[Patty-Deck]

Hey guys, brand new here and I have an issue. I rebuilt the 305 (keep your opinions please) in my '85 sierra. I had to replace the detent cable due to the end clip being brittle and breaking. Got the new one snaked in great, but the problem is, the bolt holding the old one to the transmission case broke off at the head. Taking out the transmission isn't really a desired option right now, this thing is my daily and after a month of not having it I'm itching to have it back. My question is: is there any way to attach the detent cable besides dropping the trans and tapping it out? I thought maybe drilling out the bolt from the inside, as it is a self cutting, and then using a regular bolt and a lock nut on the inside to hold it in place. This is the ONLY thing I lack to get my baby going on the road again. Is what I suggested possible without the guts of the transmission knocking on anything? Please let me know soon!
Thanks, Pat
P.s. Auto transmission

 

[RayVoy]

No way to get an easy out in there?

 

[Patty-Deck]

Nah...I have about six inches, and though that's enough space for a t-handle, I still have to drill a bit to give the EO something to grab.

 

[RayVoy]

Can you rent/borrow a 90 deg drill?

 

[Crispyt]

Sometimes you can tack-weld a nut or something to the end of the snapped bolt and twist it out that way. I've done that before with snapped intake bolts and other things that break like that. Depending on how far down it snapped it may not be possible but if your good you can build up some welds on the tip of the bolt to make it stick out more then tack-weld a nut on the end of it.

 

[Patty-Deck]

I actually got a bracket fabbed to hold it in place pretty well..now I just need to figure out why the temp gauge is reading 240 at idle...ugh.

 

[Crispyt]

Check coolant first but it could be a bad thermostat or fan clutch. If you rev it up in park and hold the rpm around 1700 or so does the temp start to drop?

 

[Patty-Deck]

If I recall temp doesn't go up when parked. I can't really check rpm, because mine doesnt have a tach. Dad mentioned the fan, but the thermostat is okay I think...the upper radiator hose is heating up..