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Center shift boot

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Bob_Spidell

Bob_Spidell

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... Nipple up, or down? Anyone REALLY know for SURE?

In my experience, they last longer with the nipple up, plus I have a chrome ring that goes on the nipple (don't think you could install the ring with nipple down).

Bob
 
Nipple should be down. Top of boot is therefore flat.

Welll OK!!'

But mine gets chewed up when I put it in that way--:highly_amused:
 
From Anderson & Moment :
 

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vette said:
From Anderson & Moment :
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It's incorrect. I've seen BJ8's with the original shift boots and the nipple was always facing downwards. This observation was when the Healey's were only 4 years old. Other photos I've seen of BJ8's that were taken for advertising, etc. always had the nipple "down".
 
Patrick67BJ8 said:
It's incorrect. I've seen BJ8's with the original shift boots and the nipple was always facing downwards. This observation was when the Healey's were only 4 years old. Other photos I've seen of BJ8's that were taken for advertising, etc. always had the nipple "down".
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True. However; the boots last longer with the nipple up. After switching several times, I decided to go nipple-up. With the nipple down, the rubber gets 'bent' more severely when shifting.
 
Bob_Spidell said:
True. However; the boots last longer with the nipple up. After switching several times, I decided to go nipple-up. With the nipple down, the rubber gets 'bent' more severely when shifting.
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Bob, Is your shift lever centered when in neutral? I trans cover hole was not and I ended up tearing the "cheap" boots. Also, a Toyota 5-speed 5th gear selection put's the boot right up against the trans cover and will even keep it from engaging and staying engaged. The hole is 3 1/2" but it can be enlarged a little bit.
 
Patrick67BJ8 said:
Bob, Is your shift lever centered when in neutral? I trans cover hole was not and I ended up tearing the "cheap" boots. Also, a Toyota 5-speed 5th gear selection put's the boot right up against the trans cover and will even keep it from engaging and staying engaged. The hole is 3 1/2" but it can be enlarged a little bit.
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Yeah. I usually get 8-10 years (30-40K miles) out of a boot.
 
My boot was punctured during restoration so I recently bought another one from Moss. Wow was that a disappointment. First it had injection dots all the way around the rim. I cut them off and then sanded them down so they are flush but still visible. After washing off the mould-release dust and treating with rubber treatment it looks ok but it still feels flimsy and doesn't look as nice as the old one. I think that pretty much sums up re-pops these days.

It did have a couple of good traits. Since it is thinner, it is more pliable. It also has a slightly larger hole for the shift lever which allows it to slide up and down. These features help keep it from kinking while shifting.

Mine is installed nipple up. I tried the other way but there was really not enough space under the boot so it stuck up and looked a bit goofy IMO. A non-scientific survey of images on the web and car gatherings showed mostly nipple up.

Here is an official factory photo of a BJ8 Phase I before release. It shows the nipple down, the boot sticking up, and interestingly, the shift lever not centered in the console opening.

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As an alternative to the rubber (which is still in place), I decided I liked the look of a soft boot for the shifter and made one up in 20 minutes. That was at least 25 years ago and it has served since.

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Just a thought.

Ray (64BJ8P1)
 

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RAC68 said:
As an alternative to the rubber (which is still in place), I decided I liked the look of a soft boot for the shifter and made one up in 20 minutes. That was at least 25 years ago and it has served since.
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I have the blue leather to make one but haven't done it yet. Are there any heat issues? Did you insulate under the boot?
 
Hi Glenn,

The shift boot has given me no problems and heat has not been an issue. I had kept the broken rubber boot in place and only glued the split seam. No insulation was added and, although I expect the rubber may have split again since the time the boot was initially installed, the would still act as a barrier.

A side note. The console was recreated to satisfy the dimensions of the radio. The original console, with original radio, is on the shelf and unmolested. The boot was installed when the original console was in place. Both console shift openings are identical in size and shape.

Ray (64BJ8P1)
 
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