Speedometer Cable Routing help needed
 

I got a new speedo cable for my 53 F100. The truck's got a three speed on the column. I do not know the route that the cable should take between the speedo at the stock instrument cluster and the driver's side of the transmission. Does it run over or under the tranny? Right now I have it over, but running under would result in fewer tight turns in the cable. (I worry that if I run it under I'll snag a fallen tree branch, dead skunk, etc. while bouncing along on these Vermont back roads.) The existing cable exits the cab through a hole that is sort of centered in the firewall. So, it's heading toward the passenger side and slightly down when it leaves the cab. From here, it's got to do a 180 turn to head back towards the driver side, and then another 180 to turn and plug into the side of the transmission. Or, it should it do sort of one big loop under the engine into the tranny. How do other speedo cables get from the dash to the tranny?

Bump to the top.

If I have time tomorrow night I'll look at my 54. Hopefully someone will beat me to it!

Thanks, Abe. I feel like I'm asking another dumb question, but I have not been able to figure out how to run the cable without a tight turn (about a 3" or 4" radius) in it somewhere. Maybe that's how it's supposed to be.

I have the same question. Also curious how much you can deform the cable before it impacts performance or longevity.

My old 55 use to run down and across the top side at the trans hump then drop down to output shaft for my 3 on the tree. It has been a long time but I will swear that it ran down the inside of the firewall ( IE inside passanger compartment under the floormat) then went under the trans cover and dropped down to trany. If my memory serves correct the cover had a raised place wear it went out to trans. I'm trying to remember but that was 35 yrs ago.

I've reinstalled the speedo cable.IU've got it coming out of the same hole in the firewall, just behind the engine rocker arm cover. It angles down and along the passenger side of the bellhousing, and now makes a big sweep over the drive shaft and into the transmission. there is a single bolt that hold up the parking brake cable along the edge of the transmission cover/ floor piece. I am going to use a loose fitting cable holder here to keep the speedo cable from rubbing on the drive shaft. This seem to make sense. All the curves in the cable are as large as possible, and the cable is not hanging down in a way where it might catch something. My initial speedo cable routing question was borne out of the idea that maybe the routing had something to do with the speedometer not working. I know now that I have a couple of bad teeth on my speedometer cable drive gear. Hopefully a new gear will fix things up, and I'll never have to think about speedometer cables again....