So I have finally managed to back to work on my 85 Monte SS project after a serious time lapse. For those with whom I first conversed, I did manage to get the clutch linkage all set up and found the correct upper rod. For anyone else thinking about this conversion, you have to get the upper clutch rod from the 79-81 Elky clutch set up. The older version is the correct length but not bent correctly. I have also managed to get my Muncie built; upgraded the countercluster to the one inch pin and went with the cast iron midplate that has provision for the pin to be anchored by means of a bolt. This means no pin movement or attempted "screw out". All that aside, the big project right now is the driver's side floor pan; the old one was done. it had rusted out so badly that a previous owner tried to fix it using whatever was available and covering the whole botch job with body filler. The whole pan got cut away from the back seat riser to the firewall. Sorry, no pics. Most of you have been there and done that so are familiar with the drill
My big problem, and one I hope this board can help me with, is the speedometer cable. When the T-200-4R 4-spd automatic still resided in the vehicle, the speedometer cable was a two piece unit. The upper section was between 20-24 inches long and the lower section was about 62 inches long. And, of course, there was a coupling located in between them. During tear down, I found that the lower section had taken a lot of damage over the years and owners. The outer casing was both cracked and abraided badly in multiple places. The original plan was to just replace the lower half but the coupling just flat out refused to cooperate. Multiple saturations of various types and brands of penetrating fluids failed to make a dent. Physically restraining the coupling and then applying a hammer to the correctly sized wrench also didn't work. I couldn't simply cut away the collar nut because it was part of the upper cable. I finally did resort to heat in the form of a butane micro torch, but that small amount of red wrench was just enough to melt the upper casing and let it pull free of its ferrule. So now I need both halves. At this point I have been in touch with OPG but they stumbled over the fact that I was shifting from auto to manual. Apparently they believe that the speedo cable for the four speed auto is both special in some way as well as specific to the gauge. This I do not understand as the gauge is analogue, not digital. There is no computer input to or from the speedo unlike current vehicles. So my question is this, "Can anyone offer me a specific pair of part numbers that I can use to order my speedo cable assembly?" As a followup, does the cable actually have to be in two sections or can I use a single cable sized to the correct length with the right ends? The ends themselves seem to be nothing special at first glance, just a slip on that attaches to the gauge and is held in place with a gauge mounted spring clip and a male end at the speedo out of which a section of squared off inner cable protrudes and which is attached to the drive in the tail shaft housing using a light metal gland nut. When I test fitted the corpse of the old cable to the Muncie speedo drive, it plugged in and the gland nut wanted to thread on with no problem. Appreciate any and all who can offer some insight or information on this.
My big problem, and one I hope this board can help me with, is the speedometer cable. When the T-200-4R 4-spd automatic still resided in the vehicle, the speedometer cable was a two piece unit. The upper section was between 20-24 inches long and the lower section was about 62 inches long. And, of course, there was a coupling located in between them. During tear down, I found that the lower section had taken a lot of damage over the years and owners. The outer casing was both cracked and abraided badly in multiple places. The original plan was to just replace the lower half but the coupling just flat out refused to cooperate. Multiple saturations of various types and brands of penetrating fluids failed to make a dent. Physically restraining the coupling and then applying a hammer to the correctly sized wrench also didn't work. I couldn't simply cut away the collar nut because it was part of the upper cable. I finally did resort to heat in the form of a butane micro torch, but that small amount of red wrench was just enough to melt the upper casing and let it pull free of its ferrule. So now I need both halves. At this point I have been in touch with OPG but they stumbled over the fact that I was shifting from auto to manual. Apparently they believe that the speedo cable for the four speed auto is both special in some way as well as specific to the gauge. This I do not understand as the gauge is analogue, not digital. There is no computer input to or from the speedo unlike current vehicles. So my question is this, "Can anyone offer me a specific pair of part numbers that I can use to order my speedo cable assembly?" As a followup, does the cable actually have to be in two sections or can I use a single cable sized to the correct length with the right ends? The ends themselves seem to be nothing special at first glance, just a slip on that attaches to the gauge and is held in place with a gauge mounted spring clip and a male end at the speedo out of which a section of squared off inner cable protrudes and which is attached to the drive in the tail shaft housing using a light metal gland nut. When I test fitted the corpse of the old cable to the Muncie speedo drive, it plugged in and the gland nut wanted to thread on with no problem. Appreciate any and all who can offer some insight or information on this.
