Moparts

Another B+M shifter cable length, 3 foot?

Posted By: RMCHRGR

Another B+M shifter cable length, 3 foot? - 11/01/13 05:38 PM

71 Duster street machine, 340/W2 with TTi 1 7/8 step headers with full exhasut, 904, Summit deep pan with thick flange, B+M Pro Ratchet shifter with 5 foot cable, mini starter.

Shifter was originally installed when the car had a bench seat but that was removed recently for buckets. During seat mockup, the shifter got moved farther back on the tunnel because it was more comfortable with the new seat position, thus altering the effective length of the cable. It was initially looped around the starter and was tied to the trans support brackets. It seemed to be OK there, not burned or anything. The hole in the tunnel where the cable goes through the floor is pretty far up towards the firewall.

But now since it's moved back a little, there is not enough length to loop it around the starter anymore - it basically sits right between where the headers and starter is and right on the header tube. Not good.

Clearly I could drill another hole and move the point where the cable goes through the floor but that doesn't really solve the problem of the extra length.

Before I start messing with it, I wanted to see if anyone had success with a 3 foot cable? Seems to me the shorter one could seem to solve the issue of all the extra length and where to put it so it doesn't melt or bind. The threaded boss where the kick down linkage used to bolt to looks like a perfect place for a clamp.

I have read through several posts on here about these cables, seems like a common problem with routing. I didn't see if anyone solved the issue with the shorter cable though. Just for reference, I have a big ground strap on the passenger side and heat shielding.

Thanks for any input.

- Greg
Posted By: dartman366

Re: Another B+M shifter cable length, 3 foot? - 11/01/13 05:43 PM

Take your cable off and measure it, then get one that is a next size longer to fit your needs, I think they come in 3,4,5 foot lengths, I had run into this problem when I first installed mine and just bought a longer cable to fit.
Posted By: Polarapete

Re: Another B+M shifter cable length, 3 foot? - 11/01/13 05:54 PM



I had one melt while using the car on the street!
Luckily my 12 year old son was with me, he held the brake while I crawled under the running car and manually shifted into 2nd. Then we drove home
Posted By: RMCHRGR

Re: Another B+M shifter cable length, 3 foot? - 11/01/13 08:04 PM

Quote:

Take your cable off and measure it, then get one that is a next size longer to fit your needs, I think they come in 3,4,5 foot lengths, I had run into this problem when I first installed mine and just bought a longer cable to fit.



So you're saying to get the longer one? I have the 5 foot one.

Wouldn't it be better to have less length to deal with?
Posted By: 440lebaron

Re: Another B+M shifter cable length, 3 foot? - 11/01/13 09:10 PM

I thought the b&m shifter cables attached to trans from the front, so you had to go towards engine then loop (the longer the better)around to tranny. i went with turbo/action because cable attached from the rear
Posted By: RMCHRGR

Re: Another B+M shifter cable length, 3 foot? - 11/01/13 11:31 PM

Quote:

I thought the b&m shifter cables attached to trans from the front, so you had to go towards engine then loop (the longer the better)around to tranny. i went with turbo/action because cable attached from the rear



Correct, B+M shifter cables come off the front of the shifter.

Originally, the cable was looped around the starter but when I moved the shifter rearwards, the extra length of the loop was taken out and no no longer reaches all the way around the starter. Its resting between the inside of the header tube and outside of the starter if you can picture where that is.

That's why I was looking for someone who has used a shorter cable with success. Seems like the best solution but I'm not sure if it's long enough to reach and keep a good angle for the selector lever.
Posted By: barracuda7199

Re: Another B+M shifter cable length, 3 foot? - 11/02/13 01:48 AM

Route around the passenger side around the pan looping under the bell housing. I have a dei reflective heat shield on mine and have it strapped to the pan bolts.
Posted By: RMCHRGR

Re: Another B+M shifter cable length, 3 foot? - 11/02/13 02:48 AM

Quote:

Route around the passenger side around the pan looping under the bell housing. I have a dei reflective heat shield on mine and have it strapped to the pan bolts.



How long is your cable, 5 foot?

I'm guessing there is no binding where it comes back up from under the pan and goes to the lever?
Posted By: barracuda7199

Re: Another B+M shifter cable length, 3 foot? - 11/02/13 04:01 AM

Quote:

Quote:

Route around the passenger side around the pan looping under the bell housing. I have a dei reflective heat shield on mine and have it strapped to the pan bolts.



