I am not sure if I put this in the right area or not. I recently acquired an 85 Z28. The PO removed the speedo cable assy for some reason. I am installing a replacement cable and was wondering if anyone can provide insight into how to correctly route and secure the cable. I have it routed so-so and connected it to the cluster and to the trans, but it is really jumpy and what not. I did lube the cable prior to install, but am not sure if it is routed properly. Also does the cable need to be secured anywhere along its path?

 

noone?

 

Not really sure of the answer because the 85 F bodies had both manual and electronic speedometers, and I think they're inevitable destinations were different. The shop manual for my 85 base firebird suggests that the speedometer cable from the transmission somehow goes into the cruise control system which then feeds the dash speedometer. Not sure if this is for manual and/or electronic speedometers, but it has become an issue for me, as I am having to remove the cruise control system in my 85 FB (while will be non-functional in my car) as I am modifying the vehicle to a non-emissions, non-computer controlled 4 BLL (Edelbrock 1406) 305 V8. Any other feedback would be appreciated.

 

The cable comes from the firewall and make an easy loop before the first fastener, which is just below the steering shaft on the side rail. IIRC, there are two, perhaps, three more fasteners under the car (along the side rail) before the cable reaches the trans.

JamesC

 

hmm looks like I will need to go to the local boneyards and try and find a 3rd Gen and swipe the attachment clips from one.

Also it is a single piece cable on this car, no cruise control module.

 

Just for additional info, some early model cars were equipped with a transducer (cable in/cable out) for the cruise. All Camaros 82-89 are cable driven.

JamesC

 

Note also that there is a sort of strain-relief sleeve made onto the stock cable, that forces the cable to do a 90° in about as broad a sweep as there is room for under there.

If the cable has bends that are too sharp, there will bee too much friction inside it. What happens then is, the gear tries to turn the cable, but the cable sticks; the gear turns the cable some more, building up a bunch of torsion in the cable; eventually there's enough force to overcome the sticking; the cable spins wildly until the torque decreases enough that it stops; the process repeats. That's what makes the pointer jump. Lack of lube, or accumulated dirt, will make it do the same thing.

 

My 85 has an alum piece that the cable pops into so that it retains a gentle curve--this at the trans end. Couldn't find a pic.

JamesC

 

I think my routing is correct, but I will need to come across that aluminum tube and the mounting clips somehow....

 

The piece isn't a tube, but rather a half tube that the cable lies in.

JamesC