1968 Cadillac RWD speedometer cable - no cruise

[Scot Minesinger]

Working on a 1968 Cadillac DeVille and the former owner paid for others to work on his Cadillac and we are paying the price for that.  We do have the 1968 Cadillac shop manual and have researched without much success, hence this post.

The speedometer cable always was questionable, in that it bounced around a lot when we first came to drive it, and after a year it kind of smoothed out, but was not quite right.  Then it stopped working after replacing power steering hose.  I'm sire it was bumped while I was replacing the original hose.  Anyway the cable is not attached to the dash at all.  I doubt it broke.  Suspect it was disconnected before and never properly re-attached.

Anyway my questions:

1.  To replace speedometer cable access to back of speedometer is from top of dash removal or do we work from the bottom?
2.  Seems there should be some sort of secure fastener to attach speedo cable to back of dash like a spring clip or something - shop manual (shows wave washer?) is not too clear, anyone with some experience here?

Thanks,

Scot

[Dave Shepherd]

I believe is a spring/wave clip to secure to the head should be able to see from the bottom once you remove the lower panels.

[cadillactim]

Scot

It is a wave washer type spring that holds the cable to the speedo head. It is a royal pain to reattach it since there is no room to put your hand with the a/c duct in the way along with the metal braces. 

Sometimes the wave washer will fall off when the cable is removed, and perhaps the washer is not on the cable housing now.

If the washer is gone I have re-engineered the anchoring by drilling and tapping a hole in the housing, then use a screw to hold the housing to the head. Since the attachment point is tapered, drilling a small bevel where the screw will touch the head will keep it from sliding off.

Tim

[Scot Minesinger]

Tim,

Planning to replace the cable anyway.  Will it be equipped with the wave washer do you think (buying from USA Parts)?  Do I remove top dash pad or go in from the bottom?  Since you are familiar and if you can sell me a re-built or new one that would be preferred.  My e-mail is rscotm@cox.net, please send me the details.

Thanks,

Scot

[35-709]

Seems to me I remember it was easier going in through the top on my '73.

[Julien Abrahams]

With regard to access: I believe that it is easiest to remove the top dashpad. Although it is still a bit of a hastle (the windshield is kind of in the way , it is doable. I've done the same thing on my '67, and I believe that the instrument panel of the '67 and '68 are pretty much the same.
Good luck.

[Scot Minesinger]

Thanks, this has helped guide the plan of attack.  Any more advise will be appreciated.  I have replaced the clock and cruise switch on dash in a 67 Cadillac, so have some idea of what is involved.