So, we've painted this part, but just can't remember what it is? Maybe it doesn't belong on my '65 Mercury M250?

 

Is it for a fresh air heater intake?

 

I did some searching, it looks like a plate that goes over my New Process 4-speed transmission, beneath the foam pad weather cover.



I don't remember ever having the foam, or we lost it? I actually built a new foam pad, but I didn't install the plate first.



I have unfortunately installed the cover and the new floor already so I might have to pull it all out again.

 

Wild guess, goes over shift tower before you put foam that seals against floor board

 

Yep, you are correct. I guess I better put in the plate to keep the foam dry and prevent it rotting out.

 

I'm glad I didn't glue the floor mat and jute to the cab, installing the plate was pretty easy.

 

That plate is to be oriented in a certain way. Mine has a hole in it to accept a screw from the mounting of the rubber boot but I forgot which way it goes... I don't think it is critical.
Eric

 

Hmm, my plate had no holes. I don't think it will go anywhere, the foam pressed down on the plate good after I screwed down the larger cover.

My transmission cover has no holes either. I never had the large rubber boot (#78118), just the smaller one that slips onto the shift tower.

 

Trans is NP435. The small rubber boot you mention is both to keep dirt out from above and keep lube oil in. As the oil flys around inside it finds its way up to lube the half round pivot ball that's built into the stick. In the seat where the ball part sits there may be a drilled hole to help the oil drain back and not build up to where it may leak around the small boot/seal. Not sure on this part, but I think there is a rib on the stick and rib or double rib in the boot and pressing the ribs over each other will seal the stick.
I think on my 66 f-250 the large boot, retainer screws, just go into the removable floor pan.

 

So if one has the larger boot (#78118) does it go right over the smaller boot / seal or do you pull off the smaller boot / seal first?

 

You should have the larger boot as well, Dan. It is the small one that goes missing - I lost mine - and it's not really necessary, so far... On a couple of my recent trucks the boot retaining bolt goes through that plate but it probably doesn't matter and may not have been Ford's plan.
Eric

 

Basic order, mystery plate, foam, small boot / seal anytime before the large boot, then floor pan.
Now you have a choice whether you have a carpet or rubber floor mat. If your hole in mat or carpet is in the correct position the retainer and screws can be hidden from sight.

If new and you have to cut it, best done with shift stick removed from trans and the mat or carpet laid out for a while if you want A Nice Clean Appearance. Place carpet or mat in the truck and position it where it should be. Tuck the front up under the lower edge of the firewall insulation. Make sure your centered left and right from the door sills, especially if you have the sill trim pieces the will cover the edges of the carpet or mat. Cut an X in the mat or carpet over the shift tower and make it larger as needed to let the carpet go down to the floor. Once laid out nice an flat and positioned correctly, cut the carpet to match the hole in the floor pan. Remove the carpet, install the shift stick, install large boot and retainer. Put the carpet in and you can work it around the lowest fat rib of the large boot and it will cover your cut in the carpet.

If its a mat, be careful, the mat is not as forgiving as the carpet and you could tear the mat. Some put the large boot and retainer over the mat and let the the retainer show. Boot will hide the screws and some of the retainer.

 

I luckily still have the smaller boot, but I'll continue the hunt for the large one, it will turn up eventually.

 

Thanks IICAP, it looks I'm on the right track here. I've already got the floor mat in, and we only cut a small hole, just to get over the shift tunnel.
I've got some jute backing under there too, so the new floor mat is now a bit closer to the small rubber boot.

 

Isn't that the large boot in the last photo? If so I think it goes over the carpet. I know the large boot goes over the rubber mat and the four screws go through the steel ring in the boot and through the mat into the trans cover. I've never had a slick with factory carpet so I could be completely wrong about this.
Eric