As the ***le says. I am looking for a source for dashboard control cables. On previous cars, I would take them off 1964 Valiants because they had a simple push - pull movement and one of them had a rotary switch incorporated for the heater motor and had a black ring at the dash that labeled what they controlled. The knobs were held on with a set screw. Unfortunately, with the p***age of time, these Valiants are getting hard to find. Does anyone know of a suitable aftermarket cable? The cars at the pick-a-part yards are way too new to have any of this kind of hardware and the parts stores have universal cables with a horrible black knob that isn't removeable.
I wonder if some of the marine parts supply houses might have some better looking controls and cable ***emblies? Though I imagine they might be kind of spendy.
I've been looking at vintage tractor or lawn mower throttle/choke push pull cables for my Jubilee Bull Horn and Wolf Whistle.. still looking
my 62 Ford F100 has a defrost/heater blower switch with a cable that is internal, I looked at the LMC catalog and it appears that later Fords used something similar, the cable on mine only goes to the door to actuate the defrosters. Here is a link to LMC on the later Ford. although it won't be as cheap as a bone yard Valiant. https://www.lmctruck.com/fb-1967-heater-fan-switch
probably not what you had in mind but, here's a vintage tractor throttle control push pull cable on the dash of my engine run stand.
Seems most of these ideas are overkill. These were sort of standard back then. A solid wire incased in a spiral wrap with a loop bent in the end to control the defrost door or whatever. I even have the special tool to form the loop at the end. Trying to help my clueless friend with his '57 Chev truck that he lost all this stuff over the years.
I removed the knob from most of the cables I've bought. If it won't come off in one piece, then simply destroy it.
Head over to eBay and search for "control cable" or similar in the Auto Parts section. I found this '61 T-bird fresh air vent control cable and knob, but there are plenty of others to choose from.
Mid year, '63 to '67 Corvette used a push pull cable with a built in heater switch. Also used a def cable. I think these are available through Corvette Central. Also other suppliers I'm sure.
Thank you for your replies. I will go with the universal cable with the ugly black knob. Upon reviewing the situation, I see that the heater control needs the loops at both ends of the cable and since I have the tool to do this, onto the next missing part.
That type of cable was used on lawn mowers, Rotor tillers , yard equipment etc. I worked at one place that had it on a reel and you purchased it by the foot.