Are there any certain things i should know before i replace my speedometer cable? It is frayed down by the transmission and the cable grinds in the cold, of course the speedo is off.

------------------
--Steve S--
1984 Trans Am 305 LG4, 5 speed
RPO codes point to Recaro version
Daily Driver, Flowmaster 80 Series

 

84,

Remove the upper cable housing from the speedo or cruise module, then slide out the old cable. If the cable gets hung in the housing, twist the free end as you pull it out of the housing.

If the lower end of the old cable is frayed and appears that it may be missing some strands, remove the housing at the transmission. Flush some clean oil and/or solvent through the housing to help clean out any remaining metal that might eat your new cable in short order.

Lube the new cable with graphite and slide it back into the housing. A little twist may be required to get it through easily.

------------------
Later,
Vader
------------------
"I'm gonna talk about some freaky sheet now..."
Adobe Acrobat Reader 4.0
KaleCo Auto Parts

 

Thanks Vader. The cable i got came in a black casing, just like the one that i saw on my car when it was on the lift the other day. I'm guessin that this is the casing u are talking about?

Are those inserts on the side of the Transmission hard to remove?

------------------
--Steve S--
1984 Trans Am 305 LG4, 5 speed
RPO codes point to Recaro version
Daily Driver, Flowmaster 80 Series

 

It sounds like vader is describing the most common replacement method, which is just replacing the cable 'guts', not the whole housing. This method is probably easier than replacing the whole thing since you don't have to reroute the whole cable housing, just slide the old guts out and the new guts in.
...ed

 

I just replaced the speedo in my dash with an Autometer one. They use a screw in style of cable, not a push in/ held on by a clip that is stock. I don't know if this is stock or not (I assume it is), but my cable is actually two pieces. The part that plugs into the rear of the speedo is about 1 1/2' long and screws into a longer cable (by the headers) that goes all the way to the tranny.

If the outside of the cable is FUBAR, then you may need to replace the whole cable (or at least the lower one). Try www.speedometerplus.com for some good prices...

------------------
1984 z28 w/ a 357 cu in. monster engine which is looking like the posterchild for Edelbrock with the exception of the Holley 750vac... all the suspension stuff... 9-bolt posi disk is in...

-=ICON Motorsports=-

 

The casing is just shredded open. So i guess i'll have to replace the entire casing, will it be a pain to go through the fire-wall? I'm thinking that this should take about 30 min with the front-end jacked up and the dash off.

------------------
--Steve S--
1984 Trans Am 305 LG4, 5 speed
RPO codes point to Recaro version
Daily Driver, Flowmaster 80 Series

[This message has been edited by 84TransAm (edited January 23, 2001).]

 

Mine is two-piece, too. It locked up once where it runs over the "frame rail". I suspect it got fried by the manifolds too many times (that's why I chose not to install headers, BTW). I got a whole new assembly from GM. It contained the housings and cables for both halves (only the bottom half of mine was bad, but I replaced the whole thing.

Problem was, it didn't come with a firewall grommet! Mine was badly torn and needs replacing. The dealer could find no such part in his computer, so my cable just runs through this great big hole in the firewall! Does anyone know if this grommet is available? If so, where?

------------------
'87 IROC 5.7l TPI - original owner!

 

Whatever you do, make sure you secure the new cable away form the headers! I rushed when I replaced my speedo cable and didn't notice it was touching one of the header tubes. Damn cable lasted all of 10 seconds before it was ruined...