*HOW TO* Convert F20 to Cable Shift - F17 Turret (Morse Cable Bulk Buy)

*HOW TO* Convert F20 to Cable Shift - F17 Turret (Morse Cable Bulk Buy)

This is a ‘How to guide’ for fitting a Vectra C 1.8 F17 Gearbox turret to an F20 gearbox fitted to 1991 Nova Trip and converting it to cable shift.
I also want to arrange a bulk buy for the cables required to fit all the parts to the car. More info on ‘Morse Cables’ in the thread.


Parts Required
F17 Gearbox Turret and Cable Mounting Bracket (good idea to take the Vectra cables although they are too long for the nova they may fit other cars)
Vectra C Gear Selector (pretty sure any selector will do from any cable shift car, the Astra VXR or H has a shorter throw so I’m told as well)
Shifter Cables

Push-Pull Cables
This is a summary of info regarding shifter cables which I’ve gathered over the last while and its probably the most important part of getting the setup to work in the car.

The shifter cables in the Vectra are known as Push-Pull. Identical cables can be found on boat throttle cables. Most commonly know as Teleflex Morse Cables, normally 33C Teleflex. The Teleflex 33C cables are terminated in ‘Clamp’ ends, usable but better with bulkhead fittings on a car. So 33B is for bulkhead. The inner cable ends are normally 10/32unf.
The Vectra ones are 30 series cable with 65mm/85mm Travel.

and similar ones can be bought from most marine outlets, unfortunately the shortest length readily available is 4 feet, which is around the length of the Vectra ones which are too long. Nightmare!!! Custom ones it is then… (bear in mind this is on a nova, Astra / Corsa main differ)

NB - These are heavier duty than the standard Vectra ones and will be fit for more abuse.
The only thing left to buy is M6 to 10mm ball joints to tie into the turret and selector (the F17 turret has 10mm ball joints on it)
Please PM me if you are interested. You will need to mock up a length and tell me.
Pics to follow and I’ll put up more info / pics of the fitted cables once I fit mine. I'll put a pic up of where my shifter is on my nova and if your happy to put yours in the same position then you can get the same length cables as me.

Good info, and nice idea with the cables.

I mocked up this set-up and and decided not to proceed with it due to the space between the gearbox bracket and the steering rack, the cables would be hard up against the rack.

You'll also have to overcome the fact the F20 casing doesn't have the threaded mounts for bolting on the bracket, so you'll have to make up a little adapter. Whilst making this adapter it may be possible to lower the bracket slightly to give more clearance on the rack.

Just for info - theres 2 different types of F17 cable shift selector.

One has a big counterweight cast into it and one has the counterweight on a pivot connected by a plastic rod.

My thread might be useful to you...

http://www.pngclub.com/forum/showthr...ing-adventures

Paul..

Paul, glad to see your short shift is possible, that idea had popped into my head, harder with the turret I have as its got the counter weight, I'll maybe change it out.

Iain, I plan to run the cables above the rack and I'm going to make a new bracket up for mounting. I'll need to get some pics together tomorrow. got a few for now.

F17 Turret (Counter Balance Type - Note > none counter balance type available), fitted to the F20.

Jhttp://i1233.photobucket.com/albums/...150901_004.jpg

Bracket I made up to attach the bracketry to an F20

http://iainel.co.uk/images/forums/Misc/f20bracket1.JPG

http://iainel.co.uk/images/forums/Misc/f20bracket2.JPG

Other type of turret, off a Vectra C

http://iainel.co.uk/images/forums/Misc/f20turret.JPG

Engine side marked up where I plan to run the cables (note above the rack)
http://i1233.photobucket.com/albums/...151007_002.jpg

View from Ball Joint thru bracket showing ideal root (hope the inlet etc. doesn't fowl the cables, I'll maybe mock up the head and inlet to check, feel free to comment on this), these could quite easily be brought down but I'm hoping to avoid any plate work and the 'gun sight' view shows this as being the ideal point.

http://i1233.photobucket.com/albums/...151007_001.jpg

Next thing I'm gonna do is use 6mm round bar to mock up the inner cable length. The gearstick end of the round bar has been tapped M6, once I get the ball joints I'll fit these and the round to the gear stick end and lock it in reverse. Then i'll fit the ball joint to the gearbox and should be able to get the length bang on.

I've ordered 10mm / M6 ball joints from here very cheap:) > http://www.springfixlinkages.com/en/...housings/r3524
The Push-Pull cable is 40series and the inner cable is fitted with M6 ends.

(the original plan was to go below the rack and I got abit gun hoe with grinder hence the giant hole in the bulkhead)

http://i1233.photobucket.com/albums/...151007_003.jpg

Gearbox side, ball joint yet to be fitted.

http://i1233.photobucket.com/albums/...151007_004.jpg

Ball joints came today, 10mm M6 Female Carbon steel zinc plated from Spring fix linkages...



http://i1233.photobucket.com/albums/...151008_003.jpg


http://i1233.photobucket.com/albums/...151008_002.jpg

Tidy wee brouchure...

http://i1233.photobucket.com/albums/...2a1d13047b.jpg

Threaded the end of the round bar M6 and fitted the ball joint. Then popped it onto the selector.

http://i1233.photobucket.com/albums/...151008_004.jpg

Locked the gearstick in reverse and also put the box into reverse. Gearbox side length marked onto the rod.

http://i1233.photobucket.com/albums/...151008_005.jpg

Threaded the gearbox end and fitted it to the turret, can actually surprisingly select gears using the stick even with the round bar. Will mock up the second cable tomorrow.
Below shows the round bar off the car, only 1 small bend in it, it sits completely flat. my selector is raised 80mm so the cables are dead level going thru the bulkhead.

http://i1233.photobucket.com/albums/...151008_006.jpg

Looking good Yobbo! I mite have to try hard to resist your set up once you have it done, unless i am sequential by end of next week ;)

Despite not wanting to butcher the bulkhead I've done it, see pic below above rack, now cables to pass closer to the rack and they are now passing thru nice flat 1mm steel which means the grommets will fit nice and snug.

http://i1233.photobucket.com/albums/...emporary_5.jpg


Above is now welded both sides, Below is the other side, 23mm holes drilled for the grommets, and the grommets fitted (the cables have grommets fitted to them so these will remove and the grommets and cables fitted in one piece.

http://i1233.photobucket.com/albums/...mporary_12.jpg