It was the Mamas and the Pappas.
Not much grease under my fingernails, but pants got soaked, got a crick in my neck, and it has taken 25 minutes to get this reply plus one picture to post.
It appears that if I try to send 2 pictures I get a message that my file is too big, and then will not let me post even after I delete one picture- unless, I start a new reply, and then it tells me I already have a picture attachment, and asks if I want to remove it. When I then retry posting my original reply plus attachment, the server tells me that I left the body of the message blank.
Whatever?
The number that you are looking for is 51 inches, if my original appearing car, with original wooden floor is an acceptable guide. I guesstimated an extra 1 and 1/4 " for its roughly diagonal transit through my non measurably thick wooden floorboard. The picture should be downloaded for clarity, and then magnified to reveal its somewhat hard to discern angled path, so you can judge for yourself.
This measurement was made from threaded end to threaded end of the outer cable.
Curious to know why mine is apparently adjusted to near the end of its threaded length on both ends, as my car is not a high miler, and I didn't think the shoe linings to be particularly thin.