Installing a red stitched shift boot from 2000 civic si in a 05 Civic LX Spec
 

well i have had this for a long time and wanted you all to know it can be done and it looks great and gets rid of that silver trim ring too.
well i had long hated the shift boot on my 05 civic lx spec 5 speed and had bought this 2000 or 2001 oem honda red stitched shift boot from my dealer here when i seen it..they said it would not work...they were wrong and it was so easy. i wanted all of you to know...all you have to do it this...remove your old trim with the boot from your 2001 to 2005 manual console.
take off that silver trim and discard
and then remove the boot itself it is just stapled in place and removes easily...now it get a little tricky but easy to do..there is a plastic piece that you can leave but i removed it because i prefer the way it fit once i did..after you remove all of it..i took a dremel and smoothed it all out and removed the tabs that held that silver trim from too...then all you have to do to install the new one..is there are 4 tabs that hold the old style boot on. i made two tabs that hold the front in place..and the rear is being held in place by two screws in the back just like it was in the 96 to 2001 civics..it fits perfect with just a little trimming of the metal frame that holds the boot in place. i will add pics tomorrow to show you all ...