In the process of getting ready to pull my motor, I was under the car unhooking the tranny stuff, when I noticed a cable that was cut, not attached to anything. I had noticed the cable from above before, but really didn't give much thought to it until tonight. When I checked my manuals, it is the back drive or trans lock cable. I have a 4-speed car, so my question is:
What does this cable do? Is there a good source for a replacement? Okay, ao that was two questions.

TIA
Brad :confused:

 

You will probably notice that you have a lever on the lower end of your steering column (out under the power brake booster). It is probably wired or somehow located in the full "up" position. When the lever is full "up" there is a gate up inside the steering column that is opened and this allows you to be able to rotate your ignition key and lock cylinder all the way to "off-lock". With that lower lever in any other position you will find that you can turn your ignition to the "off" position but you will be unable to rotate the lock all the way to "off-lock" and remove your key.

General Motors decided that when they introduced their function locking steering column in 1969, they wanted a positive system that would prevent anyone from locking up the steering while the car was being driven down the road. So vehicles with manual transmissions were equipped with a back drive cable that is only actuated when the shifter lever is placed in "Reverse". The cable then pushes on the lower lever on the steering column and places it in the full "up" position.

Automatic transmission equipped Vettes had a cable that was actuated by the floor shifter and also positioned the steering column lever in the full "up" position when the shifter was placed in "Park".

This back drive system was used on all Corvettes through the 1976 model year. In 1977, GM added a small lever on the steering column. This lever was located right behind the ignition key. You have to physically trip the lever with your finger before you can rotate your ignition key and lock cylinder to the "off-lock" position.

 

I just looked in my Paragon Catalog. #2372 Transmission steering column lock cable w'4-speed. 1969-75 31" long use with #1661K clips - $39.00.

I didn't have time to look further for other vendors.