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How do you access the speedometer cable from under the dash?
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Dodge55CustomRoyal
Posted 2024-06-07 9:41 AM (#635579)
Subject: How do you access the speedometer cable from under the dash?


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Posts: 25
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Location: Louisville Ky		The previous owner of my '55 Dodge had his mechanic disconnect the cable from the back of the speedometer because it was "noisy." I would like to reconnect it but I can't get my arm up there. Can it be reached if I unbolt that big black piece on the firewall near the master cylinder? Or do you have to remove the dash? (Too much work for me.) I have a factory shop manual but couldn't find anything in it that covers this. I don't care about a little noise especially since my car is a radio delete. Thanks....





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56D500boy
Posted 2024-06-07 4:05 PM (#635584 - in reply to #635579)
Subject: RE: How do you access the speedometer cable from under the dash?



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Location: Lower Mainland BC		.
Dave: I am sure that access to the speedometer cable at the speedometer is different for a 55 Dodge than a 56 Dodge but it is dead easy for a 56 Dodge. I just did it.

I sat in the seat with my legs out the open drivers side door. Then I moved my upper body down on to the transmission hump. At that point, I could reach up and grab the threaded
ferule that attaches the cable to the speedometer.

The noise issue is likely because the speedometer drive has not been lubricated. There is a wick that you will need to oil and reinstall.

This thread:

http://www.forwardlook.net/forums/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=77609&...

The cable drive is square at the speedometer (and transmission) ends



Edited by 56D500boy 2024-06-07 4:09 PM




(BackOf56DodgeShowingAttachmentOfSpeedometerCableToSpeedometer.jpg)



(55-56DodgeSpeedometer_Back_ShowingLubricationWickHolderInstalled_CloseUp.jpg)



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Dodge55CustomRoyal
Posted 2024-06-07 6:35 PM (#635588 - in reply to #635579)
Subject: Re: How do you access the speedometer cable from under the dash?


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Location: Louisville Ky		I got it out. Thanks for the tips. Is there some way I can test it to make sure the cable is the problem? I looked on Ebay earlier and there were 3 or 4 different cables that would work on a '55 Dodge. Should I take a pic of each end and try to guess that way? I will also measure the length of it too. Thanks again....





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56D500boy
Posted 2024-06-07 7:02 PM (#635589 - in reply to #635588)
Subject: Re: How do you access the speedometer cable from under the dash?



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Location: Lower Mainland BC		.
From the 55-58 Parts book (downloaded as a pdf from MyMopar), the PN for the 55 Powerflite speedometer cable is 1819 960 which was 68 5/32" long.

Searching the internet with "1819960 speedometer cable" turns up a few options.

In this case, Mopar Mall might be a good option. Hiltop is another but more expensive.

You could try rehabbing your with Liquiid Wrench and/or PB blaster and chucking the square shaft into variable speed drill and then rotating the
innards while fixing the outer sheath. I presume clockwise is the best but I don't really know.

https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-d&q=1819960+speedomet...



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Dodge55CustomRoyal
Posted 2024-06-07 7:48 PM (#635590 - in reply to #635579)
Subject: Re: How do you access the speedometer cable from under the dash?


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Location: Louisville Ky		Here's a pic of the end that goes into the transmission. It's not supposed to look like that, is it? Hiltop wants $145 for one and it doesn't show a pic of either end or what the length is. He also wants $50 for a wing nut for the spare tire and also $50 for a 12" wiper blade. What a ripoff! I measured my cable at 67" so 68" is close enough. I'll let you know which one I get and it won't be from Hiltop. Thanks again....



Edited by Dodge55CustomRoyal 2024-06-07 8:36 PM




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56D500boy
Posted 2024-06-07 8:06 PM (#635591 - in reply to #635590)
Subject: Re: How do you access the speedometer cable from under the dash?



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Maybe, in this case, Mopar Mall might be the better choice. (???) Better than Hiltop and probably way better that eBay/Amazon (that do NOT look right anyway)

Both ends of the cable need to show a square end. Otherwise, no go.

