this is still in the rough stage, just wanted to give you an idea and let you know it will be done very soon. i gota lot goin on. also i have done a rough plan for the shifter ring with measurements and info as well that will be attached to the "how to". I think i will be able to make and sell them for 40-45 bucks, depending on if you want the shift pattern plaque or not.

Shifter plate and ring mod “how-to”
Compliments of Timothy Hawkins

First off, let me say that this was a trial and error process. I had a picture in my mind of what I wanted, and just started cutting and bending till I got it right. So please forgive me if some of information isn’t precise. This “how-to” is for manual shifters only. This “how-to” assumes you have some basic mechanical abilities; you will need to unhook small lights and remove & replace screws, trace and cut. If you have difficulties doing any of these tasks, stop reading now and have a nice day! = ) It will also make your life a bit easier if you have the shifter ring done first for when it comes time to cut the hole out of the plate, you can use it for a trace pattern after you have certain center point figured out. (You’ll see)

Materials/tools needed for shifter plate:
.032 thick aluminum sheet, minimum 9in X 9in.
Scribe (to mark your plate for cutting, a small nail works good for this)
Tin snips
Screwdrivers-flat and phillips
Needle nose pliers (for bending)
Drill and bits
320 or higher grit sandpaper
Clear lacquer spray
And an oven

“How-to”:
1. Remove your shifter knob.
2. Remove the plastic trim around your HVAC controls and radio by gently prying with your flathead screwdriver. The clips are on the top and bottom edges in the corners. You will see two screws holding the center console. Consult your repair manual, if unsure how to remove beyond my description.
3. Remove the ashtray/cup holder unit. You will see two screws here as well.
4. there are two more screws in the back of the console on each side.
5. Remove all screws securing the center console.
6. Twist and remove ashtray light form console, and unplug cigarette lighter wires (you can remover lighter if you want to).
7. You should now be able to remove the center console by pulling up and away. Don’t forget to slide the shifter boot off the shifter.
8. Flip over console and remove the 4 screws holding the shifter boot unit in place. There will be a black plastic piece that the boot actually attaches to; this is what you will use to make your shifter plate template.
9. Remove the factory boot.
10. Now you have to get a rough measurement of where to cut the hole for the actual shifter to come through in the aluminum later on. At this point, without the shifter boot or plastic piece, put the center console back in place. (You don’t have to screw it down, just make sure its in the right place as if you were going to screw it down)
11. With the car in neutral, using a ruler or tape measure, pick a point on one of each of the four edges of the console hole. Mark (use something temporary) and measure from each of your chosen points over to the center of the shifter (this isn’t exact science, just good estimations). From these measurements, you will have a good idea of where the center of the shifter hole will be for later placement and cutting out of the hole.
12. Remove the console and set-aside for now.
13. This is where you own abilities will come in. There are a couple of different ways you can do this. You can trace the plastic piece straight onto your aluminum and then trim to fit, use thin cardboard to trace out the hole in center console and use that as a template, or you can trace the plastic piece onto thin cardboard and trim to fit. I will use the plastic-to-aluminum method since it all is just about the same: trace, cut, trim!
14. Place the plastic piece on your aluminum and trace a rough outline. **Keep in mind that when tracing the 4 legs that the screws go through, you are tracing a 1 dimensional image that will become 3 dimensional when cut and bent properly, so when you trace the plastic piece on the plate, give yourself about another ¾ to 1 inch BEYOND the end of the legs on the bottom, and about ½ inch BEYOND on the legs on the top. This is to make allowances for the bends and angles of the legs needed to seat the plate flush. Other wise when you bend the legs from an exact tracing, they will be to short when bent properly.
15. Cut out the tracing. REMEMBER to give yourself extra room on the length of the legs. The edges don’t have to be perfect or neat, as they will be hidden under the console. The two bottom legs will be a tight fit against the console, so you may have to trim to fit. One of the top legs is this way also.
16. Lay your plate over the shifter hole in the console from the underside. (You may need to trim a bit) You will need to bend the bottom legs UP at about a 90-degree angle to get the plate to lay flat on the hole.
17. Now is when you get to use your own judgment by bending the legs accordingly in order to keep the plate flat against the hole. Use the plastic piece as a reference for the bends and angles of the legs. Bend and trim as needed to get the plate to lay flat on the hole with the legs touching the pillars that the screws screw into!
18. Now estimate where the screw holes are and drill holes in the legs. It’s okay to go big on the screw hole; the screws have a wide head.
19. Once you have your plate cut, bent, drilled and screwed into place, and are satisfied with it being flush against the shifter hole…pat yourself on the back and take a breather.
20. NOW, using the measurements from step 11 you can:
A. Figure out where to place the shifter ring to trace the inside of it. This will be the hole to be cut out of the plate. OR,
B. You can mark the center of the shifter hole on the plate using the marks you made in step 11, then cut out hole using the inside measurements of the shifter ring.
C. Are we having fun yet???

sounds like fun.. good write up so far, keep it coming! hehe. with all that trimming and bending, it seems very tedious. oh well, good work with good patients pays off in the end. good work on your shifter dood.