Be careful with the automatic boot--the '65 is different than the setup used on the '66 and '67. From the outside, the auto console and shifter on '65-'67 looks the same, but the shifter mechanism mounted to the floor is completely different on the '65. The '65 only has one boot--not an upper and lower. The boot actually attaches to the lower plate on the shifter mechanism. I wish I had a picture of one, but I don't. That other piece in the above picture with the reverse lens gaskets is a piece of flat rubber that clips to the body above the liscense plate and under the top of the rear bumper--it keeps the light from the liscense plate light from shining up behind the the back of the bumper and reflecting off the curve in the body there for the gas tank neck to clear. Hurricane went much better than expected here--I never lost power at my house. Only one tree broke in my yard.
Last I saw, Year one was still selling original GM lower shifter boots for the '65 and up GS 4-speed cars. That is where I got mine from. I also go the top one that is part of the console from Year One.
the lower one that Year one sells is the same one i got for my `67 thinking its the correct one but after looking at my `65`s lower boot it looks totally different. Thanks
Mark- That thing at the bottom of the pic is a rubber water shield for the gas tank. It is placed above the gas tank filler neck inside the rear bumper. It is hidden from view. Often missing. If you need it, or you want a template, it is yours! Let me know
I'm a little confused about the shift boot differences, but I'll jot down what I think we need for now, and make comments about it with Metro if the bellhousing boot is a reality (no info from them yet). Brian & Dan, thanks for clarifying the gas tank piece. Dan, let me what you need for it, I'll take it. I think there were rotted remnants of that when I started on this thing, but not enough to identify what it was for. Mark
To help clarify on the shifter boots: -Need one for the '65 floor shift auto cars -'66 and up floor shift auto cars take a different style, but it might possibly already be available somewhere -Lower and upper shift boot for 4-speed cars are available, but one person commented that the lower shift boot that is available would not work in his '65 I bought one and it fit perfect in mine.
The repro lower shift boot for 65 4-speed cars do fit dont get me wrong but it looks different than the original ones. Thanks
Have you gotten your '65 GS across the country to your house yet? You got a really sweet car when you found that one. I wish mine was in that good a shape when I found it!
Yes its here,i been having it,i just redone the exhaust w/ new mufflers and i just rebuilt the original 4-speed and i got a new clutch and throw out bearing and pilot bushing,cut the flywheel and its ready for me to install it today,it really is a clean and solid original car,it amazes me the shape its in. Thanks
Once you get it back together, how about putting some more pictures of it on this site. You have the exact car that I have--even down to the small grill emblem, and red on red with black vinyl top. Only differerence is mine has factory AC on it. Wish I could say mine was in good shape--the vinyl top trashed the roof on mine, so it got a new one off of a donor Skylark car.
Hey Mark! Remember the rubber lower clutch boot that started this thread? What is the time frame for this to happen? I've never been involved in getting something repro'd. Seems a lot of leg/phone work is involved! Let us know.:TU: Frank
Hi Frank, and hello all others who have responded to this thread. I did get numbers for this last week, and it will definately not be a viable project. The per-piece price of each will be reasonable, a minimum quantity of 25 will cost about $60 each. The killer is the tooling and set-up costs, which are additional to the per-piece price. It really isn't completely outrageous, running about $6000.00, but I don't have that kind of money to invest in what is going to be money losing proposition. If I had the money to invest in this, believe me, I would. That kind of cash outlay is going to go into 65 GS restoration funds. The legwork, etc. to get it this far wasn't as bad as I thought. A couple of calls and a 1 hour meeting was really all it took, but Metro is close to my place of employment, abd they made the process pretty simple. My hats off to Metro, as they want to see as many new projects as possible go through the door. Unfortunately, the quantities we need for this are just not going to cut it at this time. Now, if everyone wanted to pool money together, this could still be done, and I would be willing to put some money together to get this done too. What does everyone think? Mark
Mark,i`d pay $60 each for the boot,if its impossible to get an NOS one which it is and we have no other choice.If we can chip in to get this done i`m in depending on what we all have to chip in?if it isnt a significant amount i`d be all for it. Thanks
If we can sell 25, that is $300 per. Same sort of thing that I had with Wildcat center caps. Anybody find that price OK? I need 2 of them!
George & Ted, George, thanks for the support, your definately a die-hard. I'll keep your offer under consideration if this goes forward from here. Ted, I'll pay $300 to get one. They don't exist. I think the lack of response to my post earlier today speaks volumes about where this is heading. Mark
As a regular guy with a family, I would have to bow out with a $300 price tag. I have a driver that i already have more money into , then I could sell it for. Its nice to have original pieces, but when my boot has to be replaced, I'll rig somehing up. Mark , thanks for looking into this. :gt:
Frank, I'm no different than you - same family guy commitments as many. Every vehicle I own I have more money into than I will get out of them, but thats not what I do it for. I don't blame you at all for bowing out at a $300 price, thats serious money for an unglamorous part, but if we want low demand parts made like the bellhousing pivot boot, then thats the price that needs to be paid. I don't know know how else to say it. I know I probably don't come across very well on these forums, but I only mean the best and am trying to get some things done for a model of car (the 65-66 GS cars) that in my opinion is all too often neglected. At least you responded after the fact, I do appreciate that. If I win the Powerball, there's going to be some neat parts available! Mark