Here is my speedometer cable at the transmission:







Edited by 56D500boy 2024-06-07 8:08 PM
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Dodge55CustomRoyal
Posted 2024-06-07 8:39 PM (#635592 - in reply to #635579)
Subject: Re: How do you access the speedometer cable from under the dash?


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Location: Louisville Ky		So since there is no square end on the trans side of the cable then replacing the cable should solve the problem?
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1960fury
Posted 2024-06-07 9:25 PM (#635594 - in reply to #635579)
Subject: Re: How do you access the speedometer cable from under the dash?



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Location: northern germany		Such things are getting hard to find, so always lube it! If the needle jumps, lube it! Don't wait until it is noisy or erratic. A mixture of oil and grease works great. These things never wear out, properly serviced. Mine is still OE, working perfectly at 370K miles. if you use the proper mixture of synthetic oil and synthetic grease, like super lube, it lasts at least 80K miles and it takes only a few minutes.
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Dodge55CustomRoyal
Posted 2024-06-07 10:46 PM (#635595 - in reply to #635579)
Subject: Re: How do you access the speedometer cable from under the dash?


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Posts: 25
25
Location: Louisville Ky		I ended up getting one from Hiltop for $155 including shipping. He had no pics of either end and didn't say how long it was but the part number that Dave gave me was the only one that matched his so we'll hope for the best. Thanks to Dave and 1960Fury for the comments....
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Dodge55CustomRoyal
Posted 2024-06-19 6:30 PM (#635771 - in reply to #635579)
Subject: Re: How do you access the speedometer cable from under the dash?


Member

Posts: 25
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Location: Louisville Ky		The speedometer cable arrived on Monday. I got the trans end installed correctly but couldn't get the speedometer end in all the way. I took the car for a drive anyway and must have done something wrong because there were several problems. The speedometer was very noisy, the needle was flying back and forth between 30 and 90 and the odometer didn't work. I spent about half an hour trying to get it tightened down with no luck so I have some questions. Why is it so noisy? Why is the needle flying all over the place and why doesn't the odometer work? I removed the cable from the speedometer and will just drive it as is I guess. Please don't suggest that I remove the speedometer because it would be way too difficult. I could barely get one hand up there to try to attach the cable. At least I got the horn and gas gauge working so 2 out of 3 isn't bad....
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56D500boy
Posted 2024-06-19 7:54 PM (#635773 - in reply to #635771)
Subject: Re: How do you access the speedometer cable from under the dash?



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Location: Lower Mainland BC		.
Two things:

1. Did you lubricate the speedometer as previously suggested? At this point it might help if you get one of those long red WD-40 nozzles in the hole where the lubrication felt is located (remove the felt and its holder first) and
give it a good shot or three of WD40.

2. I would disconnect the cable at the transmission end and then make the connection at the speedometer end first, getting the cable all the way in. Remember that the shaft is square and it has to go into a square hole in the speedometer
drive head. Then make the transmission end connection.

Those are my suggestions. Others might have more/different suggestions.

Good luck. Don't give up.

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Powerflite
Posted 2024-06-19 9:25 PM (#635778 - in reply to #635579)
Subject: Re: How do you access the speedometer cable from under the dash?



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Location: So. Cal		95% of the time, you must remove the speedometer. Most likely, the old grease that they used to lube it has dried hard as a rock. Your new cable is now trying to push against that, and is in danger of breaking because of it. Take the speedometer out, tear it apart, remove all the old grease and relube it up. There are speedometer shops setup that just do this kind of work if you don't feel up to it. There is no workaround. If you don't want to remove the speedometer, then leave it disconnected and ignore it.
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Dodge55CustomRoyal
Posted 2024-06-19 10:19 PM (#635780 - in reply to #635579)
Subject: Re: How do you access the speedometer cable from under the dash?


Member

Posts: 25
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Location: Louisville Ky		"...leave it disconnected and ignore it."

Excellent suggestion. I'm going to ask around at cruises and car shows about a speedometer shop but I'm not going to pay $1000 or more to get it working. I cruise at 55-60 on the freeway and let everyone go around me so why would I need a speedometer anyway? I may give it another try in a couple of months when it's not in the 90s every day.

I squirted some 3 in 1 oil in both ends of the cable before I installed it but that didn't seem to do much good. Thanks for the comments....
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