Shift coupler boot removal question

[RickM]

This weekend I'll be replacing my cup and foward shifter bushing. (Thanks for the ultra quick delivery Pelican)

I'll also be replacing the rear coupler bushings with the brass replacements. I'm down with the procedure for R&R but I'm curious about how to remove the rubber bellow/boot.
When I spent a few minutes sizing up the situation I noticed that the opening on the front of the boot was too small to slip over the coupler. On the other hand the rear of the boot goes quite a ways into the tunnel. Looks like a real pain to sneak it back in.

So how do I remove? The second diagram suggests that the boot is two pieces. ?????

Any help is appreiciated.

[RickM]

oops....

[safe]

Unbolt number 60 and pull out the coupler from the gearbox shaft. Then you can remove the boot.

[RickM]

So, you're saying I pull the back of the boot out of the tunnel to access the bolt.

That's really my question. Which way to pull the boot over the coupler? Or is it two pieces?

[safe]

Hmm, maybe I remember it wrong...
But I think it should be 2 pieces.
67 goes goes over the flange on the rear wall and out back onto the gearbox.
66 must be in front of 62 and extending over the coupler.

Maybe you have some other type of boot. In the picture it looks like yours is a one piece. In that case it shoud be covering from before 62 and all the way to the gearbox.

Maybe someone before you had things apart and forgot to put on the boot (that has neeever happend to me ) after adjusting the gear linkage.

[safe]

It should seperate at the red line if you have two separate boots.

[kycarguy 935]

66 and 67 are 2 different pieces. 67 is the piece that goes through the body toward the transmission. You will need to remove 63 and 60 to get the coupler off. I usually move the shift around to get the shift rod #59 toward the front of the car as possible.

66 boot you will pull out of the way to undo 63 which looks like you have already done. Now pull 67 boot all the way back (to the right in your picture or the back towards the transmission. These boots only go on one way. One side has a large hole and one side has a small hole (for shift shaft #59) and the other boot 67 (for transmission shaft).
Hope this helps.


If you have any other questions feel free to email me.
kycarguy@yahoo.com

[kycarguy 935]

I just looked at the picture again and it looks like 66 is inside part of 67. They arent 1 piece they are two separate pieces, just pull them apart and you should be fine.

[boomvang]

Just did this yesterday, the foward boot just slips over the one extending into the tunnel. easy once you get in there.

[mschuep]

My 85 has 2 pieces, and separates like safe said in the previous post

[RickM]

Thanks kindly. 20 years must've glued these two pieces together. I'll carefully pull apart.

For sure I thought it was one piece but after a search this morn I saw the diagram posted by Warren.

In fact the rear boot half must be what seals the tunnel from the outer elements. Glad i didn't pull it all the way out.

Thanks again. I'll take pics and post.