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Thread: DIY: Make your own shift gaiter

  1. #1
    3,000 rpm - starting to feel the power George's Avatar
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    DIY: Make your own shift gaiter

    so, I've been making gaiters for some time now and thought I could do a DIY.

    You'll need:
    - a piece of vinyl, leather, cloth... whatever suits your needs
    - scissors
    - sharpie/pencil/pen
    - piece of cardboard/paper
    - somebody capable of using sewing machine
    - about 60-90 minutes

    First, take your old gaiter apart. Notice there are four pieces, two different (front/rear) and two identical (sides)


    Trace them on the paper, no it won't fit on one A4. It's good to use thicker paper or thin cardboard.


    I had them laminated since I make them quite often and it helps the paper to hold the shape


    Now trace the templates on the material you're gonna use to make the gaiter of


    Cut it out and have it inspected by the nearest quality inspector (the always curious cat)


    Find someone who can sew it for you if you can't do it yourself. They'll probably know, how to do it. You'll get this (sorry, I had the black one ready)


    Turn it inside out and trace the mounting holes from the old gaiter (you can also do this directly on the center console, to ensure best fit)


    You can either reuse the plastic ring you'll find on the old gaiter or just use a ziptie. Those "straps" will get wraped around and glued to it


    and that's it!
    I've done them from leather, vinyl and cloth in the past two years and had no problem yet with any of those materials
    you can kinda see it in those pictures... first one's cloth, second one's vinyl


  2. The Following User Says Thank You to George For This Useful Post:

    Phatmiata (09-02-2013)

  3. #2
    2,000 rpm - light wheelspin, no bog here! Skinny's Avatar
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    Nice write up, been doing these since I've owned a car. Don't feel limited to sticking with the four sides. You can do em in one piece for a seamless look too.

  4. #3
    3,000 rpm - starting to feel the power George's Avatar
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    yeah, I've made myself two piece one last time I wanted change. Will have to try a one piece sometime, thanks for the tip

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    Awesome, thanks for the write up! I was giving some thought to doing this when I rebuild my shifter, nice to see it all laid out ahead of time though...

  6. #5
    2,000 rpm - light wheelspin, no bog here! itzzspencer's Avatar
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    sweet... this should allow some creativity thanks!

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    Forum Sponsor revlimiter's Avatar
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    Awesome DIY, George. Rep given!

  8. #7
    1,000 rpm - releasing the clutch Clarence's Avatar
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    well done!
    i cutted a corner of a juta sack of coffee this is my shift gaiter

  9. #8
    3,000 rpm - starting to feel the power George's Avatar
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    got any picture of it?

    find 5 differences

  10. #9
    3,000 rpm - starting to feel the power morr's Avatar
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    Very cool! Thanks for the writeup George. I'll definitely be checking this out again.
    RoadsterLife<3

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    3,000 rpm - starting to feel the power f86sabjf's Avatar
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    great DIY George . I predict a lot of custom gaiters soon thanks to you

    another rep given

  12. #11
    2,000 rpm - light wheelspin, no bog here!
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    i made one for my na. do you by any chances have the dimensions?
    mine needs work

  13. #12
    3,000 rpm - starting to feel the power George's Avatar
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    I may have the templates saved somewhere in my computer, let me see

  14. #13
    3,000 rpm - starting to feel the power George's Avatar
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    here it is, the scale on bottom is in centimeters. It's a bit roug around the edges, but it should do

    http://www.garage5.cz/blog/wp-conten...-templates.jpg

  15. #14
    3,000 rpm - starting to feel the power Blueiii's Avatar
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    Bringing this back from the dead...

    I'm debating doing something like this for my car. How well did the cloth work? And how does it get fastened along the bottom edge? It appears that there are some type of holes in the cutout pictures. (I haven't rebuilt my shifter yet. . . coming in a few weeks.)

    I'm seriously considering doing a pink / black / white "plaid" in matching fabric for the door cards and the shift gaiter. Between this and some stainless, she'll be a "naughty goth school girl." (Be "she," I mean my car.)
    2012: Purchased Miata, Laid off 3 days later. 4th place overall (default!), NWOR SCCA (RTR)
    2013: Budget RTR build, massive increase in participation, 3rd place overall, NWOR SCCA (RTR)
    2014: Suspension and more active competition in STS. 3rd place overall, NWOR SCCA
    2015: Time for some "form" and vintage styling (while still racing NWOR, of course).


    Check out my Miata Journal: http://mazdaroadster.net/showthread....-miata-journal

  16. #15
    3,000 rpm - starting to feel the power George's Avatar
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    the cloth i fine as long as you have new/good shift boots. And yes, there are three holes you have to make when you finish the gaiter. I don't have them on the template as I prefer to make them directly on the plastic trim.

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