First Sample 1965-72 Skyark Shift Boot without console

Mark, I suspect your pic is the lower seal (for apps with console)?
I'll try to explain, but it gets confusing!

I have both a 1966 and a 1973 Buick parts book....

For applications WITH consolette:
The 1966 parts book shows pn 388494 for 1966 with console (no listing for 1965)
But, according to a 1973 Buick parts book, pn is 3903962.
Fits:
-65 Special/Skylark 4spd with 2nd Type round shifter handle.
-65-67 Skylark GS 4spd
Note that the 1973 book pn has an extra digit, so maybe the original boot pn was superseded. We'll need a 1965 parts book to verify what your 65 originally called for.

For applications WITHOUT consolette:
1966 parts book shows pn 384431 for 1965-66 Skylark GS
1973 parts book shows pn 384431 for:
-1965 Special/Skylark (less GS) with 2nd type round shift handle
-1965-67 Skylark GS

The boot that was in my silver '66 4peed car had a pn molded into it:

And here is a comparison of the '66 pn 384431 boot (left) with the repo boot offered by Fusick (right):

The repo Fusick book is obviously larger than the '66 boot.
Can someone comment on how the 1970 boot compares to these?

 

this company has this style boot uzzled:


http://www.supercarsunlimited.com/Items.cfm?CategoryID=268

 

That looks like an early Chevelle boot. It would work fine for 65-67 cars with a console....you wouldn't see it anyway once the console is installed. Besides, it's only $25. The Chevelle metal retainer is indentical to the '66 GS one....repo ring is $22.50.

 

Walt,

Great pictures. My car has no consolette. I wonder if GM changed the design slightly for 66 and superceded the part that was used OEM in 65.
It doesn't appear the boot on my car was ever changed. The car still had the original trans/shifter/carpet/etc. I'd be curious to see if anyone else has a 4 speed car with that boot.

I have a 65 parts book. I'll look it up and post what I find.

Mark

 

If you have a consolette the bottom boot is buick specific. As far as we all know there is no repro upper boot that is 100% correct for the consolette application.

 

Is this one you bought off ebay? I remember trying to win one but it got out of my $$ range. I wonder what would be the interest in repoducing that one correctly. I thought all the 4 spd cars had a lower boot with or without a console. It is designed to keep dirt out of the shifter. I would be willing to pay for one if its near reasonable. Someone could make this

 

All consolette cars had a lower and upper boot. The lower boot on consolette cars kept dirt and grease out of the consolette and carpet. The non-consolette boot on '65's I've seen was smaller, and had a round outline, without the tall side flat, that resembles the later cars' "shifter hump" sheetmetal, to keep the accordion level for a better look. It's a royal pain to remove the boots from the lockout shifter, as you have to remove the lockout assembly (and eventually reassemble the frayed cable throught the tiny keeper). The repro boots have enough stretch to make it, but it looks like someone cut the top of Walt's 384431 to get it off. The bottom of the 384431 has a 3/8 or 1/2 inch rise between the base and an upper rectangular apron that spreads over the carpet.
I was lucky that my latest GS's boot was ripped in a circle deep in the lowest angle of the accordion. I used Goop contact cement and sealant (in the small blue tube), cleaned the edges with soap and water. With a lot of patience, and some Scuf Magic, it looks almost new. It will take some looking to see the repair, and will be the only option for the near future, as the repops you are showing don't look right. Even a very torn up boot, if complete can look really good with some effort. We Buick guys have gotten used to making do with original parts, haven't we:3gears: Dan