Leaking shifter cable A-904-LA
Still a new barracuda owner, and new to the forum, so I thought I'd create a post and try and contribute. Quick background, I acquired my 1965 Barracuda back in February for a great price, but no historical information. I've put a lot of time (and money) into it getting it to where it is now (lots of clean up under hood, new edelbrock carb, new ignition system, to name a few). I pulled the trigger a few weeks ago to get the Torqueflite 904 rebuilt - high energy bands, blue friction plates, reman the torque converter. I got it back to soon after find it was pissing transmission fluid out. Took it back in, considering I had just paid ~$1800 I had high hopes they would resolve the leak. Got it back home and nope, the leak is actually worse. I got it up on jack stands and took a look and found the shifter cable sleeve was falling apart and leaking everywhere. The transmission shop put some sealant goo at the base of it where it connects to the transmission, which wasn't where it was leaking. -
So naturally I started looking at what it would cost to replace and uh, I'm okay putting money into the right part but I was looking at $200+. So I came up with the next best solution, marine grade adhesive lined shrink tubing. I grabbed a box of 6" length 1/2" tubing from West Marine. I disconnected the shifter cable from the shifter assembly and pulled it through the firewall and down below the car. From there I cleaned the cable best I could, then slid the shrink tubing over the cable and used a heat gun to shrink it around the cable.
This is what it looked like with the shrink tubing^^^
From there I grabbed a piece of 3/8" fuel like and sliced it open lengthwise and zip tied it over the cable as additional armor and heat protection -
So far, no leaks :)
Still have a very slight leak coming out of the neutral safety switch but that will be an easy fix.
Still a new barracuda owner, and new to the forum, so I thought I'd create a post and try and contribute. Quick background, I acquired my 1965 Barracuda back in February for a great price, but no historical information. I've put a lot of time (and money) into it getting it to where it is now (lots of clean up under hood, new edelbrock carb, new ignition system, to name a few). I pulled the trigger a few weeks ago to get the Torqueflite 904 rebuilt - high energy bands, blue friction plates, reman the torque converter. I got it back to soon after find it was pissing transmission fluid out. Took it back in, considering I had just paid ~$1800 I had high hopes they would resolve the leak. Got it back home and nope, the leak is actually worse. I got it up on jack stands and took a look and found the shifter cable sleeve was falling apart and leaking everywhere. The transmission shop put some sealant goo at the base of it where it connects to the transmission, which wasn't where it was leaking. -
So naturally I started looking at what it would cost to replace and uh, I'm okay putting money into the right part but I was looking at $200+. So I came up with the next best solution, marine grade adhesive lined shrink tubing. I grabbed a box of 6" length 1/2" tubing from West Marine. I disconnected the shifter cable from the shifter assembly and pulled it through the firewall and down below the car. From there I cleaned the cable best I could, then slid the shrink tubing over the cable and used a heat gun to shrink it around the cable.
This is what it looked like with the shrink tubing^^^
From there I grabbed a piece of 3/8" fuel like and sliced it open lengthwise and zip tied it over the cable as additional armor and heat protection -
So far, no leaks :)
Still have a very slight leak coming out of the neutral safety switch but that will be an easy fix.