I've searched and not found an answer to this (so I assume it's a question with a fairly obvious answer and I'm just being stupid...), so, here goes:

As soon as I get a free weekend, I'm putting a 2001 Camaro console (6spd) in my '86 Camaro. I've got the console, but I have no boot for the shifter. Will a replacement boot for a manual 82-92 fit the new console, or is the hole a different size? I can find a replacement for a third gen a lot cheaper than a fourth gen one...

I don't think the boot from the 3rd gen will work on the 4th gen console. I don't think it's big enough.
Here's a pic from my car--I'm not sure if you can tell from the pic how big the boot is.

You will need the boot from a 97+ console.
The 93-96 Firebird boots are totally different as well, so you can't use that either.
If you look inside where the boot goes, you will see some plastic slots, this is where the bracket that the boot attaches to.
Boot has a plastic bracket glued (at least I think it's glued) to the material and this bracket snaps into the hole in the console.

you may be able to go to an upholstery shop and buy the material and cut it so it fits into the hole and then use a strong black adhesive to glue the material to the hole in the console.

Here is a pic of my stock boot on the console.


Here is my stock 3rd gen shifter,

Thanks for the input. Just purchased a new 97+ 6spd leather boot.

i was also thinkin about swappin a 4th gen center console.. but what did u do with the pwr window switches and the pwr mirror buttons? and did the console just fit right in? was there any fabrications necassary?

Most people build a small plate and mount the window and mirror switches to the plate and put it in the ashtray.