I was wondering if someone can give me some answers. I just installed the pro.5.O onto a T5. I had no problems with the initial instalation. It's the rubber boot that I am having difficulty with. After bolting down the shifter, I'm not sure if there is a rubber boot that should cover the the base of the shifter where the stop screws are located... I've done a few searches within the site, and it seems that there is, however there is some cutting required to make the rubber boot fit.
My problem/confusion - I didn't get a boot with the shifter, The main shifter boot fits over the shifter with no poblems, and the small rubber boot that was on the original shifter is way too small to go over the base of the pro 5.O What boot am I missing? Or what have i overlooked? I know I can jimmy a boot out of some rubber but this is my least favoured option.
Any help would be appreciated...
-Andrew

 

It has been awhile since I installed mine but you need to cut the factory boot so that it sits under the shifter housing (gold part of the shifter). If only the handle sticks through the boot dirt and grime can make its way into the transmission and cause damage.

This picture shows where the boot should come up to. I just installed a Pro 5.0 in a 4th gen and I had to cut the boot to acheive the same seal. It has been three years since I put the 5.0 in my 3rd gen so my memory is a little unclear.

 

Not sure what you're asking....I know my car has a rubber boot that bolts down to the tunnel hole, and it goes over the shifter handle.

Then there's the leather boot that basically attaches to the console...

No it can't.....well, I can't say that,.... but so far as getting dirt into the tranny - it's a seal to the housing, so that ain't happinin.

You did use a thin coat of RTV on the stops when you installed the shifter right? If any dirt gets into where you greased it, it's a pretty minute amount. That area generally stays clean unless you drive through a flooded area or something.

 

Confuzed1 - yes I did use RTV on the shifter base/tranny housing, but not on the stop bolts. The instructions didn't say to. Did you do this so that the bolts don't overtime losen up?

From what I can see, there are three boots 1.interior leather boot that is part of the center consol, the rubber boot that bolts to the tranny tunnel (6 or 8 bolts, not sure), and then on the factory shifter there is the small rubber boot that is at the base of the shifter handle where it meets the circular base section.
This small boot does not fit over the gold portion of the pro 5.0, and the outter boot that bolts to the tranny tunnel fits over the whole assembly without any problems. The leather consul boots slides over the shifter handle with no problems either.

So I'm not sure what I'm supposed to cut to fit over the gold circular base that ShiftyCapaone has clearly illustrated in his picture.
-Andrew
P.S. the pro 5.0 shifts mighty fine - what a change from "SLOOOOPY JOE" stocker.....

 

Ahhh...now I see. Yes, the stocker did have that boot, but yeah, it didn't come close to fitting on the 5.0. I didn't use anything and have no probs at all.

Come to think of it, I remember my shifter came with a small packet of some type of grease...I think it was mostly for where the handle pivots at the base, not the stop bolts..... But I'm **** enough to put grease or anti-seize on every bolt thread I can to help prevent rust, so I probably did put grease on the stop bolts too. lol

And yeah, it's a huge improvement over the stock shifter. 2-3 shifts are much smoother.

 

My Hurst shifter came with the boot described above. It fit over the stops and totally sealed the shifter mechanism. It even came with a zip tie to make sure it didn't come off the base, although it fit tight and didn't really need it. You should call up Mr. Gasket (Hurst Distributor) and ask them for that boot. It looks like it should fit from my foggy recollection of the hurst install, might want to ask for dimensions though. I know I would want to use one, you know what they say....an ounce of prevention.

 

There is indeed a seal to the tranny on the housing but dirt can still make its way down the shifter handle and into the mechanism. This is a big problem with 4th gens and thats why they encourage you to modify the boot and even provide a cut template. It has been so long since I installed a 5.0 in a 3rd gen I simply can't remember what the boot exactly looks like. I thought it looked just like the 4th gen one and required the same cutting.

Having a seal under that gold lip keeps anything from getting near the opening in the center of the shifter.

 

I guess i will attempt ot jimmy something...like 91formulaSS has mentioned about the Hurst shifter.
I know that every thing is working fine at this point,and I didn't do any cutting. so....
But I guess just to keep dustand other "stuff"out of the base of the pro5.0 mechanisim i will jimmy someting to cover it all up.
-Andrew

 

and hereI thought I took the easy way out by cutting it....glad to see it needs to be done