Shifter Leather Boot is Driving me CRAZY

[Dougieb]

Hi,

So I bought a new leather shifter boot (IAP), new dash wood (Maria Burchette), and the "ring" that holds them together.
I POR'd the metal plate to make it look pretty even though no one will (hopefully) ever see it again.

But for the life of me, I can not get the four parts together.
I think it is easier to learn to cuss in Italian than do this.
Any suggestions?
(on the shifter boot, my Italian will get there when I start on the transmission.)

I believe that the seam goes "forward" so that the shifter boot "leans" towards the rear of the car.
The ring has a couple of holes drilled in it for (I believe) pop rivets to hold it together when it is done.
But I can not squish it tight enough to get the holes any where close together.
(Sorry, no pictures for now.)

Thanks,
Dougieb

[vandor]

Porca Miseria! (cussing in Italian )

The boot retaining ring has a cross-section shaped like a 'U'. Maybe you could try prying it wider (the sides of the U), so it fits more snugly.

[htchevyii]

Yes, that is a stupid design, along with the multi part shifter bushings.

[4uall]

pulled old one by prying it out



Then put in new one from Autoricambi, had to pry it a little to get it nice and snug