You know it Ryan, parts can be difficult for these shifters. We’ve got 2 Mr. Gasket v-gates one was purchased just for parts and better linkage to support the one I’ve mocked up. We have acquired 3 boots in varied conditions from very worn to new. Wanting to make sure that we can maintain this shifter choice for a long time. Your boy is one lucky kid if the old man helps set him up with such a great car.
If for some reason I find I don’t like the v-gate as well as I did a Hurst Ram Rod 4 (that's the exact shifter that was in the Chevelle mentioned earlier), we sourced one of those as well. It’s not currently as pretty as my v-gate and finding a boot for that shifter has proven even more difficult than the v-gate. We’ve watched eBay for years and when they show up, wow (money money)! One “
NOS 1960s RAM ROD HURST VERTAGATE 4SP SHIFTER BOOT & RETAINER CHEVY FORD MOPAR” has been on there for years, $1,000 for a shifter boot, a shifter boot, unreal.
Funny thing is, I did just find one of these boots and pulled the trigger. Not perfect but it’s not a grand either.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/30424938070...0AAOSwAzBhqS7Q
I can report the backup switch is working with a pretty simple fabricated piece. The Hurst Ram Rod 4 linkage has a reverse lever designed to work with these switches. Using it as a pattern, made a thin 18 gauge arm to actuate the switch as it doesn’t take hardly any force to accomplish this. Thinking a little paint and this will work perfecto,
we can move on to servicing the shifter (clean, lube, and reassemble with the best pieces).