Manual MT Shifter Boot Swap Onto Automatic AT Shifter Assembly?

[soulstice]

Right now, I'm currently leaning towards an automatic transmission for a number of practical reasons.

One of the things I don't particularly like on the automatic is the ugly PRND on the left of the AT shifter boot.

Now the AT and MT shifters both sit on a round base. I was wondering if it was possible to just outright cover over the PRND by using the MT boot as a cover spanning the whole area. I'm assuming there's something on the instrument panel that would indicate what gear you're in so this shouldn't be a big deal from a practicality standpoint. I know there is also a button near the top which I'm not sure what it's for but if that needs to be accessible I'm sure something can be figured out.

Anyone try this?

[Sutty]

Originally Posted by soulstice

Right now, I'm currently leaning towards an automatic transmission for a number of practical reasons.

One of the things I don't particularly like on the automatic is the ugly PRND on the left of the AT shifter boot.

Now the AT and MT shifters both sit on a round base. I was wondering if it was possible to just outright cover over the PRND by using the MT boot as a cover spanning the whole area. I'm assuming there's something on the instrument panel that would indicate what gear you're in so this shouldn't be a big deal from a practicality standpoint. I know there is also a button near the top which I'm not sure what it's for but if that needs to be accessible I'm sure something can be figured out.

Anyone try this?

Not sure about boot swap over but the button is a manual override if the auto shifter locks up for some reason (i.e. fault) and should only be used in the event of an emergency. Can't see why you couldn't cover it with the boot, it wouldn't be hard to locate through the material should you need to use ut.

[soulstice]

Just wanted to resurface this question since I now have a car enroute to me(ended up getting a BRZ).

Would love to see anyone who has pictures of this and how they handled the overdrive button.

If no one has done this then I might be the first to try it if I can figure out where to get the OEM boot cover.

[finch1750]

Originally Posted by soulstice

Just wanted to resurface this question since I now have a car enroute to me(ended up getting a BRZ).

Would love to see anyone who has pictures of this and how they handled the overdrive button.

If no one has done this then I might be the first to try it if I can figure out where to get the OEM boot cover.

I just did this swap, and it is not just a direct swap as there are a few issues.

1) The opening on the MT boot is too large for the AT. (My GF sewed a snap button in front of it to tighten it up closed)

2) The boot and the PRND piece cannot fit together on the underside of the ring where the boot screws in. This is an issue as the PRND is a controller of some sort, at least for the manual shifts from the AT lever. (I fixed this by velcroing the PRND piece under the center console in front of the cup holder section.

I can take better pictures tomorrow of all these individual things as it is too dark and my car is put back together, but I still am working on swapping the pins in the shifter to fix the manual patern. Here is an overall pic for right now

[finch1750]

Originally Posted by Snowblind

AT trying to be a MT car.

I did it as I am "fixing" the manual shift mode to the correct pattern. That would make the PRND piece incorrectly labeled and this seemed like the cleanest solution. I don't give a rats ass if people think i drive at or mt. It my own ocd that didnt want something labeled incorrectly.

[itdansharpe]

Originally Posted by finch1750

I did it as I am "fixing" the manual shift mode to the correct pattern. That would make the PRND piece incorrectly labeled and this seemed like the cleanest solution. I don't give a rats ass if people think i drive at or mt. It my own ocd that didnt want something labeled incorrectly.

This is a very cool idea, and I for one LOVE my auto.

[soulstice]

Originally Posted by finch1750

I did it as I am "fixing" the manual shift mode to the correct pattern. That would make the PRND piece incorrectly labeled and this seemed like the cleanest solution. I don't give a rats ass if people think i drive at or mt. It my own ocd that didnt want something labeled incorrectly.

Exactly. I'm flipping the pattern as well so appreciate you sharing pics of what you're doing. The PRND is hideous in this car so covering up with the boot is the best option. Look forward to seeing your new pics.

What is the part number for the boot? I can't seem to fined it.

[finch1750]

Originally Posted by soulstice

Exactly. I'm flipping the pattern as well so appreciate you sharing pics of what you're doing. The PRND is hideous in this car so covering up with the boot is the best option. Look forward to seeing your new pics.

What is the part number for the boot? I can't seem to fined it.

Sorry. Cant help with a P/N. I bought it of a local guy who gutted his interior. Though JPM Coachworks makes nice pieces that Im sure are the same if not cheaper than OEM. They are a vendor here so just check the interior classifieds.

[boucher]

Leave the MT>AT BS elsewhere. I like this idea, as I did it on my AUTO Acura RSX a few years ago. I never acted like it was a 5sp or implied that it wasn't an auto. It did, however, make the interior a lot more aesthetically pleasing. Props to the auto guys who do this mod.

[soulstice]

Any update pics on what you did with the prnd?

Originally Posted by finch1750

I just did this swap, and it is not just a direct swap as there are a few issues.

1) The opening on the MT boot is too large for the AT. (My GF sewed a snap button in front of it to tighten it up closed)

2) The boot and the PRND piece cannot fit together on the underside of the ring where the boot screws in. This is an issue as the PRND is a controller of some sort, at least for the manual shifts from the AT lever. (I fixed this by velcroing the PRND piece under the center console in front of the cup holder section.

I can take better pictures tomorrow of all these individual things as it is too dark and my car is put back together, but I still am working on swapping the pins in the shifter to fix the manual patern. Here is an overall pic for right now

[finch1750]

Originally Posted by soulstice

Any update pics on what you did with the prnd?

I got stuck messing with swapping the wiring and haven't gone back since I didn't have a tool small enough it seems. Gonna buy some screw drivers this week and take another go at it. I'll snap pics prob Wednesday or Thursday

[finch1750]

Originally Posted by soulstice

Any update pics on what you did with the prnd?

Ok, well I went to work on this Thursday and the velcro melted off due to the heat here (I should have known better.) I may end up just like wrapping the piece in foam for protection and leaving it in the cavity loose. My real worry was rattling/damage so just being loose shouldnt be too big of an issue I think.

[soulstice]

Originally Posted by finch1750

Ok, well I went to work on this Thursday and the velcro melted off due to the heat here (I should have known better.) I may end up just like wrapping the piece in foam for protection and leaving it in the cavity loose. My real worry was rattling/damage so just being loose shouldnt be too big of an issue I think.

I'm getting a manual boot sent to me in the next couple of days. I'll try this out one of these weekends and post what I end up doing if I figure something clever out. Hard to say until I get under there and see what's going on.

[finch1750]

Originally Posted by soulstice

I'm getting a manual boot sent to me in the next couple of days. I'll try this out one of these weekends and post what I end up doing I figure something clever out. Hard to say until I get under there and see what's going on.

Yeah. I've been looking at it trying to figure something out. I may try timming the leather and dremeling the hole in the PRND piece a bit bigger to see if it can't fit somehow. I'll post updates when and can and check back. One of us should be able to figure out a clean solution.