I had a wavy needle at 35-40 mph in the past, this year it was wavy to 50-55. A month ago it began to make noise in time with the needle bounce. I reached under the dash and found the retaining nut to be loose. I snugged it up (that’s probably why it’s stuck now) and the needle bounce completely went away and it was quiet but that was short lived, the needle began to oscillate but not bounce and again made noise in time with the oscillation. I pulled the cable sheath behind the speedometer away several inches revealing a dry cable. I’m not certain but I suspect new cables are delivered dry or not lubricated vey well. I intend to replace the cable and make certain it is well lubricated before doing so.

1955 312 T-Bird Warwick, NY

I used speedoservice in Fountain Colorado for my new cable during a transmission swap fora new cable. They are excellent with older vintage autos. My new cable came ready to install and in a plastic style covering. They have recently moved from their original building but are still the same folks. 

56 Vic, B'Ville 200 MPH Club Member, So Cal.

Unlike Cavman, I didn't find it easy to remove the seat from my 55 Bird. I did remove the hardtop/w help from a neighbor, and then we lifted the seat out and over the back of the car, not through an open door. Yes, removing the seat, steering column, and soft top makes it a lot easier to work inside the car, particularly under the dash. I did it because it's part of a body-on restoration. I don't think I would want to do it just to remove the speedometer cable, unless I had no other option. 

We used to use powdered graphite way back. Always worked great. Not sure if its still the best thing though. Any comments?



Y's guys rule!
Looking for McCullouch VS57 brackets and parts. Also looking for 28 Chrysler series 72 parts. And early Hemi parts.

MoonShadow, 292 w/McCulloch, 28 Chrysler Roadster, 354 Hemi)
Manchester, New Hampshire

My plan worked, here’s the extracted cable. It’s bent and the cable wrap is broken, a reflection of the force it took to remove it. Does this look like the correct speedometer cable end for a 55 T-Bird?

1955 312 T-Bird Warwick, NY

Hard to tell in that photo, but you may have had the wrong cable.  According to the NPD Thunderbird catalog, the 55 & 56 Thunderbird used a different speedo cable assembly as a 57.   The difference is in the clip I posted about before.  The 57 and up cables plugged directly into the gauge.  The 55-56 used a clip to make the connection.  Here is a photo of the clip below.  The NPD part number for the 55-56 cable is T-17260-1.  The part number for the clip is T-17306-1.  Hopefully, your gauge isn't messed up.  This kind of stuff is common with old cars.  By now, they are all a collection of mismatched parts.

I talked to the people at Hill’s. They have the clip, the person I spoke with went and got one off the shelf but could not get the cable to connect to it. He said the Clip had an odd shaped opening and the cable would not match up. He then took the cable and inserted it into a speedometer without the clip, it went right in. I assume the clip would plug into the housing clip end first but I don’t feel anything just the opening for the cable.

Thanks Phil



1955 312 T-Bird Warwick, NY

Hard to say what's going on from here.  My '55 Tbird was unmolested when I purchased it about five years ago.  My speedometer cable uses the clip in the photo.  The end of my cable has a female end where the clip fits into.  The clip goes into the female end of the gauge.  It is not necessary to remove the seat or the steering column to remove the gauge cluster.   There are four 3/8" nuts holding some small angle pieces underneath the dome.  You can use a 1/4" socket with a long extension to reach these nuts from under the dash.  If you lose the angle pieces, they are available.  It's helpful if you are a contortionist.

Good information, but now I'm concerned that the 57 cable I bought to use with the C4/C5 transmission will not fit the 55 speedometer. I did not know anything about the clip. I guess I need to crawl back under there and remove it. I would prefer not to use the angle drive at the transmission. 

Anyone with a 55 Tbird convert to C4? What speedometer cable did you use?

55blacktie the clip probably isn’t needed see my previous post regarding a conversation I had with someone at Hill’s Thundering Parts. The cables they sell plug right in, no clip needed. I believe the person who installed my cable a number of years ago didn’t take the time to line it up and more or less forced it in with the retaining nut.

1955 312 T-Bird Warwick, NY