I bought my 71 nova 3 week ago and I have had to replace the speedometer cable twice. Good news is that the local parts house has them for $11 in stock. The cable is threaded trough the linkage on the BW 4 speed in the car. When I shift the gears the cable gets crimped on the bottom end and breaks. I need an adapter to reroute the cable away from the shift arms. I have found some at transmissioncenter.net for $82 which seems a little high and wanted to know if there is a less expensive route to take. Of course $82 is better than a ticket for going a little too fast with no speedo.
Allen

Since I spend more time looking at the Tach than the speedo, I now know how fast my car is going for any given RPM (in final drive anyway).

Another option is to yank the reluctor and transducer out of the back of a 4L60E if you have a TH350, or a 4L80E if you have a TH400 and then buy an electric speedo (of course that conversion will cost you about eight times the $84 worm gear adapter). Yes I did read were you have a Borg Warner T-10, but there isn't an electric conversion that I know of so I would waste a perfectly good smart Alec response that I though would be good for a yuck. :D :yes:

Big Dave

Allen something is not right with your set up. The cable shouldn't come into contact with the shift arms. Can you post a photo of it? From that a solution may be found that won't cost you $82 + shipping. Besides the adaptor sticks out of the trans 1.5", is that going to clear the arms?

Philip I can see where the previous owner "massaged" the linkage. Don't know why he didn't just do it right in the first place. I may have the 1.5 " clearance to put an adapter on. I will check it today and send a photo if I can get one. I plan on getting a new 5 speed in the next year or so that will fix the problem so I just don't want to spend too much on what I have.
Thanks
Allen

My guess would be it is the wrong linkage or mounting plate for the transmission. When installed the trqansmission arms should be facing up and the linkage rods as level as possible.
Here is a photo of my old Saginaw; the shifter is mounted high enough for the shifter levers to clear the speedometer output. The lowest arm is reverse and it goes to the rear when shifted.

http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j199/64elcamino/hurst%20shifter/P4290002.jpg

I have a couple of the offset ratio adaptors, if one of them will help with your problem I'll loan it to you until you get a different transmission. I beleive they drop the cable about an inch and stick out about an inch and a half. I have several different ratios, if your speedo is off this may correct it.

Philip I couldn't get the photos loaded on this site so I sent them to your private trico address.
I am new to this site but am certainly glad I found it. A lot of good advice from people that know.
Allen

Allen the mounting plate appears to be homemade. The shifter seems to be mounted to low on the transmission causing the interference. I'll move the photos to my Photobucket account and post them here to get other opinions.
Click here (http://www.novas.net/forums/showthread.php?t=1896)for posting photos.

http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j199/64elcamino/hurst%20shifter/DSC00759.jpg

http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j199/64elcamino/hurst%20shifter/DSC00758.jpg

Philip I again have to assume that there is a correct mounting plate. Maybe I need to contact Hurst and see what they can tell me or go to my local speed shop for a fix. I am guessing that the shifter was protruding out of the floor so they engineered a new plate.
The shifter is on the side of the tunnel. Approximately where ahould it be?
Thank you again for your input.
Allen

Allen you are correct, and the shifter actually mounted above the floor line. The factory used an extra hump welded to the transmission tunnel. The shifter was inside of that part of the floor and about even with the top of the tunnel. The proper bracket will raise the shifter and you can fabricate some sheetmetal over it and install a boot.
Here is a photo of one type that was used in Novas.

http://www.ss396.com/mm5/graphics/00000004/ITW-4008.jpg

Philip does it make any difference if I don't have a console? All the floor humps I am finding are for consoles. The next question I have is about the mounting plate that is supposed to be with the Hurst shifter. On JEGS web site they have an installation kit with the rods and bushings for the competition plus Hurst. There is a plate shown in the kit but I don't know if it is the one I need. The kit number is 530 373-7834. If you don't mind looking I would appreciate it.
Thanks again
Allen

Well Philip I found someone that could tell me about the installation kits for Hurst shifters. A fellow at store.standardtransmission.com got a kit from the shelf and verified that a mounting plate comes with it. I had called Hurst and they told me they didn't have a kit for the T10. The kit is $117 but it will fix my problem. I still need a floor hump to complete the job but it will be a long winter and I will have plenty to do.
Allen

Hurst says they do not have a kit for the T10? Glad you found someone that had parts to help.

I checked several places and could not find a non console hump either. Chevelles used them, maybe Nova didn't.

Philip the guy that helped me with the kit said that since B&M bought Hurst the Hurst line has take a back seat. He is worried that they bought up the competition and will slowly get rid of it.
I think I will make a hump after the installation because I will have to get rid of it when I go to the 5 speed. I can make a mold and fiberglass it and a coat of paint will do until the big change.
Thanks
Allen

A lot of the problem arises from the fact that most four speeds installed in the Nova muscle car were Muncies. GM copied, er … improved the earlier T-10 and made it bigger and stronger for about the same weight by using an aluminum case. It was manufactured in Muncie, IN so you can see how much time they spent racking their brains for a name. The T-10 used to be installed in Chevys from 1956 up until 1964 so by the seventies Hurst made parts for the more plentiful Muncie tranny (though they used to make the same kit for the T-10 because I had one for a 1956 Corvette).

The Hurst plate bolts directly to the transmission making it independent of the chassis. The Muncie factory shifter bolted to the frame (body structure) of the car and was prone to binding under torque application as the body twisted on the chassis. Because the shifter bolted to the car it had to have room (a hump or blister) to bolt to, which was then "covered" by a console.

Big Dave

I remember now that my 62 Impala had a T10 with the Hurst linkage. I used that car to both tow a GTO and race at Beeline Dragstrip back in the late 60's and early 70's. So the parts you are getting may be for an early big car and still should work just fine. here is a couple of pics of the old Impala. Ah the good ol days :) Photos taken in 1970, I was 21 :p

http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j199/64elcamino/past%20hot%20rods/62inside.jpg

http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j199/64elcamino/past%20hot%20rods/towing.jpg

http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j199/64elcamino/past%20hot%20rods/62trophy.jpg

Philip I don't guess you would like to have the 62 back. I had my first new car in 1970. It was a blue 307 Nova with a three speed on the floor. I got the dealer to move the shifter and put a set of rally wheels on it. I sold it in 1984 and always wanted it back.
You and Big Dave have helped me a lot with the guestions and problems I have had and I thank both of you.
Allen