Tinkering on the 55 Ford Club Sedan this afternoon and have the cable/bracket/grommet installed but not quite sure of the routing of the cable after it passes through the firewall...





Does the cable need to go between the exhaust manifold and the head? It looks like this is the least path of resistance but I have no pictures or diagrams on this one to show what Ford did under the hood. Does anyone have any photos?

Daniel Jessup

Lancaster, California

aka "The Hot Rod Reverend"
check out the 1955 Ford Fairlane build at www.hotrodreverend.com

Dan.  I'm not a purist nor knowledgeable of how Ford routed the cable for Concours judging of your car . . .

I would go straight back from the control handle through the firewall with the cable (keep it straight), then make a smooth curve down and toward the driver's side of the transmission.  I'd stay away from exhaust headers and exhaust header pipes.  My recollection is of a single clip type bracket that Ford used originally.  The clip was secured by one of the transmission side cover bolts to guide and stabilize the cable connection to the mechanical arm on the R-10 overdrive unit.  Probably the single cable retainer clip was located on the top rear bolt of the side cover to reduce the distance from the retainer clip to the overdrive mechanical engagement arm.

I'm rusty on this, but am guided by what you're trying to mechanically actuate.  Heat from the exhaust manifold or the exhaust header pipe will accelerate corrosion of the cable outer jacket and destroy any lubricant used between the wire control wire and the cable jacket unless you're using graphite only

Hope this helps.  I'm sure others will have additional information.

Hey.  You're getting there!    


NoShortcuts
a.k.a. Charlie Brown
near Syracuse, New York

Charlie,

Thanks for the fast response. Your suggestion sounds plausible enough but if you notice the orientation of the exhaust manifold/down pipe to where the cable exits the firewall, to bend down from there towards the transmission runs smack dab into the exhaust. This is where Ford put the hole and grommet so there has to be a way this is routed without hitting, or coming too close to the exhaust. You are probably correct on the heat working on corrosion with the cable housing, but I was wondering if Ford went with a heat shield and routed it between the manifold and head.

Thanks, Dan

Daniel Jessup

Lancaster, California

aka "The Hot Rod Reverend"
check out the 1955 Ford Fairlane build at www.hotrodreverend.com

A wise man once told me. "Don't over think it!"


"FREE SAMPLE"

I've only owned one 55 and that was back in the 60's so my memory doesn't remember a lot of detail but didn't the 55 only have single exhaust with a cross over pipe and no down pipe on the left side? On my 57 the OD cable curves down on the inside of the firewall and exits down around the gas pedal.