

[Box]

Found a size 6 sterling silver double banded ring that's 1/4" wide, so bought it and should get here sometime before the end of the week. Also that awkward moment you buy a ring for your car before buying one for a girl, I'm just glad I didn't have to go into a jewelry store and try to explain while I'm holding the old boot and shifter stick.

[Bitter]

Nice. Though Carbide or Titanium would have been my choice...

[1994Celica]

Nice new boot!

[Box]

Those can't be reshaped any if it's needed either, shouldn't be needed going off charts but there's always a percentage gap plus or minus with that kind of stuff. Silver is really easy to work worth with though, so that was the main reasoning. Can always tarnish it if I want it darker I suppose.