Yes, No, Maybe?

Here's my first draft on my new shifter boot. I lack the proper tools to make it perfect but I figured before I actually went all out and took my time to do it cleaner I'd get a little feedback. Like? Don't like?
My hopes were to create an "old skool" look. Something that would have come from the garage of a 50's or 60's weekend racer.

I really like it ! ! It has just that 50's/60's weekend racer look !!

Around here, a lot of the auto cross and hill climb cars still HAVE that look. Some are old, some are newer, but there are a whole lot of British sportscars that are still competitive and still wear their modifications from back when.

Mickey,
Not bad. But I think the proportions are slightly off.
Maybe a little longer. No pop rivets or spot welds. Maybe polished aluminum or brushed. Holes or louvers on the sides?
I'd look at some vintage airplanes for inspiration.
The other route would be like Merklin does - Square rubber boot with a stainless square ring at the base, like you find in the old muscle cars.
If you're going to leave the brake lever where it is you gotta go with one like Corey's - Spyder style.

I like the direction you're going.

Ditto what Terry said. Longer, with few, if any rivets. You're on the right path.

That's so funny. My original cardboard mock up was longer by an inch and higher by a 1/2 inch, I made it smalled because it looked huge. And when I did the rivets I was going to do fewer but for whatever reason I did more. I guess I thought it looked more "proper".
I lack the tools to do the things mentioned (louvers, ect) And I have searched hi and lo for an aluminum box to modify. It's actually what I had envisioned but couldn't find one, and I searched and searched.
Does anyone know where I can get an aluminum box that measures apprx. 3x3x5 inches? Otherwise I'll have to go this route with a few less rivets. Thanks.

Check out a Radio Shack or other electronics store. They used to carry such boxes for electronics projects. Of course that was when I was in engineering school - erm, a few years ago.

Also, try a search for deep drawn aluminum enclosures (or just drawn enclosures)

Thanks Scott. I didn't know what they were called. I found them all over the net but obviously these were companies that sell them in bulk to retail. Radio Shack does offer one that may be a bit of a tight fit, but for $3 I'll pick one up and see.
I'll have to check out a few electric suppliers in the area and see if I can just buy one from them.
I think I can still get that old skool look but with a cleaner finish. I can add what ever embelishments to it to give it the racer look.

Mickey,

For die cast Al boxes try these folks: http://www.mpja.com/products.asp?dept=245

Tomm

Perfect Tomm. Thanks!

Terry,
I was considering drilling some holes in it (hand brake handle) to give it that "saving weight" look. I HATE the hand brake there (I've said it a million times) but for the hassle of relocating it, not to mention I use it alot parking on the street, it's gonna stay where it is for now. I recall someone saying they made the Spyder style brakes but they were pretty pricy. Would it be a switch out or is there some mounting fab work needed?

I made these for Spyders, as mentioned elsewhere I am thinking of a decent way to build something similar for my Speedster. The 550 Spyder format is not quite right for our cars as you can see. I worked on it for a bit yesterday but inspiration has yet to strike.

A parking brake needs to meet several criteria;

1) cosmetically attractive or look "proper" in a number of different "themed" cars
2) substantial improvement looks wise over what we currently have
in the car
3) actually work
4) be fairly easy to install

I built and sold about 100 of these Spyder kits, but it was easier to semi duplicate a real one, and Spyders generally do not have the degree of finish many people have in their Speedsters. What looks good in a Spyder might not look good in most Speedsters.

The brake in the car with the red seats is a production powder coated version, the other 2 photos are of a rattle can painted prototype, just fyi. The powdercoated versions looked decent, not as good as doing them in stainless, or chrome plating them, but OK in a Spyder. I made a few with lightening holes in the handle and the release, but I don't have photos of those...

Jim,
I knew someone here fabricated the Spyder brake - excellent work.
Could you fab an aluminum box to replace the rubber(or, in my case leather) boot that covers the VW e-brake? One that follows the arc, like on the spyder brake?
Put a few holes in it or machine-tool the metal...
I think that would help the looks substantially.

Terry, I will see what something like that might look like, when I get a few minutes, hopefully later today.

Mickey,

I have a few pairs of aluminum valve covers, They're about three inches high and three wide and as long as a Chevy cylinder head, but you could easily cut one down to length and join the two shortened halves with JB Weld, or I could do it for you if you gave me the length that you want.

I have some ol'skool finned Cal Custon covers from my Corvette, some signature-style Edlebrocks from my V8 Volkswagen panel, and some older Mickey Thompson covers from a friend.

You're welcome to make an "aluminum box" out of any of them. Just lemme know, OK?


Forum Prick


Oh, hey, I just noticed something . . . if you want to go rounded, you could use one of those cast aluminum nine hole steering wheel adapters/mounts. Hog out the splines and stuff for the shifter to poke through and move freely, grab up a large V8 juice can and trim the top to open for the shifter and drill around the remaining lip to accept the nine bolts that hold the steering wheel adapter on in an up-side-down position, then trim the sides of the can into a saddle configuration to fit the tunnel. Krinkle black finish on the juice can, sand cast finish on the opened up adapter.

A nice vinyl/leather boot or the rubber boot from a 911 and it would look pretty neat and semi-factory racing in a strong way.

I might not be clear, but I could whip together a mock-up and photograph it if you're at all interested.

