Broken Cable???
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 1,591
Likes: 53
From: Central MN
Broken Cable???
Anybody know what this broken cable is attached to? The one end is, obviously, attached to the steering linkage, but what does the cable do and what does the other end attach to?. Everything related to the steering seems to work fine.
Last edited by Cosmo Kramer; Sep 13, 2007 at 10:17 PM.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 1,591
Likes: 53
From: Central MN
Is this the broken part?
http://www.zip-products.com/Corvette...35D7412D89562C
If so, what does it do?
http://www.zip-products.com/Corvette...35D7412D89562C
If so, what does it do?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 6,001
Likes: 112
From: Saginaw Michigan
I assume that we are looking at your 1970 C3. The broken cable is supposed to come from your 4-speed transmission. It should be connected to the reverse lever. When you shift into reverse the cable is supposed to shove that steering column lever all the way up. This should allow you to rotate your ignition key from the OFF position to OFF-LOCK. Thus locking your steering wheel and gear shift lever and also allowing you to remove your ignition key.
General Motors and Saginaw came up with this system to prevent anyone from moving forward (down the road) and being able to turn off their engine and locking the steering wheel.
Your lower column lever must be in the up position. Otherwise you would not be able to remove your ignition key. This also means that you can turn off your engine and lock your steering column at any time.
If the lower lever works its way back to a more horizontal position, you will discover that you can no longer remove your ignition key from the lock cylinder in the steering column.
Here is a paper that describes the system in detail.
http://jimshea.corvettefaq.com/wp-co...tems27JL04.doc
You need a new cable.
Jim
General Motors and Saginaw came up with this system to prevent anyone from moving forward (down the road) and being able to turn off their engine and locking the steering wheel.
Your lower column lever must be in the up position. Otherwise you would not be able to remove your ignition key. This also means that you can turn off your engine and lock your steering column at any time.
If the lower lever works its way back to a more horizontal position, you will discover that you can no longer remove your ignition key from the lock cylinder in the steering column.
Here is a paper that describes the system in detail.
http://jimshea.corvettefaq.com/wp-co...tems27JL04.doc
You need a new cable.
Jim
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 856
Likes: 2
From: Tyler Texas
Missing cable is not related to your steering system. See Chapter 7 (transmission) of the AIM for full illustration of the interlock system.
Cable originally ran to your 4 speed transmission (Interlock Linkage Cable). When operational, the trans must be in reverse in order to remove key from steering column.
Common to see the system disconnected.
(Note: Jim S. gave a much more correct and detailed response than I! He is the guru on all things related to steering. He is a great resource and always willing to assist.)
Cable originally ran to your 4 speed transmission (Interlock Linkage Cable). When operational, the trans must be in reverse in order to remove key from steering column.
Common to see the system disconnected.
(Note: Jim S. gave a much more correct and detailed response than I! He is the guru on all things related to steering. He is a great resource and always willing to assist.)
Last edited by Patrick73; Sep 13, 2007 at 10:54 PM.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 1,591
Likes: 53
From: Central MN
Jim.........Wow. Thanks for all the info. And, yes, I am referring to the C3.
So, as GM designed it, in a properly functioning system, the car must be in reverse to remove the ignition key and lock the steering column.
Well, I tried moving the column lever down by hand. There seems to be, however, a large "C" clip holding the lever in the up most position. You can see the "C" clip in the photo. The diagrams in your paper do not show the "C" clip. Is this the work of "Bubba?"
As the system is set up now, the risk I am taking is that, if the car is turned off while in motion, the steering column will lock and thereby potentially causing a serious accident.
Correct?
So, as GM designed it, in a properly functioning system, the car must be in reverse to remove the ignition key and lock the steering column.
Well, I tried moving the column lever down by hand. There seems to be, however, a large "C" clip holding the lever in the up most position. You can see the "C" clip in the photo. The diagrams in your paper do not show the "C" clip. Is this the work of "Bubba?"
As the system is set up now, the risk I am taking is that, if the car is turned off while in motion, the steering column will lock and thereby potentially causing a serious accident.
Correct?
Race Director
Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 10,643
Likes: 8
From: Foxfield CO 1970 Convertible
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 6,001
Likes: 112
From: Saginaw Michigan
That clip holds the lower bearing adapter in place. It has nothing to do with holding the lower lever. The lever may be rusted or somehow binding.
Removing the lower bearing and adapter as shown in the above picture may allow you to free up the shift tube and lower lever.
Admittedly, turning your ignition key all the way to OFF-LOCK while driving down the road is not something that you would normally do. However, when you build millions and millions of vehicles, you will find someone who might do it and then sue the manufacturerer.
In 1977 the Corvette went to the finger inhibitor system. You can turn the engine off, but you cannot get to OFF-LOCK until you depress the inhibitor lever. Not quite as idiot proof but requiring a two motion sequence to lock the steering wheel.
Jim
Removing the lower bearing and adapter as shown in the above picture may allow you to free up the shift tube and lower lever.
Admittedly, turning your ignition key all the way to OFF-LOCK while driving down the road is not something that you would normally do. However, when you build millions and millions of vehicles, you will find someone who might do it and then sue the manufacturerer.
In 1977 the Corvette went to the finger inhibitor system. You can turn the engine off, but you cannot get to OFF-LOCK until you depress the inhibitor lever. Not quite as idiot proof but requiring a two motion sequence to lock the steering wheel.
Jim
Last edited by Jim Shea; Sep 14, 2007 at 08:16 AM.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 1,591
Likes: 53
From: Central MN
Jim........Thanks for your help.
Obviously, anybody with a nickel’s worth of common sense would not turn the car off while in motion. However, given the litigious society we live in, the number of cars GM produces, and the large percentage of "less than intelligent" individuals out there, it's not surprising the GM has to make the cars "idiot proof."
Obviously, anybody with a nickel’s worth of common sense would not turn the car off while in motion. However, given the litigious society we live in, the number of cars GM produces, and the large percentage of "less than intelligent" individuals out there, it's not surprising the GM has to make the cars "idiot proof."
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