<VV> Busted clutch cables

[Rick Norris]

Interesting subject here.
I'll add my experience.

In all the Corvairs and Corvair powered vehicles I have owned I broke only
one cable. That was around 1970.
It was in my 65 Monza 140 four speed which was my first late model. Back
then it was my daily driver work car.
My five o'clock commute was in heavy traffic and while clutching for a stop
I heard and felt it let go. The car
Continued forward towards the car in front of me. While I am deciding what
to do as this was a new experience
I saw an abandoned service station a few yards to my right. Luckily I was
also in the right hand lane of the four lane
Highway. I managed to pull off onto the lot and kill the ignition. Now, how
to get home. I did not have, much less carry an extra
Cable. I did have a full tool box in the trunk. Looking under the dash I
could see the cable broke in the usual way right at the crimp that
Holds the ball end on at the clutch arm.
My first thought was to remove the cover (I had no carpets in the car at the
time) over the cables and use a pair of ViseGrips to
Work the clutch by hand. That's when I found out it is too strong to do that
one handed and drive.
After deliberating for a time I decided to just start it in gear and shift
without the clutch, which is exactly what I did to get home.
The next day I bought a new cable from the local Chevy dealer and fixed it.
I also realized what had caused the cable to break. It was
Held in such a way that the ball could not rotate freely in the clasp that
held it to the arm. After bending the clasp some and greasing the ball
I never had another breakage. I did acquire another clutch cable for a spare
which I carried under the sill plate but as I said, I never had to use it.
I still use the old style cable in my race car. I have a 69 style cable on
the shelf but never modified the car for it.

Rick Norris
www.corvairalley.com