Spring for gear selector indicator

HWYCRZR

Old Man with a Hat
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As I am going through my instrument panel I noticed my spring for the gear selector indicator is broken. (68 Polara)

Where do I find a new spring?
I don’t think I can run down to the local spring store (I wish it was that easy)
I could try to make another spring work except I am not sure where to look for one.
And lastly have to buy a new spring/ shaft assembly somewhere.
Parts book only has the full assembly.
2857 062
Any ideas welcome.
 
I hate to trash a perfectly good assembly because of a little spring.
 
Does anyone have any pictures of a complete spring? Mine is missing the tail, so not quite sure how it looks.
I decided to make one. As I was looking for spring wire for my burlap on my upholstery job, I stumbled across spring wire ( piano wire). I found a spring making tutorial and decided to order some .031 dia spring wire and try it.
This is my first attempt on the right but having trouble defining the tail. Broken one on the left.

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I think I got it close. I think I made 5 or 6 springs. It probably took about 10 tries. Making the ends are the toughest. I found that if I made the primary end first it was easier and also let me chuck it in my drill motor with a 3/16” rod. I also made a tool to help guide and tightly wind the wire. You have to take care to put just the right amount of pressure on the tool. Too much the wire would ride up on the previous coil. Too light then gaps will form between the coils. It took a few tries to get the right amount of coils. It unwinds about 1/2 a wrap when the pressure comes off. If you over wind too far then you have to throw it away. When complete and after a dry fit you are supposed to anneal them to de stress after bending. Piano wire is 500 degrees for an hour. They say the coils will tighten a bit. I will see in an hour.
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Shaft is 21/128” or .164” ( between 5/32 & 11/64)

Spring wire .031
Torsion, left handed
Outside 1/4”
Inside 3/16
Loop 3/32”
6 coils

I used a 3/16” shaft to wind. After baking spring shrunk down right to 3/16.

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Looks like you've attained your goal, but I think I have a tool that would coil it for you, of course it wouldn't do the tails and so on. Sorry I didn't think of it earlier.
 
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