Well..this gonna be interesting....shifter boot/bezel

[SquareRoot]

I have recently installed my newly rebuilt NV4500 and Twin Stick NP205. As usual, the domino effect has reared it's ugly head and made things difficult. The problem is, there's not enough real estate on the trans tunnel to accommodate three sticks poking thru the floor. Now I gots to figure a solution to make it look like its not a trainwreck of bad ideas. I tried everything to get two shifter boots to fit and not overlap but gave up in frustration. I also have to consider the way they mount and the order they go together as I now have a removable floor cover. Eventually the carpet will go over the cover and the bezel over the carpet. I have virtually zero access from under the truck due to the size of the trans and associated shifter linkage on the t-case.

I concluded I would have to start from scratch. I opted to fab a bezel up with 1/2 x1/2 square tubing. One piece that incorporates both shifter boots. I can salvage the boot from a previous project for the Trans shifter I think. I'll get someone to sew me up a smaller boot with two holes for the T-case boot. I think I'll use some long machine screws on the corners of the bezel and install some Rivnuts in the removable cover. That way I can just screw the bezel to the floor from above and it will look good. This is what i got so far. Questions/comments/suggestions all welcome.

 

[SquareRoot]

I might add, I modified the factory NV4500 shifter. The thing is a monstrosity. I had to cut it apart to get the insert out of the bottom of it so I had something to screw onto the metric stub shaft. I also chopped of the knob end and used them with a steel 5/8 tapered rod I had to come up with something a little more practical.

 

[waterpirate]

That is Bad a$$! What ever you decide to do, make sure it looks right. It would be a shame to not finish it perfect after all that.
Eric

 

[Buck69]

Is there enough clearance to set up the NP205 with actuators and go air shift? That would be kind of unique and cool.

 

[SquareRoot]

Is there enough clearance to set up the NP205 with actuators and go air shift? That would be kind of unique and cool.

Maybe but, that would go against the theme of my truck. It's gotta be simple, reliable and bulletproof. It's built overkill on the premise of an expedition vehicle. Not all who roam are lost...lol.

 

[SquareRoot]

Update: Gonna have to rethink this. The bezel I made seemed like a good solution at the time but I have since realized there's no practical way to seal the hole where the twin sticks come thru. The boots and bezels between the shifter and the stick's are too damn close and I don't like overlapping them. Sooo, I'm going to go a new direction and fab a console that incorporates both shifters and incorporate a cup holder while I'm at it. I'll use mdf and fiberglass so I'm not limited on shapes and compound curves. I had to stare at it for awhile last night while the barley pop kicked in and then I remembered how I made the kickpanels for my speakers. See how that works! That's why I keep telling my wife that "I drink and I know things". lol. BTW, I ordered new ACC Carpet from RockAuto. Well see how that looks when it's finished.

 

[Doppleganger]

As absurd as this sounds....could you procure a couple of brushes - like from an ice scraper - and have them face each other? Most of the older cars I worked on had them both in the shifters and in the parking brake handle openings. Doesn't the 4WD lever have them too? Mind is soup.....cant remember.

 

[PrairieDrifter]

As absurd as this sounds....could you procure a couple of brushes - like from an ice scraper - and have them face each other? Most of the older cars I worked on had them both in the shifters and in the parking brake handle openings. Doesn't the 4WD lever have them too? Mind is soup.....cant remember.

90's chevys have got some lever brushes lol. Don't think any squares did.

 

[SquareRoot]

As absurd as this sounds....could you procure a couple of brushes - like from an ice scraper - and have them face each other? Most of the older cars I worked on had them both in the shifters and in the parking brake handle openings. Doesn't the 4WD lever have them too? Mind is soup.....cant remember.

I know what you mean....about the brushes and the mind. lol

 

[TotalyHucked]

Update: Gonna have to rethink this. The bezel I made seemed like a good solution at the time but I have since realized there's no practical way to seal the hole where the twin sticks come thru. The boots and bezels between the shifter and the stick's are too damn close and I don't like overlapping them. Sooo, I'm going to go a new direction and fab a console that incorporates both shifters and incorporate a cup holder while I'm at it. I'll use mdf and fiberglass so I'm not limited on shapes and compound curves. I had to stare at it for awhile last night while the barley pop kicked in and then I remembered how I made the kickpanels for my speakers. See how that works! That's why I keep telling my wife that "I drink and I know things". lol. BTW, I ordered new ACC Carpet from RockAuto. Well see how that looks when it's finished.

"I drink and I know things" Gonna have to steal that

 

[squaredeal91]

Off topic question. When you push on the clutch, how far past the brake pedal does it go before it starts pushing fluid? My clutch pedal is hard from the git. I'm tired of it, time to fix that. I'm Hydraulic too.

 

[SquareRoot]

Update:
Got the trans tunnel covered with 3M sound deadening mats. Also covered the removable panel I made. Together they made a perfect seal. Got the ACC carpet in. That was a chore! It comes way oversized and you end up trimming about 4 inches off the front and sides. Why they bother to sew the edge trim on it is beyond me because you're gonna cut it off anyway. The ACC carpet is a good product, I'm very happy with it. More to come tommorow.

 

[SquareRoot]

A few more..

 

[SquareRoot]

And more...

 

[SquareRoot]

I forget about the other mod I had pending; adding the manual vent in the driver's side kick panel. Figured now was a good time while I had the carpet out. Wrong! I made a template from my existing non-vent panel. I would have to remove the E-brake mechanism and the dash cluster to get access to the upper kick panel. That will have to wait. I did however holesaw the panel to verify it's just an open cavity in there. Sure enough, it's unoccupied space. I'll revisit that project next time I pull the guage cluster