5/8-18 fem. to 5/8-18 fem. speedo cable

[fshd4it]

A500 in my '64 Barracuda. The combo VSS/cable drive on the trans has the new smaller 5/8-18 thread, same as the '64 speedometer. I'm having difficulty (after bumbling around on the web for hours) finding a cable with 2 common ends. Has anyone run into this issue, and found a cable that works? There's a good Carquest near me but they'd probably have to do a manual search as well.
There may be another option, bushing the VSS up to 7/8-18 and using a readily available cable, but locating the bushing hasn't been successful yet either. All the ones I've found are 5/8 to 12mm, for motorcycles etc. Hesco makes a VSS stepped up to 7/8, but it's $125, and as I have 4 factory ones already I'm loathe to buy another. Especially at that price.

 

[Professor Fate]

I have never found one yet, but there is a semi-acceptable solution.
Dodge 4x4 trucks and Dakotas around mid '80s used a speedometer "extension cable" that has 7/8 male threads on one end and the 5/8 nut on the other; the standard speedo cable attaches to it and then attaches to the VSS. Works good, but the bad part is that it adds just shy of another 3' to the cable length- not insurmountable, you just need to do some creative routing of the cable to use up the extra length.

More Information for ATP Y865

 

[fshd4it]

I have a couple of short "extensions", probably from trucks, maybe older cruise control units, but the orientation isn't correct. I do need a short cable like you posted, since there isn't room between the speedo pinion housing and the tunnel to fit the VSS. It'll be inline somewhere towards the dash. I may have found a place that sells the 7/8 to 5/8 bushing, I'll call them tomorrow and see.

 

[RustyRatRod]

Check some 1960s Ford applications.

 

[fshd4it]

There's an older Ford cable that's different than this style? I only know about these as folks have tried using them for our pre '66 units.
Edit: I'm pretty sure you know which ones I'm referring to, the pics I downloaded won't allow me to transfer them here.

 

[fshd4it]

Okay, this one worked.

 

[Professor Fate]

I have a couple of short "extensions", probably from trucks, maybe older cruise control units, but the orientation isn't correct. I do need a short cable like you posted, since there isn't room between the speedo pinion housing and the tunnel to fit the VSS. It'll be inline somewhere towards the dash. I may have found a place that sells the 7/8 to 5/8 bushing, I'll call them tomorrow and see.

These aren't the cruise control cables (or the "Maintenance Minder" cables, either), those have different ends-these are made to specifically attach to your original cable end that has the 7/8 nut and connect to the VSS on the other. I've been running one on my '66 for years now (attached to my original speedo cable)- I have an SBEC and it requires a speed signal, so I had to run a VSS. I did have to dimple the tunnel for the VSS, and use a thin-headed bolt in one position on the trans crossmember for it to fit nicely. Only issue was cable routing due to the extra length, as I said.

 

[fshd4it]

The original plan for this car didn't include a VSS (now it's getting a 5.2, OBD1), so I built the tunnel too small to accommodate one. It'd take a BIG dimple, hence the need to move it upstream, at least a bit. I thought the one you posted was 7/8-7/8, my mistake. At least those are available though.

 

[lemondana]

There is a place called Speedometer Cables USA in Colorado, phone 888-907-6506 that will custom make a cable to your spec. Reasonable to. I found a 1975 NOS Cruise Control package for an A body for my 67 Dart, so the cable from the speedo to the CC servo had the 68 and up slip plastic speedo end. I needed it for the 67 down, screw on speedo cable. Measure what you need and what type of ends you need and the grommet size going thru the firewall, and in a few days, you will have a new cable.

 

[fshd4it]

Thanks lemondana, I'll call them.