Correct 67 4-Spd Speedo Cable Assembly

[Michael G.]

I would like to "manufacture" a correct 67 4-speed speedometer cable assembly to replace the one I foolishly discarded 20 years ago. I am having a hard time finding the correct nuts. Frank Poll, a co-author of the 1967 Corvette TIM&JG, provided me the specifications for the nuts from measurements and descriptions of those on his used cable assembly. However, my attempts at providing these specifications to various enthusiasts and sifting through nuts at local speedometer shops have fallen short of finding what I need. Would anyone know who would have either a supply of vintage nuts or of mechanically / cosmetically damaged original speedometer cable assemblies?

[Wayne M.]

Re: Correct 67 4-Spd Speedo Cable Assembly

I would like to "manufacture" a correct 67 4-speed speedometer cable assembly to replace the one I foolishly discarded 20 years ago. I am having a hard time finding the correct nuts. ......

Michael -- these are what you should be looking for. Don't know who might have them. Do you know what length you should fabricate to match original ?

[Michael G.]

Re: Correct 67 4-Spd Speedo Cable Assembly

Wayne, super pictures. Exactly what I was looking for. Thank you! I have read about 2 measurements on the length--66.5" and 1825 mm (approx 72"). Not sure which one is right or from what points the measurements are taken, i.e., from end of nut to end of nut, or from end of ferrule to end of ferrule.

[Michael G.]

Re: Correct 67 4-Spd Speedo Cable Assembly

Wayne, several other questions came to mind as I was examining your excellent photo of the ends of your 67 production speedometer cable assembly:

1. Your photo shows a crimp running lengthwise on the ferrule holding the small nut. Is there another, similar crimp on the backside of this ferrule?

2. What do the crimp(s) look like on the ferrule holding the large nut?

3. What is the diameter of the cable?

4. Do you agree with either of the lengths in my previous post--66.5" or 72"?

Thanks a lot for your help in further unraveling this for me.

[Wayne M.]

Re: Correct 67 4-Spd Speedo Cable Assembly

Michael -- Seems I bought an eBay '66 take-off and it was 67" plus a bit (the picture I posted). Unfortunately, it's now installed on my '65 so will be difficult to answer your questions on the crimps, especially on the backside of the instrument cluster. Maybe the trans end will show something; I'll check, also the diameter, tomorrow.

My AC Cable and Casings catalog (1969) shows 67_1/8" overall length for 4-spd '65 thru '67, which is defined as between the ends of square-tipped cable (inside the casing), with casing length (defined as from the extreme edge of lower end to upper end ferrule [the bell-shaped fitting] at 66".

[David L.]

Re: Correct 67 4-Spd Speedo Cable Assembly

My 1965, 1966, and 967 Chevrolet parts catalogs (effective May 1965, Oct. 1965, and April 1967) shows the part number 3871533 for the shaft assembly with a description of "(67 1/8)" for 65-67 Corvette w/4-spd.
I still have my original cable from my 1966 Corvette w/4 speed. I used a NORS GM cable # 6480374 (AC CC712) as a replacement.

[David L.]

Re: Correct 67 4-Spd Speedo Cable Assembly

Michael,

I realize that it's been a few years and way too late but I just came across my original 1966 tachometer cable (GM # 3866126 in the 1966 and 1967 AIM, UPC 12, sheet C3). The ends of my tachometer cable are very similar to the speedometer cable ends as shown in Wayne's photo posted on Aug. 8, 2010, except that both ends on my tachometer cable have the "AC SPEEDOMETER" casting. As best as I can remember the end fittings on the speedometer cable are the same as the tachometer cable.

Dave

[Michael G.]

Re: Correct 67 4-Spd Speedo Cable Assembly

Dave, thank you very much for getting back with me. Last summer, I took out my original 67 tach cable to lube it. Here are some of its characteristics:
- Both ends of housing have 6-sided crimps.
- Nuts on both ends of the housing have TELEFLEX on outside edges.
- One end of housing has 2 small tabs 180 degrees apart that prevent nut from sliding down the cable housing.
- One end of cable is retained in the housing by a small brass cylinder.
- There are no plastic parts on the cable.
- 1967 Chev parts book says shaft (i.e., housing length not measuring nuts) is 23" long and cable is 24-1/8" long.
So, the parts are somewhat different between 66 and 67. Michael

[David L.]

Re: Correct 67 4-Spd Speedo Cable Assembly

Michael,

Apparently my tach. cable is not an original part from my 1966 Corvette. I believe it is from a 1963 Corvette (1st Design). It measures approximately 25 1/16" O.L. with the casing measuring approximately 24" long. I bought my 1966 Corvette in 1979 with a non-original engine.

GM # 6409130 is listed for the 1963 Corvette (1st Design) SHAFT ASSY., tach. (25 1/8" O.L.)(w/o casing).
GM # 6409507 is listed for 1963-1964 Corvette (2nd Design) SHAFT ASSY., tach w/o casing (22 1/8" O.L.)
The 1965-1967 cables are 24 1/8" long with a 23" casing as you mentioned.

I installed a NORS tach. cable, GM # 6480367 ("AC CC701"), in my 1966 Corvette during my 1980 to 1995 frame up restoration.

This is the first time that I researched 1963-1967 tach cables and I learned something new today.

Dave