Alright so my floor shifter on my 85 ss got stuck in drive, after some investigation, Im 99% sure it's the cable. (It's also the original cable from 85)

Now I've been looking online but I can't seem to find the right cable for sure. I've seen some that could be it, but I don't want to buy the wrong thing.

So if anyone has an idea of where I can get one, or even a part number so I can use that to search, I would greatly appreciate it.

Thanks guys.

Check Rockauto.com it shown as shift cable under transmission parts. Your local parts house should also be able to get you one in ATP product. Remove your old cable and measure overall length to get correct replacement. Assuming you have a shifter in the console.

One of the reasons for failure is if the ground path from the engine to the battery has been compromised the ground path can then go through the shifter cable. This can cause failure of the cable.
Bob

Alright I'll look under shifter cable. I was checking under "200r transmission cable"

And really? I never knew that could happen. Would there be any signs on the cable itself of the ground path going through the cable?

I have never witnessed that happen, only have read of people saying that was the cause of the failure.

http://www.montecarloss.com/community/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=674397&page=1
Bob

www.mikesmontes.com if you can't get one at the local NAPA Store, good luck!

Yea I had to order one, none of the stores near me have one.

Am I going to have to adjust the new cable after I install it?

It has two mounting places, but some slight adjustment may be necessary, good luck!

Years ago I had issues with the Napa version, thinking that was the best of the auto parts stores to pick from, it was the correct cable but didn't last long at all. Found a good used one and been using that ever since with no issues. For that reason if I ever need one again I'll try to find a good original GM version.

Do you guys know what all the ground points are supposed to be. The ne cable literally lasted 20 minutes and then started coming apart, and now slides so easily it can't move the shift arm.

I'm guessing I have a bad ground because of how hot the cable was.

There are several grounds, generally I'd say the same ones used on all years of the G-body.

First is the primary, battery to engine ground, comes off the battery and attaches to the brackets for the AIR pump. If the AIR pump has been removed it should be reattached to the block somewhere in that area to the left of the water pump, front of the block. This is the largest wire, and most important for starting the engine. If the AIR system has been removed they may have attached to one of the water pump bolts. Those bolts corrode the threads from coolant over time. Not a good place to attach a ground wire.

Another is at the back of the driver's side cylinder head. It is a flat braided copper strap. Bolts to the back of the cyl head one end, other end is attached to the firewall via a sheetmetal screw. There may be two wires under that screw.

Another is a smaller ground wire the comes off the negative post of the battery and is attached to the fender near the battery.

There are several other used for individual circuit grounds. At the left side of the dash's bottom side is a screw that is used to hold the corner of the dash to the body. There will be several ring terminals under the head of that screw, they are grounds for several circuits. that screw will become loose over time.

At the thermostat housing there is a ground for the CCC computer system. It may or may not be there anymore if the CCC harness has been removed.

There are a few other ground points but those shouldn't cause your problem.

My guess would be the large ground from the battery to the engine is loose, corroded.
Bob

Thank you Bob I appreciate it, I have to wait to tomorow to check because of the weather but I'll be sure to give those a look.

And I don't have the air pump or ccc. Anything emissions related is gone from the car.

The ground at the rear of the head is important, but doesn't carry the high current the one to the front of the engine is supposed to carry. The terminal at the neg of the battery has the two important wires, they are the primary grounds.
Bob

They're all important as a missing or bad ground will cause a draw on the system. Example the little core support grounds at each side for the front light harness. If those are bad / rusty you'll have dim head lights.

Okay so apparently I'm a moron, I forgot to put the ground strap from the firewall to the head back on, when I put the new motor in.

Only thing I don't understand is, I did that about 2-3 months ago. The original cable took months to go bad, and the new one took 20 minutes.

Only thing I can think of is the original cable was so old and corroded that it had high resistance in it and wouldn't let as many amps flow through it

Now I drove the car a bit last night after putting the 3rd cable in and reattaching the ground and so far so good.

Thank you guys for all the advice

The high current draw on the battery is when cranking the starter, especially on cold days. The ground from the bat to the engine is the primary ground for that. But it also is needed for that ground at the rear of the head. The ground from the battery to the fender supplies the secondary ground to the body. That firewall ground is also a secondary ground and relies on a good connection of the main ground to the engine.
I would still make sure the primary ground is still 100%, remove the bolt to the engine and insure everything is clean and is a good ground. Check the end at the battery also, it may be corroded inside the plastic that surrounds it.

As you are finding out grounds are very important, they need to be clean and tight.
Bob

Thanks for this discussion. It's made me realize that I painted all of the bracket pieces where i connected my main ground cable. I have symptoms that i have been chalking up to needing a beefier alternator/battery/better ignition wires etc..

I took the bolt for the main ground out anyway, to see what size bolt I needed for the firewall ground, and I cleaned the bolt washers and end of the ground wire itself when I did that.

So far everything is good. I couldn't find anything wrong with the other grounds, but I'm keeping my eye on things.

And yea a simple oversight by me, caused me 2 weeks of head aches. Grounds are important haha.

just fixed how i had the main ground hooked up and accessories and amps and headlights are no longer causing a major voltage dip =)