The 64 Malibu I recently purchased is missing the detent cable. The local parts store hade a cable for a later model car but it is longer then the original (compared to the cable on a friends 64 El Camino). My car has a 327 with TH350 transmission. Does the detent cable have to be a specific length? Thank you in advance for any help.

64 Chevelles and ELCaminos didn't originally come with turbo 350s , so no detent cable was used. You will need to use a cable from a 69 or later model car........GT