How long is your cable, 5 foot?

I'm guessing there is no binding where it comes back up from under the pan and goes to the lever?



It's the factory cable that came with the shifter so it should be five foot I would imagine. I have never had a problem with it routed this way for about 10 years now. I think the heat shield is a must which ever way you route it. Cables get expensive fast with headers! The shield I use slips over the cable about 3 foot or so I would imagine.
Posted By: dartman366

Re: Another B+M shifter cable length, 3 foot? - 11/02/13 05:35 AM

Quote:

Quote:

Take your cable off and measure it, then get one that is a next size longer to fit your needs, I think they come in 3,4,5 foot lengths, I had run into this problem when I first installed mine and just bought a longer cable to fit.



So you're saying to get the longer one? I have the 5 foot one.

Wouldn't it be better to have less length to deal with?

only if you can do it and not put the cable in a sharp bend.
Posted By: RMCHRGR

Re: Another B+M shifter cable length, 3 foot? - 11/02/13 02:36 PM

OK, thanks for the replies. I might go out and fight with it to see what I can come up with.

Still wondering though if anyone has used the 3 foot cable with success?
Posted By: Polarapete

Re: Another B+M shifter cable length, 3 foot? - 11/02/13 07:06 PM

When I replaced mine I used a longer one and ran it inside a product I got at Fittings, Inc. in Seattle. It was called FireSleeve and it was a heat resistant insulated sleeve that is used in industry. The B&M QuickClic (?) shifter I used then has long been obsolete (no reverse lockout) but as I remember the cable came to the trans from the front and therefore the cable was exposed to the headers. The shifter I am using on the new project works from the rear and does not attach to the pan bolts.
Posted By: dizuster

Re: Another B+M shifter cable length, 3 foot? - 11/02/13 08:52 PM

I had issues on a few A-bodies in my younger years burning up B&M shift cables. I actually found that going to the 6ft cable instead of the 5ft cable let me route the cable anywhere I needed and prevented binding better then the shorter cables.

Just my 2 cents.
Posted By: bentwheel43

Re: Another B+M shifter cable length, 3 foot? - 11/03/13 02:33 AM

I did too, but I ran mine through a 5/8 heater hose that was 10 years ago--- I forgot about that. It works!! Still working!!

Attached picture 7909811-7674446-007.jpg
Posted By: RMCHRGR

Re: Another B+M shifter cable length, 3 foot? - 11/03/13 03:07 PM

So I guess the consensus is to stay with the 5 foot or get a longer one?

If its looped around the bell from the pass. side clearly a longer one would be good. Guess I just wasn't sure if the 5 foot would be long enough to do it that way.

But based on what barracuda7199 said in his reply it seems to work with the 5 foot cable.
Posted By: tex013

Re: Another B+M shifter cable length, 3 foot? - 11/03/13 09:40 PM

I run the 3' cable on my Satellite . melted several 5' cables and even a 4' one . I now also use a aluminium waffle type heat shield between the headers and cable . haven't had an issue since, maybe 3 years . I still carry a spare in the boot all the time . Mine is a daily driver / racer

Tex
Posted By: RMCHRGR

Re: Another B+M shifter cable length, 3 foot? - 11/04/13 03:01 AM

Quote:

I run the 3' cable on my Satellite . melted several 5' cables and even a 4' one . I now also use a aluminium waffle type heat shield between the headers and cable . haven't had an issue since, maybe 3 years . I still carry a spare in the boot all the time . Mine is a daily driver / racer

Tex



Cool, glad to hear that you were able to get the shorter cable to work.

Is the shorter cable less flexible?
Posted By: RMCHRGR

Re: Another B+M shifter cable length, 3 foot? - 11/05/13 02:03 AM

So I was able to make the 5 foot cable work.

I drilled a new hole farther back on the trans tunnel so the cable was closer to the shifter. It goes towards the passenger side and loops back around the bell to the driver's side. Seems to work OK, possibly better than before since it has a more gentle loop now.

I wrapped it with heat shield tape where it gets near the exhaust but its no closer than it was before it was moved and it never burned.

Thanks for all the replies, glad I didn't spend the coin on a new cable.
Posted By: barracuda7199

Re: Another B+M shifter cable length, 3 foot? - 11/05/13 03:06 AM

Glad you were able to get it worked out. That's the best way I have found to route the cable in my experience.
© 2024 Moparts Forums