how do i replace the speedometer cable, including the housing?

I have a 71 SS 350 w/ th350 trans. please be as specific as possible, any links to photos - all the books i have only tell how to replace the core.

also any links to changing gears might be helpful...

THANKS!!!

It is pretty simple really. Get the car up on jackstands. Unhook both ends and fish it out of the nasty places the put it in. Put the new one in the same way. Skin a couple of knuckles. Say a bad word or two about the design of things, and eventually you have it working.

The end at the speedometer has a spring latch that you have to depress to unhook. It helps if you are a contortionist to get to it. The end on the tranny is much easier. It has a threaded barrel that unscrews it from the tranny.

so the barrel itself just unscrews? no nuts or bolts?

any problems getting it through the firewall?

[This message has been edited by RS_SS350 (edited November 18, 2003).]

oh yeah, and whebn i look it up in catalogs they have two seperate pieces for the spedometer cable, upper and lower. am i supposed to have a 2 piece on my 71?

The only cars I've seen with a two-piece cable are the ones with cruise control. One runs from the tranny to the cruise sensor head, and the other one runs from the sensor head to the speedometer. If you don't have cruise, I can't believe you have a two piece.

Usually there is a large rubber grommet where the cable goes through the firewall. You should be able to pry the grommet out of the firewall and remove it with the cable. Then reuse it on the new one.

thanks gary!

one more question. do i need to drain the tranny before doing this?