[FirstOwner69]

My truck had the boots too. I don't think I ever noticed them for probably 10 years and never figured out what purpose they served. They were always just kind of "hanging out". They are gone now and I don't miss them.

Mine never had any shims.

Did I mention that I'm not going to tear mine apart to document the original hardware. I will take a look though.

EDIT: OK, I just looked. There are no shims and there are 4 bolts with captured washers (probably 3/4" long by 5/16") just like those used for the inner fenders and many other places. Mine have the heads to the front, not like the assembly manual shows. That's the way they were originally (see picture below from pre-teardown). My hardware is 100% original.

And... a picture where one of the "boots" is visible on the tube coming out of the condenser below the receiver drier.... ignore the transmission cooler). I know you are an originality nut. So, take a look at the little plastic cap over the sight glass on the receiver drier. That was there since new, and I've also seen them on other trucks in the junkyard.