Extending Short Heater Cable Options

[frank_c]

I purchased a replacement heater cable, and like many of the posts I've read, the right side was a couple of inches too short.

My solution was to tap the 4mm rod at the end of the heater wire, do same with a short piece of 4mm brass rod, and then join the two rods with a coupling nut and some purple Loctite. It worked out pretty well and thought it might help others having the same issue.

[Flyinlow]

That is very nicely done. I recently did mine as I found the same problem… my solution was to use 1/8” cable I bought 8’ heated centre at 4’ with torch it folded by itself to 180 degrees greased it installed in lever slipped into conduits into barrel nuts trimmed excess done…. Works great

[mepstein]

The 75/76 take a longer cable than the early and mid year cars. It’s a different part number.

[bdstone914]

I haven't found any of the cables are the right lengths.
I bought a roll of .031" piano wire and make my own that a a couple inches longer than needed to easily install them. I don't find the barrel on the end is needed

[frank_c]

The 75/76 take a longer cable than the early and mid year cars. It’s a different part number.

Yes, I realize that there are different cable part numbers for -74 vs 75-, and since my '76 has a back-dated SSI exhaust, I asked which cable I should purchase here:

Which Heater Cable for '74 Exhaust Backdate?

My take-away from that thread is that I should use the -74 cable.

So, other than the heater valves/flappers being in different locations for the early exhaust vs the convoluted 75 & 76 exhaust, is anything else different? E.g.; do cable guide tubes/conduits exit the firewall at the same location? If only the valve locations are different, then the early/-74 cable I purchased should be the right one - correct?

[mepstein]

Yes, if you have SSI’s, the cable length for an earlier car should be correct. Other than the exhaust, the cars are the same.
Since the aftermarket cables always seem to come bent in an equal length, I’ve had to re-bend them to fit. It’s been a while but I seem to remember there being about a 2” difference so I adjusted the bend by 1”.

[bdstone914]

Yes, if you have SSI’s, the cable length for an earlier car should be correct. Other than the exhaust, the cars are the same.
Since the aftermarket cables always seem to come bent in an equal length, I’ve had to re-bend them to fit. It’s been a while but I seem to remember there being about a 2” difference so I adjusted the bend by 1”.

I have seen flapper boxes that have different clocking of the arm to the box that affects the cable fitment.

[frank_c]

There was only about 1/2" sticking out past the barrel nut on the left/short side, so I wasn't able to shift any length from that side over to the right - certainly not enough to bridge the gap. Strange.