VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND NEWER 1955-1957 my friend with his 57 chevy. I replacspeedometer

Hi, Questions: I am helping my friend with his 57 Chevy speedometer cable because his other cable stopped. I know it works from the transmission end. (A three speed standard). Also, I took the old cable, cut it, put the end of the cable into the speedometer, put it on a electric drill and tested it. The speedometer works fine. The problem; when all is connected (and I have the speedometer end flush and connected ok) The speedometer does not work. So....Did GM make different lengths of inside cable for their speedometers? Any suggestions and advise is appreciated. Thanks.

There are many different lengths of speedometer cables. If the cable is the correct length the lower tip shold be seen when the casing is disconnected from the transmission and the upper end of the cable is attached to the speedo. In other words the inner cable is slightly longer than the outter housing.

I thought it was as you said. Were their different length inner cables even though the housing seemed OK? Thanks

The original factory 1957 with 3 speed cable was 53 5/8" long.
The 3 speed with overdrive was 63 5/8" long.
If you purchased a new cable and casing for the 1957 3 speed car in 1959 they would give you a cable that was 58 5/8" long with an outter casing at 57 1/4".
There are more choices that could end up in the car.
The inner cable should be about 1" longer overall than the outer.
After 50 years it may have been replaced more than once.