Vehicle is a 1960 P-20 'Thriftmaster' Step Van.
Shift Box is the usual 1948 to 1954 I think Passenger Car, or, whatever year range it was used on Trucks.
http://images60.fotki.com/v361/photos/9/901917/4085747/IMG_0205-vi.jpghttp://images15.fotki.com/v1626/photos/9/901917/4085747/IMG_0206-vi.jpgLooking at images of the same Shift Box on the internet, none have this extra layer of stuff in them.
Anyway, I removed the extra parts layer, cleaned and Greased the Box, and all has been well again since.
What was this for? anyone have any idea?