WOW! Jim, those are beautiful! I know what you mean about different looks in regard to the Speedsters. However one of those would fit the look for my Speedster perfectly. If you figure something out I'd be keen to buy one from you. Regardless of the cost of that handle it would probably pale in comparison to the headache of relocating the ebrake. Plus, as I said before, I do actually use mine and it's very convenient where it is. So lemme know what you come up with. And if you come up snake eyes on that roll I'm interested in Terry's idea of an ebrake cover box.

I went by radio shack today and picked up two of those enclosures. The size looks to be about perfect but I have to get over to my car and size it up to be sure. I think I can make it work with little work. If it doesn't work I can get something a little bigger from that sire Tomm posted.

TC,
I have been plotting and scheming a solution to the boot issue for awhile. Thanks for you generous offers. I'll let you know. I actaully considered going with a round version. I bought an aluminum thermos and cut the bottom section off. I was going to cut the hole for the rubber boot when the "make your own alumium box" idea hit me. The box seems more fitting to me for some reason.

You could have just bought some Baby Moons, Mickey ...
Now, you're on to a handbrake lever ...
C o m e t o t h e D a r k S i d e ...

I would hide the box under a console that would run the length of the tunnel. all cover in interior matching materials

Jim,

Those are too cool.

George

Micky-

Jim's e-brake is every bit as cool as an umbrella pull, and WAY easier. I'd forget about anything else- just weld in a tubular bracket for it, and be done with it. It'll look perfect.

Mickey-regarding the enclosures purchased at the "Shack": could you mount this kind boot/plate to the top of an enclosure? 2nd one down!

http://www.hurst-shifters.com/hurst-products/Shifter-Boots;jsessionid=0a0101441f43c3d597f5e1594e99adedbff16e95264b.e3eSc3uNaNuTe34Pa38Ta38Obx50

Scott,
The Shack enclosure is 5.25" Long x 3" wide x 2.25 deep. In my quest for the right boot I did pick up a couple of the ones on that site. The top one with the flat plate I think is too wide but I guess the plate could be trimmed to fit the top of the enclosure. I can't recall? I may still have it laying around. If I do I'll check it out for you.

Below is "Phase Two". I added the rivets for effect. Well that, and I had to cut the bottom out so the rivets keep the side panels secure.
I think I like it. I still have to get it to my car and see how it sits on the tunnel. I think I'm going to rivet a few tabs to it and screw them into the tunnel to secure it.

Jim,
What's your situation with those handbrakes? Can anyone steer me in the direction of how to mount one of those?

Cory,
I'm already there my man.

Much better, Mickey.

Mickey-did you form that riveted box? Nice bend-up. (If you did it, what kind of brake do you use?)
Add-made a mistake - thought you went with the die-cast enclosures(?)

Ditto what Terry said - again. Now get some Simichrome polish and shine it up.

Thanks guys. I just slipped it over the shifter and it fits perfect. I'm going to clean it up when I put the carpet and seats in, after paint. Hopefully I can find a solution to the ebrake in the meantime.

Scott,
That was not my work. That's the enclosure from Radio Shack. I did the rivets and cut a 2" hole in top for the rubber boot. Once the that was done I cut the underside out all the way across and left about a 1/2" on the ends, it fit perfectly over the shifter. $5 for the boot and $3 for the aluminum enclosure.

Though it may not be for everyone I think it's a neat alternative to the typical vinyl boot used most of the time. Hopefully it'll fit the look when everything is done.

Thanks for everyones help. As always, this site is sooooo worth the smiley face.

Looks are million, cost only $8. Well done I say!

Well, It's only my opinion but I think a car as nice as yours needs something better than that flimsy RS box. Get a die cast box and polish it up real nice, it will look a million times better. Maybe even put an ink eraser in the drill press and 'engine turn' the finish.

Another idea is a section of Aluminum extrusion with a screwed on cover plate. Search for Pomona boxes on line. I think the p/n you want is 3316.

Tomm

Thanks Tomm. I would like something a little more "solid" looking. The great thing is all this stuff is relatively inexpensive so it's not a problem "evolving" to the final product. I'll keep you all posted on the progress.

Eh? Howsabout this guy?
http://www.jcwhitney.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product?PID=1205240%3FstoreId%3D10101&PID=1205240&PID=1205240%3FstoreId%3D10101&PID=1205240&Pr=p_Product.CATENTRY_ID%3A2008511&catalogId=10101&catalogId=10101&catalogId=10101&productId=2008511&langId=-1&langId=-1&langId=-1&langId=-1&SID=browse&SID=browse&SID=browse&SID=browse&AID=10273849&AID=10273849&AID=10273849&AID=10273849&storeId=10101&storeId=10101

Mickey, I know it's a Mercedes, but look past that a little and see how the idea works on the curves, especially with your bumpers the way they are.
If this doesn't scream "PAINT THE LITTLE DINK LIKE THIS!" -- then I don't know what does.
Flop the silver for red and vice-versa ... :
http://flickr.com/photos/isthisblog/533513271/

"PAINT THE LITTLE DINK"

WTF?!?!?!


ForUm PricK

TC, I've dubbed Mickey's car the Little Delinquent.

I don't know Cory, to do the numbers correctly would take an artist and the only one I know is off in Africa chasing pirates.

"off in Africa chasing pirates"

Is THAT what he's up to? I thought that he was sitting in an air conditioned shipping container writing about all of the chasin' . . . ?

Have a friend who was deployed to Iraq, ended up in France folding clothes. He never DID find out just where they were shipped to, he just folded them. Received a nice salary and a bump in his retirement base as well for the inconvenience.

They who fold, also serve.


He wears his camo slacks and jacket still . . .


Semper Sci Fi ! ! !