Gear lever rubber gaiter

[Malc]

Having had all the interior bits re-trimmed (GB Classic Trim in Nuneaton - excellent), I think I am finally getting closer to re-fitting them all (mind you, I’ve been saying that for months but I’m optimistic!). Anyway, I’m trying to sort out all the little ancillary bits and have come to the gear lever rubber gaiter. The one for the Series 1 is BD27500 and is a certain shape:

https://www.sngbarratt.com/uk/#!/Englis ... ee17c82fd0

However I’m sure remember reading on this Forum (but I can’t find it, hence this new post) that it is better to use the Series 3 gaiter - I can’t remeber why; it might have been because it fouls less or prevents drafts or whatever. However the S3 gaiter (BD29420) is a different shape (and cost three times as much!):

https://www.sngbarratt.com/uk/#!/Englis ... a56863e45f

Can someone advise if a), it is better to use the S3 gaiter on an S1 car, and if so b), are there any problems with fitting?

PS Pete Crespin - referring to a post years ago, yes I do have the big oily sponge for the top of the gearbox!

Thanks a lot.

[1954Etype]

Hi Malc, yes, fit the S3 thinner gaiter - stops fouling. Angus

[Jeremy]

GB did a superb job on mine but it was Angus who told me they had fitted the wrong (fat) rubber gaiter (top photo below) underneath the leather gaiter - which made the gear change very stuff, esp getting into second. Assuming you also have a later 4.2 like mine (with the leather or leatherette gaiter on top) you need the slimmer version (bottom photo):

[Malc]

Thanks Angus & Jeremy. I have dug out the old (split) one and see it is also the S3 gaiter. It’s ironic that the one for the S1, which seems more complicated to manufacture, is a third of the price of the one for the S3! Still,since when was the price of E-Type parts logical.

[PeterCrespin]

It’s ironic that the one for the S1, which seems more complicated to manufacture, is a third of the price of the one for the S3! Still,since when was the price of E-Type parts logical.

The S1 part, which is correct for your car (but not pre 66 or post 68) was never supposed to go under anything, just emerge through the round hole in the trimmed cover above it. So without a leather or vinyl gaiter would be cheaper overall. First sighting I’ve come accross is the 2+2 interior shots in the launch brochures and first road tests. Those cars were built in late 65.

dkss

[rfs1957]

Either I'm daft or there are some non sequiturs floating around here.

The S1 shiny rubber-bellows part was surely always under a leather gaiter, never visible ?

My car (1962) uses that type,





and whether with the beige version of the trim that the car came with,



or the red re-trim that I did in 2017,



the issue of the leather gaiter was never an issue.

I'm surprised that the type of rubber gaiter could make any difference to the gearchange as on my car the bellows is never near anything that could cause it to foul or reduce the travel.



(It may be 5-speed but the lever exits in exactly the same place, and the bellows is mounted as per original even if the cover-mouth has been modified ...............)

Regarding the foam noise-reduction pad, anyone having to make one of these could do worse than this, which has worked successfully for many years.





Details towards the end of this :

http://forum.etypeuk.com/viewtopic.php? ... eed#p42324

[PeterCrespin]

Hi Rory

Yours is a 3.8 and very diiferent.

For a couple of years starting 1E20103/1E30350) Jag used a subtly different trim piece with an approximately round hole through which the upper round ball part of a thick rubber grommet protruded (BD27500). The base of that moulding is held to the transmission cover by a flat steel trapezoid ring and screws in the normal way. Most people prefer a leather or vinyl gaiter and sometimes you see them just fitted over this bulbous type of rubber gaiter (part 36 in plate 49 of the S1 4.2 spares book), which then looks like a pregnant woman in a late-term frock, and can affect gearchanges.

To fit the leather boot you should use a thinner, low profile rubber gaiter on the tunnel and open up the round hole to the trapezoidal edges of the trim piece and fit the leather to that. Then fit a thin chrome trim around the enlarged hole and the round chrime bezel to fit the top of the ‘wigwam’ to the gearstick. All shown in period pictures.