Gauge cluster shift cable fix

[Wgesnerjr]

How many of us have had the shift indicator stop working only to find this? I found it yesterday. Since the indicator wont work without this guide, I decided to come up with a better, more permanent solution.

[Wgesnerjr]

This first step was finding the broken piece. Since it didn't fall out onto my feet, it had to be stuck in the dash. I found it lodged between the steering column and the heavy mounting bracket.

I briefly thought about fiberglassing it back in but knew it might just break again. Not sure if the gauge cluster housing is available new as I am running an electric speedo from a 91 suburban in my LS swapped truck.

So off to Ace Hardware to find a solution.

[Wgesnerjr]

I decided that anything I did should used the metal dash for support rather than the brittle 28 year old plastic housing.

After a long time in the hardware section, I came up with this.

I would mount the screw to the metal dash using the two jamb nuts on either side. Then adjust it out to mimic the broken plastic guide. The brass thumbscrew would "float" on the threads and act like a pulley to guide the shift cable down to the shifter bowl.

[Wgesnerjr]

You might not have noticed but the original guide does not have a center hole in it. So carefully, I drilled it out.

[Wgesnerjr]

Next step was to mate it up to the gauge housing. Using it to guide me, I marked the dash where the hole was. This would be where my new contraption would be mounted.

[Wgesnerjr]

Drilling the hole was a little hard since the drill and the shifter wanted to occupy the same space. Once hole was drilled I slipped the rear nut behind the metal and used my finger to hold it. Then treaded the screw in from the front.

[Wgesnerjr]

Adjusting to length it a great practice session on installing and removing the gauge cluster what seems like 100 times. Each time not only did I install, but had to bolt it in to make sure it was lined up properly. Doing this with a dash pad in place is aggravating.

The hardest part was breaking the rest of the guide off. Just the sound of breaking plastic gives me chills!

[Wgesnerjr]

Lessons learned: The thumbscrew does not need to float so it can rotate by the cable. The cable just slides over the thumbscrew without turning anyways. Good engineering wasted.

Lastly, there is a difference between the cables for our trucks and other GM cars. I did not know this when I got a replacement off eBay. (Mine broken when I got the truck) Apparently, the clip that goes on the shifter bowl has an longer arm that extends the cable back towards the dash. Cars did not have this. So when I used the car cable, it would pull down and out each time I shifted thereby stressing the housing guide. Guess the stress is why the housing guide broke. So, advice is, use the correct shift cable.

[Palf70Step]

Nice fix. I just have a white mark on the top of the column for now till I fix mine.

[4x4k30]

nice fix you did a real nice job there you should get a patent on it

[Wgesnerjr]

Thank you. Just trying do better than old factory stuff. I'm already thinking of a better way to fix.