You could probably do it without it, but it's a lot easier with it. Th etrim holds the lower boot down and allows you to secure it with the 4 bolts. If it was me, I'd head down to Lowes or Home Depot and get some flat aluminum bar stock (1" wide, it's usually 1/8" thick) and cut 4 pieces to closely mirror what the original metal trim plate looks like. Then you can secure it to the trans hump with regular sheet metal screws every inch or inch and a half. That would hold it securely without too much fear of tearing. Either that, or call Jeremy. You know he has 10 of them just laying on a shelf.
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