Custom speedometer cable supplier?
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Cargo Master
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 3,337
Likes: 165
From: Harpswell Maine
Custom speedometer cable supplier?
I need to have custom speedo/cruise control cable made. I am planning on using stock gauges with a cxxxy 700R4 AOD and a made for a 70's ford truck ARA built cruise control. Has anyone been down this road? Who did you use, what were the $ and were you happy with the product?
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 15,882
Likes: 88
From: Durham NC
Is the speedo and cruise mechanical? How does the cruise get it's input in the stock configuration? Many metro areas have speedometer shops that can build and calibrate Speedos, don't know about cruise tho all the aftermarket cruise controls I've used had a magnetic pickup and a magnet you glued or taped to the driveshaft.
Lead Driver
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 8,813
Likes: 13
From: Littleton, New Hampshire
Originally Posted by 49willard
I need to have custom speedo/cruise control cable made. I am planning on using stock gauges with a cxxxy 700R4 AOD and a made for a 70's ford truck ARA built cruise control. Has anyone been down this road? Who did you use, what were the $ and were you happy with the product?
Roast em' if you got 'em
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 22,014
Likes: 9,957
From: Rio Rancho, NM
Didn't Ford use a signal generator in the speedo cables for their cruise controls for awhile? I knw I had a unit laying about that fit in the speedo cable assy. Basically the speedo cable was two parts, an upper and a lower and the signal generator had threads on either end for speedo cable to screw onto. I could have sworn it was a ford unit.
You might just try your local parts house. There are only a handful of different speedo cable ends; threaded, push on, etc. You can typically buy speedo cables in whatever length you need. Figure out what ends you need and what lenght you need and head over to NAPA and scrounge around in their catalogs for a bit.
Good luck
Bobby
You might just try your local parts house. There are only a handful of different speedo cable ends; threaded, push on, etc. You can typically buy speedo cables in whatever length you need. Figure out what ends you need and what lenght you need and head over to NAPA and scrounge around in their catalogs for a bit.
Good luck
Bobby
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Cargo Master
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 3,337
Likes: 165
From: Harpswell Maine
AX, Vern and Bobby, thanks for your input. I am trying to emulate cheapskate Bobby on this installation. I had an old ARA (no longer in business) cruise control that was new in the box. It was setup for a mid 70's Ford truck. I am adapting it for Willard. It is a mechanical unit where a speedometer cable goes into the unit and then a second cable goes from the unit to the speedometer head in the truck. Vaccum is the motive power to pull on the throttle. I have installed the actuator hidden under the passenger side floor ( I am working hard to end up with a clean engine bay). Now I just need to get the two cables made. I probably should have checked what an electronic unit would cost but the additional cost to me is just one short (18") cable from the AOD to the control unit since I need one longer cable anyway to drive the speedo. So, all that being said, has anyone had someone make up a custom speedo cable for them?
Posting Guru
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 1,734
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From: Kansas City area
I haven't had a custom speedo cable made but when I did a "google" search on "custom speedometer cable" several sources came up so you might check it out if you don't get a personal recommendation here.
Tuned
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 263
Likes: 0
From: ELLICOTT CITY, MD. USA
If all you need is the cable, go to your local parts store, i.e. advance auto, auto zone etc... and they should have a universal kit. You cut the cable to the length you want and crimp an end that is provided on to it. They don't cost much. I've used them for several applications and haven't had a problem. They give you a little steel this that you are supposed to rap with a hammer and that is supposed to crimp it. Use a pair of electricians pliers or diagonal cutters to crimp it. The little piece of metal has never worked for me. Ford may have had the 2 piece cable that went to their cruise control, but I know Chebby did. I had 2 suburbans with that type of cruise and they would eventually go bad.
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Roast em' if you got 'em
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 22,014
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From: Rio Rancho, NM
I know the GM used a 2 piece cable with a transducer style cruise control unit throughout the 70's and early 80's. The transducer typically mounted on the inner fender. The speedo cable spun a large magnet inside of it that somehow got interpreted into a vacuum signal to a diaphram hooked to a conrol cable to the carb.
Like I said, I had a an electronic speed sensor that I swear was a factory Ford unit from a late 70's vehicle. The whole thing was maybe 2" long, had male speedo cable thread on either end and a short 2 wire pigtail coming out of the body of it. The thing was maybe 1 to 1 1/2" in diameter. I can only guess that it was some form of Hall Effect (spinning magnet to induce voltage) type switch.
The suggestion to try the local parts store is a good one. Cable come in all lenghts and are pretty cheap. I think mine was $10. Years ago we used to just replace the inner cable and not the housing. GM sold it as a universal kit and you would have to cut it to length and crimp the end on as FOWL1 described.
Bobby
Like I said, I had a an electronic speed sensor that I swear was a factory Ford unit from a late 70's vehicle. The whole thing was maybe 2" long, had male speedo cable thread on either end and a short 2 wire pigtail coming out of the body of it. The thing was maybe 1 to 1 1/2" in diameter. I can only guess that it was some form of Hall Effect (spinning magnet to induce voltage) type switch.
The suggestion to try the local parts store is a good one. Cable come in all lenghts and are pretty cheap. I think mine was $10. Years ago we used to just replace the inner cable and not the housing. GM sold it as a universal kit and you would have to cut it to length and crimp the end on as FOWL1 described.
Bobby
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