915 shift coupler boot, where does it go?
 

There is a boot, in the back access hole, that keeps the elements out of the shift linkage tunnel. Does this boot go over the shift coupler (keeping the shift coupler in the elements), or does the boot go only up to the coupler, keeping the coupler inside the shift tunnel?

My boot was installed over the shift coupler, leaving the coupler out to the elements. Thecoupler had loads of road grime on it, probably not helping the bushing wear and easy shifting!

TIA,

George

Ok, found a pic in the Bentley. Looks like the coupler goes into the elements. That's ugly, but I guess it's true!

George

shift boot
 

The boot covers the U-joint and goes over the flange
on the firewall. You should see a flange or a lip of about
10mm on the firewall, and the boot goes on the outside
of the lip.

There are two boots that are needed to make this seal; do you have both of them? Using both the boots neither the tunnel nor the shift coupler are exposed to the elements. Jim

No, Jim, I have only one boot, which has it's small diameter between the shift coupler and the locking clamp. The big end of this obviously goes onto the body's large diameter opening.

Where does the other boot go???

See, I sensed something was odd! ;)

George

Pictures??? Anyone...pictures??? ...Beuhler? ...Anyone???? :D

Randy

Somewhat related question: the rear access hole into the tunnel on a '72 I just bought is egg-shaped. The hole on my '83 is round. Are they supposed to be different or did someone jack up the hole on the '72 with the shift rod when doing an engine/trans drop?

Front boot; goes over the coupler and then slips over rear boot (which is already over the sheet metal flange at the back of the tunnel):

http://www.pelicanparts.com/catalog/images/pedals/diag/rubber_thing.jpg


Rear boot; large end goes over sheet metal flange at rear of tunnel then small ends goes over the nose of the tansmission covering the shift rod:

http://www.pelicanparts.com/catalog/images/pedals/diag/coupler_cover.jpg

If the hole and flange are egg-shaped then yes, someone has lowered the engine and or tranmission with the shift rod still forward in the tunnel and deformed the hole and flange with the shift rod. I reformed one of these deformed holes well enough to make a good seal to the boot by taking a wide chisel and and grinding a dull edge profile of the correct flange shape. The using a hand sledge I pounded the flange back to a more round shape. Takes a large amount of force as this is a thick, stiff section of sheet metal further work hardened by the deforming. Cheers, Jim

Thanks Jim!

Randy

Rear boot; large end goes over sheet metal flange at rear of tunnel then small ends goes over the nose of the tansmission covering the shift rod:

http://www.pelicanparts.com/catalog/images/pedals/diag/coupler_cover.jpg


Jim:

Your the man. This is what I miss.

I can't believe how sloppy previous mechanics on this car were, to just loose this boot! The poor PO paid them 3k for a clutch job and some new axles, and this is what thed do ...

George

Jim, makes me shudder to think what the PO had to do to deform that hole. It has a new trans in it that performs brilliantly, so I'm assuming (with fingers crossed) that the PO did it with the old trans.