Heater and choke control cables

[l10tus]

So the time has come to install the push / pull cables for Choke and Heater control, but.......

The gap behind the dashboard between the back of the dash and the heater matrix box is about 50mm ( 2") - but the straight "tube part" on the cables ( the bit with the threaded part ) is 80mm long - how on earth does this get to work????

The. Hoke cable is not too bad because it's a Bowden multi strand inner that's reasonably flexible, just about capable of turning 90 degrees to miss the heater box, but the single wire inner for the heater is impossible.

I've been through all the obvious scenarios, like leave the heater valve fully open and make the knob a dummy one, but can't believe any of the early cars ever had operating controls for these functions - anybody have any advice how to install them so they work???