My old cable finally gave up - got kinked, wouldn't push the steering column lever up far enough to allow key removal - I'm sure you all have heard this before - although a forum search didn't help me with what I am now about to ask.

I replaced the cable with a new part (cable and sheath) from Corvette Central, ~$25.00. After three of four drives, it, too, got kinked and I was back to square one - key stuck in ignition unless I reach under the hood and pull up on the steering column lever - a real PITA. To diagnose, I got back under the car and decided that maybe the sheath is a bit out of line with the angle of the cable being pushed in by the reverse linkage lever. So... I removed the spring clip holding the sheath into the bracket at the transmission end. That worked a few times and we are back to failure mode. I could just put the clip back in, but please read on...

WTF? I don't see an easy way to adjust bracket and thereby the position of the sheath at the transmission end to make sure that the cable gets a straight push through the sheath with no radial forces on the end of the sheath. Such radial forces would beg the cable to kink up rather than go into the sheath - unless there is direct resistance somewhere in the line to the cable's movement into the sheath as it forces the lever up. I note that the lever moved freely up and down at the steering column under the hood when I had the cable disconnected in order to replace it.

Of course, I can just remove the cable entirely and wire the lever into the up position - but I really want to try and preserve this feature on the car...

Ideas?

 

When you figure it out let us know. Mine is wired in place. I didn't feel like messing with it.

 

A local! Where do you drive and what kind of 'Vette?

 

I'm out in O Fallon by K and 40. As for my 75 I'm performing the body work for a DIY paint job to complete my body off rebuild.

 

I have 2 of these cables hanging in my garage. They make nice decorations.