Quick review of the speedometer cable that Rob Grady (PJ Grady) offers!
I've had my car for 23 years and during that time I had the original angle drive rebuilt once about 22 years ago (by Rob), I replaced the lower cable twice, and re-greased the lambda counter box once. Last year I did a frame-off restoration and refreshed everything, even stuff I had already done before. So, I sent my angle drive to Rob once again to checked out and I replaced the lower speedo cable with a different vendor's offering to try to eliminate a clicking and low speed speedo need bounce I was getting.
The angle drive rebuild fixed most of it and the clicking turned out to be my rear parking brake. But I digress.
I was driving to a car show last weekend when I looked down and saw my speedometer had stopped. On my return, I found the lower speedo cable had simple snapped in half inside the sheath. No sign of wear, twisting, or unraveling of the cable - it just snapped in two. Everything else was OK and there was no binding so I can only assume it was a materials defect.
In chatting with Rob, he mentioned he sells a new cable, USA-made, that replaces the upper and lower cables as well as the lambda box, which of course reduces friction, moving parts, resistance, and should offer much longer life.
I received the cable just a few days later and had it installed in under an hour.
You will have to jack up the front of the car and remove the driver side front wheel. Then,
- Disconnect old speedo cable from the angle drive
- Disconnect upper and lower cables from the Lambda box
- Remove lower speedo cable (can remove firewall grommet at the same time if needed, it will have to be re-used)
- Remove Lambda box (two posi-drive screws) and unplug the connector
- Remove binnacle (6 nuts under the dash)
- Disconnect old upper cable from back of speedometer (no tools needed, just a friction tab on the back)
- Route new cable through firewall and up to the binnacle, following the same old route, and connect to the back of the speedometer
- Remove excess slack from the indoors section of the cable and insert the grommet to the firewall
- Install lower cable through the cable guide on the steering knuckle and into the angle drive. May have to turn the angle drive cable a little to get the new square cable to fit inside completely.
- Tighten the threaded nut just snug with a channel locks
- Install driver side front wheel. Spin the wheel by hand and confirm the speedometer in the dash is registering.
- Drop the car back down and torque the wheel lug nuts to 65 ft lbs
The cable is pre-lubed and certainly looks and feels like quality. After a quick test drive I was satisfied with the performance and I could see it is working smoother than I have ever seen in 23 years.
Always glad to post a review for GOOD upgrades you might not know about, sold by trustworthy vendors!
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New cable (photo taken by Rob prior to shipping)
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Installed and routed up to the binnacle. I have it attached to the lambda bracket with 2-side velcro tape which also secures my backup hood release cable and loop.