Progress Thread Finally got my first Fox Body - 1988 GT

Took the boot off the stock shifter today and it doesn’t seem like it will fit around the SVE shifter.
A9E39301-E2C8-4684-AD88-0B62BB522447.jpeg
FBEE83C7-D371-455E-8C3A-90A8B9540753.jpeg

I assume the one I ordered will be the same size. Will have to look around and see if there’s something that will fit this shifter.
 
  • Sponsors (?)


Thanks. Do you know where you got the dust boot?

I’m looking at this pic of the pro-5.0 and it seems like it might be similar in size to the SVE. Maybe the pro-5.0 is slightly bigger.

Pro-5.0
610B66BD-9F1D-45B5-85AB-5B76F9CADA20.jpeg
5C6481B4-2F7C-43CD-B0AA-67B5E9FDB949.jpeg

SVE
B05B5ABB-4C39-479D-ADE3-3B160758F7A4.jpeg

If that’s the case, maybe I could use something like this, which is designed for the pro 5.0 shifter. Kind of expensive though..

 
IMG_20210107_101106.jpg

Well, that was unexpected, it appears to have melted, it has been there for 50k miles but I would have thought it would not be like this.
I trimmed the boot to fit under the ring and squeezed it over, it fit pretty tight, something else added to the list. And I just got the seat back in too! :doh:
 
  • Surprised
Reactions: 1 user
You could use something like this with elastic or draw string top and bottom. Worth a try. No one but us will ever see it sitting below the mustang shifter opening seal and boot.

Screenshot_20210107-125114_Chrome.jpg
 
  • Haha
Reactions: 1 user
If you have a 1/4" drive ratchet / sockets you don't need to take the console out, I've remove the shifter multiple times
with the console in.
Didn't realize you were taking it out just for the shifter , I thought you were removing it for other reasons.
My bad, just noticed you are also doing some stereo wiring etc.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: 1 user
Lower shift boot and metal “ring” arrived yesterday. Old versus new:
50FA4FE3-EDE9-452C-9A51-40D52444C013.jpeg 6ABAAE95-E27D-460C-93A0-2CEE5E54E1DD.jpeg

My three different shifter handle options

OEM
31516267-5472-4320-9894-7782215DD2C9.jpeg
S
EC1A67CB-15F1-42D0-ACD0-3840AB8F1F71.jpeg

SVE - probably going to try this one first
B6830A64-70C0-457B-98D7-D047D5BCDF5C.jpeg
 
Thought about bringing back this classic...
4BE2B395-0692-4BBB-B7A1-8D4BD1190379.jpeg

I tried the OEM dust cover again but it just isn’t gonna fit. I think I could use the old lower shift boot to mock up something but I’m just going to try it with only the lower shift boot and check on the shifter after driving it a few times.

B65B22DF-3A0B-49FC-82CF-F5F977AED1C1.jpeg
C3A33249-BD97-447D-B92A-E2B697E3EA5A.jpeg

Tried to get the center console back in with no luck last night. Didn’t want to break something so I called it a night and watched some TV with my wife. Will make an attempt again today, lol.
 
Over the years I’ve had Steeda, SVE, and MGW shifters in various cars and I’ve never gotten the OEM dust cover to work. The noise boot you installed will be sufficient.

The ‘90s Soundstream amp really takes me back. I had one similar in my ‘87 4 cylinder fox back then. Don’t trash that that. Soundstream was tier 1 back then along with PPI and there is a vintage market for it.
 
Over the years I’ve had Steeda, SVE, and MGW shifters in various cars and I’ve never gotten the OEM dust cover to work. The noise boot you installed will be sufficient.

The ‘90s Soundstream amp really takes me back. I had one similar in my ‘87 4 cylinder fox back then. Don’t trash that that. Soundstream was tier 1 back then along with PPI and there is a vintage market for it.
The new dust boot arrived today actually. Interesting packaging...
43DE6306-86F2-4D81-B955-7A30C29F5996.jpeg

Confirming what you already said...I couldn’t get it to fit on the SVE shifter.
3A7D4E19-230D-4498-9EFC-74775309CA57.jpeg

New compared to old
4D146B71-8AC7-44E9-95FD-F028DDFA07CC.jpeg

I guess I can just give it to someone who is using a stock shifter or something.

Got the shifter installed finally and got the interior mostly put back together. Will get my video with the rest of the installation and “review” up soon.
AFBB7BD6-0FF4-4126-B608-9E58B89AAE21.jpeg
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: 3 users
Out of the three I would go with the SVE knock off of the Pro5.0 shifter
Actually just tested all three shifter handles last night back to back and I’m definitely digging the one that came with the SVE shifter. Seems to be weighted/balanced perfectly for the shifter.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 user
I’ve made zero progress recently...I blame the weather mostly. Snow the last two weekends and freezing temperatures over a couple of weeks before that. I really need to get some type of insulation for my garage. This was last weekend.
837E5596-E843-45F4-BC92-E3CB36427448.jpeg
93D2531C-9FEF-4FF1-A112-9CCAD5A16A30.jpeg

My other excuse is that we spent a couple of weeks test driving multiple vehicles before finally buying one early last week. I made a video about it, naturally.


View: https://youtu.be/Y_mVj_4bKz0


I didn’t put all the details in the video or it would be like three hours long but if anyone is on the tall side and in the market for a crossover, I can offer lots of insight. We tested 11 vehicles before choosing one.

The Fox has lost its garage space for the time being but hopefully once the weather starts cooperating, I can get back to making some progress. Glad I at least got this car cover from the previous owner. This is from this morning. Most of the snow had melted and then it started coming down heavy overnight.

1587D2E6-14C8-434F-8BC4-D3C288583641.jpeg
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 user
I’ve made zero progress recently...I blame the weather mostly. Snow the last two weekends and freezing temperatures over a couple of weeks before that. I really need to get some type of insulation for my garage. This was last weekend.
837E5596-E843-45F4-BC92-E3CB36427448.jpeg
93D2531C-9FEF-4FF1-A112-9CCAD5A16A30.jpeg

My other excuse is that we spent a couple of weeks test driving multiple vehicles before finally buying one early last week. I made a video about it, naturally.


View: https://youtu.be/Y_mVj_4bKz0


I didn’t put all the details in the video or it would be like three hours long but if anyone is on the tall side and in the market for a crossover, I can offer lots of insight. We tested 11 vehicles before choosing one.

The Fox has lost its garage space for the time being but hopefully once the weather starts cooperating, I can get back to making some progress. Glad I at least got this car cover from the previous owner. This is from this morning. Most of the snow had melted and then it started coming down heavy overnight.

1587D2E6-14C8-434F-8BC4-D3C288583641.jpeg

Oh no!! Pushed to the outside..... say it ain’t so!
 
  • Agree
  • Haha
Reactions: 1 users